Pros
There are none to discuss. Do not be fooled by the "shiny exterior".
Cons
1. This institution is a complete joke. The administration expects for you to pamper your students instead of treating them as the college students they are supposed to be. BEWARE! If you teach here, do NOT expect to teach mainly "college" students; they will expect for you to teach high school students (on campus, online, and travel to high schools)! Is this a technical college or a glorified high school? 2. Many (not all) of the students are constant liars. The administration feeds into the lies and listens to whatever the students and their PARENTS and guidance counselors say. The students (and their parents) are utterly delusional about their academic capabilities. The students can be completely disrespectful to you, and apparently that is just fine by the administration. However, if you address the students and you are firm and assertive, you will have administrators telling you that you "used the wrong tone". They want the students to walk all over the professors and for the professors to cower down to them. 3. The administration won't even respect the professors by ensuring that students go through the proper channels or protocol when concerns are raised. There is such a thing as "DUE PROCESS" and "grade appeals" if it comes to that. However, at HGTC, a student, who has never taken the time to come to MY office, can waltz to the Chair or the Dean's offices to voice concerns or just lie with incredible ease. At what LEGITIMATE institution, is that condoned? I have had colleagues who have confided in me that their students told them OUTRIGHT that they were going to the Chair to attempt to get them fired because "[the professor] was too hard". 4. The pay is extremely low. 5. Getting basic equipment (e.g. printer) was apparently asking for too much while other professors had printers or whatever they needed. 6. You are CONSTANTLY feeling like you're being monitored. They will have people reporting on whether you show up on Fridays or not. When I came to my office on Fridays, I found myself forcing myself to just sit in my office for long hours because HEAVEN FORBID someone stops by and then later claims that I was not around on Fridays. Even if I had to go to the restroom or the copy room, I found myself wondering if anyone would accuse me of not showing up to work. I am a professional; so treat me as one. If you didn't think I could do the job, then why hire me? 7. The ultimate is this ridiculous "portfolio" business. After your 2-year probationary period, you are expected to do a (public) portfolio presentation. It is based on several different topics in regards to pedagogy, curriculum design, return to industry, etc. THIS IS A TECHNICAL COLLEGE, NOT HARVARD. Anyone who has taught knows that you have plenty of duties and responsibilities around the clock. This portfolio assignment is a complete waste of TIME when you consider the caliber of students that they enroll. All of the faculty realize that their time and energy could be better spent on other things. However, the octogenarian CAO hangs this activity over your head, so nobody says anything.
