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Norms of backing out of a VAP for a TT job?

In our newest "how can we help you?" thread, a reader asks:

I want to ask for advice about the norms, strategies, etc. for possibly backing out of a non tenure track job (e.g., a limited VAP) offer, in order to accept a tenure-track job. Say, if someone were to accept a VAP offer in early April, would it be okay to back out in late April to accept a recently received tenure-track offer elsewhere? Would you just tell the VAP school, "I'm very sorry … but I can't turn down a tenure-track offer"? I'd appreciate any advice; thanks!

Good questions. I'd hope that any department/institution that offered the VAP would be understanding, given how difficult TT jobs are to get. But, does anyone have any helpful tips or experiences to share?

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16 responses to “Norms of backing out of a VAP for a TT job?”

  1. Very Serious

    Given the fact that you have already agreed to take the VAP offer, you must unfortunately follow through. If you backed out of the limited-term, VAP job, that would unfortunately be slightly annoying for the Chair to deal with. They might have to go find someone else to hire. Since it is wrong to renege on one’s agreements and cause psychological pain in this way, you must unfortunately decline the TT offer.

    Reply
  2. B

    Just do it.
    I left a 3 year position after one year in order to take a TT job, and the chair of department i was leaving gave me a warm congratulations.
    He was relieved for me.
    Any decent person should be.

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  3. absolutely

    Definitely just do it. Te chair can deal with the slight annoyance. It is the reasonable thing to do.

    Reply
  4. Laurence B McCullough

    Call the chair where you have accepted the VAP appointment and tell the chair that you have received a TT offer and ask to be released from your commitment, making clear that if the chair refuses you will honor your commitment. If the chair releases you, accept the TT offer; if not, decline the TT offer. Keep in mind that one function of obligations is to blunt self-interest, even strong self-interest.

    Reply
  5. Very Serious

    I am the #1 commenter, Very Serious. If it was unclear, I was joking.
    Do not take Laurence’s advice. Absolutely back out of the VAP job for the TT job, if you want the TT job.

    Reply
  6. On the job market, so anon

    A friend of mine put it this way “someone is at least a little screwed over no matter what, and it shouldn’t have to be the early career scholarship with tenuous employment rather than the established institution.” U think that’s about right, though perhaps you should out of courtesy to the VAP school ask the TT offerers if you can defer a year.

    Reply
  7. SLAC Associate and Chair

    Call the chair at the VAP position as soon as possible, apologize for the imposition, but explain that you’ll be taking a TT-offer instead. Unless they are somehow entirely oblivious to the state of the market, they will be happy for you and will understand why you prefer a permanent position to their time-limited position.
    It’ll be a bit annoying and cause some additional work for the chair, but the sooner you tell them the less annoying it will be — for them and for whoever else they’re able to hire in your place.

    Reply
  8. Rosa

    Just chiming in to also say that you should 100% back out. If the VAP department has any good people in it, they will be nothing but happy for you. If the VAP department has no good people in it, well, then good thing you’re not going there!

    Reply
  9. Derek Bowman

    Yes, 100% back out of the VAP and take the TT position.
    Here’s a relevant anecdote. In my final year of a term-limited VAP, I received a signed contract for two semesters of full-time work, which I signed and returned. A few weeks later, the institution unilaterally sent me a new contract for one only semester, explaining that the previous contract was sent in error, as the two semesters would have exceeded my term for the position.
    The fact that we already had a signed contract for two semesters was immaterial – the institution’s needs and policy took precedence.
    Employment agreements with institutions are not the same as ordinary person-to-person commitments in other parts of our lives. Don’t let someone guilt you into mistakenly treating them as such, because you can be sure the institutions will never reciprocate, however much the people enacting those institutional policies might personally regret doing so.

    Reply
  10. anon

    One thing I’ll add is just: make sure you really have that offer before you back out of the VAP.
    But then, yes, 100%, do it. There’s no norm you need to worry about following to back out well, just tell them you’ve found other employment.

    Reply
  11. TT

    Just another log on the fire. it’s a no brainer to back out and take the TT job imo.

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  12. Chair

    I’m a chair. Back out, for your sake and the chair’s sake. I would be horrified and guilt-ridden if I found out a VAP passed up a TT job just to honor a commitment to a VAP contract, especially if they did it out of concern for me. OMG, take the TT job and don’t burden me with that guilt!

    Reply
  13. Ben

    Strong agree with all except Laurence.

    Reply
  14. cecil burrow

    Let’s just say I’m pretty sure Laurence B McCullough is not serious.

    Reply
  15. Another Chair

    I’m a chair, too, and I completely agree with Chair. Back out of the VAP offer. Take the TT offer.

    Reply
  16. Anon Postdoc

    Not only do I think you may and should back out without any guilt, I think you are morally required to do so here: once you back out the VAP department can offer that position to someone else. And that someone else may have no other options, getting this VAP position might be the difference between staying in and leaving the profession for them. (I’m not so certain but I think the same probably applies to taking deferring a TT position to take a postdoc: you are taking the slot of someone who hasn’t been so lucky and might really need that postdoc when you just want some time off teaching.)

    Reply

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