ERIC Number: EJ765781
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 14
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0013-1172
EISSN: N/A
Practitioner to Professor: An Examination of Second Career Academics' Entry into Academia
LaRocco, Diana J.; Bruns, Deborah A.
Education, v126 n4 p626-639 Sum 2006
A paucity of literature focuses on the experiences of early career faculty (pre-tenure) who are practiced education professionals and who choose higher education as a second career. This exploratory, qualitative study examined the perceptions of former education professionals' integration into academic responsibilities, connections to and experiences with their university community, and relationships with their colleagues. A majority of participants described ambivalence about feeling prepared to teach, to conduct research, or to publish and nearly all of the interviewees experienced difficulty balancing their work life with their home life. The participants also discussed their understanding of expectations of the academy and reported they had at least one supportive relationship that helped them with their adjustment to their second career in academia. Recommendations are provided for preparing second career academics and for future research. (Contains 1 table.)
Descriptors: Family Life, College Faculty, Aging (Individuals), Midlife Transitions, Career Change, Tenure, Interviews, Perception, Career Choice, Academic Rank (Professional)
Project Innovation, Inc. P.O. Box 8508 Spring Hill Station, Mobile, AL 36689-0508. Tel: 251-343-1878; Fax: 251-343-1878; Web site: http://www.projectinnovation.biz/education.html
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A