Hello all - my first time out here ...

It has been a very interesting discussion - many great points. Something
to consider...

Once the minimum standards are lowered, particularly in the case of the
Assistant Director level or higher - it becomes an increasingly
difficult world for those who have made the commitment to further their
education. When minimum standards/requirements are lowered, most often
the salary follows suit. The environment can then become one where
institutions will not be willing to pay appropriate pay levels to those
carrying degrees. The spiral continues where excellent replacements are
nearly impossible to find and the office eventually loses credibility.

My suggestion (for what it is worth) is to provide assistance to an
employee who has shown such wonderful promise by having the university
underwrite her degree (at Clarkson they could even collaborate with
Potsdam). Upon completion, the position could be theirs - in the
meantime, nothing says they could not take on additional responsibility
to aid in their career development. THAT exhibits the individual's
dedication not only to research administration, but to higher education.

Sharon E. Hanley
Sponsored Research Administrator
Ordway Research Institute, Inc.
150 New Scotland Avenue
Albany, New York 12208
518.262.0684
xxxxxx@ordwayresearch.org

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-----Original Message-----
From: Susan Burke [mailto:xxxxxx@GWU.EDU]
Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2003 10:54 AM
To: xxxxxx@HRINET.ORG
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] qualifications for research admin

i should have made myself clearer... i am a firm believer in, first and
foremost, well-trained, knowledgeable, experienced-in-the-trenches,
research administrators --  just like in the song from music man, you
gotta know the territory.  BUT, after 30+ years in the business of
dealing with academics, i still maintain that degrees help...at the very
least, a BA (which may help you understand part of the academic
equation).  the advanced degrees probably don't help you do your job
better (although it depends on what you studied -- i found
accounting, business law, management, and computer science helped me
professionally), but they are the equivalent of a lodge handshake to
some portion of our faculty.
susan

--
Susan B. Burke
Information Specialist
Office of Research Services
The George Washington University
2121 I Street NW, Suite 601
Washington, DC 20052
Telephone: 202-994-9136
Facsimile: 202-994-9137

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