My Previous Institution

Readers who are employed in higher education will likely recognize the phrase that serves as the title of this newsletter. For those who do not: "my previous institution" is a bit of an euphemism. In the same way one might say, "at my last job" or "at my old company," "my previous institution" is used by academics to talk about their former place of work without ever naming it. It's not something that I had actually noticed until I took my second job alongside others who had moved on from their first place of employment. (Finally, we had a previous institution to refer to!) Yet, it has always struck me as strange.

The term "institution" is laden with meaning. Institutions are rarely just physical places: they are 'established and prevalent social rules that structure social interactions.'^[1] Our "esteemed institution" serves as oratory rhetoric used in graduation speeches and fundraising banquets. And this is because our colleges and universities in the United States are some of the oldest consistently operating organizations in the country. Harvard is only rivaled in longevity by the Shirley Plantation in Virginia (note: yikes) and the Seaside Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine (note: seems lovely). Despite concerted efforts by Republican governors, institutions of learning are hard to dismantle. In many states, they are one of the top five employers. Millions of students graduate from their hallowed halls every year (and some of them don't even regret it). And they revere the traditions that make up their storied past. The stakes are higher, too. While companies go "out of business," institutions instead "crumble." Universities are indeed institutions.

But "institution" isn't something faculty say with regularity in other situations. It's doubtful that I ever used the term in front of students in my classroom. I probably didn't use it even when advising masters or doctoral students. And I certainly wouldn't use it in casual conversation with people outside of the academy. (They already have enough opinions about what I do.) Yet, among the faculty, "my previous institution" is meaningful. I suspect it is used by younger faculty, in particular, to imply continuity in their careers. "My last job" does not preclude the listener from imagining I was sitting in a cubicle doing database optimization, or happily fixing cappuccinos, or worst-of-all I have just finished my Ph.D. and am brand new to this. "I am a seasoned traveler, for before I got this great new job in higher education, I had an old not-as-good job in higher education."

Why not just come out and name our previous institutions, then? Why use this metonymic phrase. If our previous institution mishandled a problem, are we being discreet by speaking abstractly? If our previous institution did something well, are we being polite by not comparing our current job to the old? Or is it just that so many of us moved onto new jobs because we were unhappy at the old and would rather not dredge up those memories?

I am Bobby Schweizer and my previous institution was Texas Tech University, where I was an assistant professor in the College of Media & Communication. And my previous-previous institution was DePaul University, where I taught as a "professional lecturer" in the School of Design. Both of those jobs had their ups and downs. I really enjoyed teaching (with an asterisk) and doing research and writing (again with an asterisk). But, tired physically and emotionally after a decade of working in higher education, I decided not to pursue tenure promotion and left my job. If you're working in higher education, you know that this career requires a strong constitution. And I am still grappling with not describing myself as weak or a failure. But this clean slate has presented me with an interesting question: what do I want to be when I grow-up?

I'm not sure.

But I still think the institution of higher education are important. And now that I don't have to constantly put on a brave face for fear that my wavering attitude might be judged as being unworthy of tenure, I have some time (read: I am unemployed) to reflect on these past ten years.

If you're currently pursuing an advanced degree and are thinking about going into this line of work, I hope to provide an honest assessment. If you're currently post-previous institution, this newsletter might be a nice place for "para-commiseration." (See, I can still jargon-mint with the best of them.)

If this has piqued your curiosity, I'd love it if you would subscribe.