Moving from Long Island NY to Fort Hood/Killeen TX (Austin: student loans, schools)

[bvb09]

My wife enlisted in the Army during the spring, and we recently found out that she will be stationed in Fort Hood. While I am excited about the idea of moving, I am not sure Fort Hood is a good fit.

I am not necessarily concerned with housing options and their proximity to post, or the amenities the Army has to offer. I am well versed in military culture. The issue is that I am a fourth year PhD student with hopes of completing my dissertation by the end of this coming school year. I would like to think I can apply to be an adjunct with CTC, UMUC or another satellite school on post. I have a dynamic background – I can teach International Relations, Government and Politics, Sociology and World History. Should this fall through, what other options are there for persons with graduate degrees? I am also open to the idea of being a GS employee.

I know that the University of Texas is in Austin, and Baylor is in Waco. Aforementioned, I am from LI, NY, while I am accustomed to traffic jams, I detest long commutes. Moreover, I would only seriously consider these schools if I had my degree in hand and seeking tenure.

Also, has anyone worked as an adjunct in the area? If so, what were your experiences?

[earthisle]

Wow, good luck. I guess this is a big downside of the military, you have to live in terrible places

[Trainwreck20]

How easy is it to seek tenure if your wife may be re-stationed at pretty much any time?

In any case, your only real option that jumps out is Baylor.

[bvb09]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

How easy is it to seek tenure if your wife may be re-stationed at pretty much any time?

In any case, your only real option that jumps out is Baylor.

Trainwreck, for that same reason, I do not wish to seek tenure at the moment. My wife joined to pay off her student loans and to secure her path for PhD via the post 9/11 GI Bill. She will leave after her first enlistment. And, in case you are wondering, we are aware of the eight year rule.


Thanks for the tip on Baylor.

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by bvb09

Trainwreck, for that same reason, I do not wish to seek tenure at the moment. My wife joined to pay off her student loans and to secure her path for PhD via the post 9/11 GI Bill. She will leave after her first enlistment. And, in case you are wondering, we are aware of the eight year rule.


Thanks for the tip on Baylor.

Sorry, I misread that and thought you were seeking a tenure track position.

Have you looked at Univ. of Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton?

[ScoPro]

Be prepared for the culture shock.

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by scopro

be prepared for the culture shock.

wasn't going to bring it up, since it looked like a done-deal...

[Austin97]

unfortunately it is going to be a huge (probably negative) change. Not much you can do to mitigate it except to make peace and try to enjoy the change as much as you can.

More conservative, less educated, few food/entertainment options, hard to travel away from etc.

There is also a community college in temple.

[neddy]

I think Texas AM has a campus around that area nowdays also.

[centralaustinite]

In general, adjunct pay is low, running around $2200 to $3600 per class (For those not in academia, that is the total pay to teach a class for the entire semster). UT Austin pays well above that but they use limited adjuncts and have their own never-ending-supply. There is a huge over supply of PhDs in Central Texas, and most schools can fill their adjunct ranks without having to advertise. Personal networking is the way it all works.



In addition to UT-Austin, Baylor, there is Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton, Temple College (community college) in Temple, Southwestern University in Georgetown, A&M in Round Rock, Texas State satellite in Round Rock, and Austin Community College.



good luck!