The Two-Body Problem: Dual-Career-Couple Hiring Practices in Higher Education

by Lisa Wolf-Wendel, Susan B. Twombly, Suzanne Rice

Overview

Approximately eight of every ten academics have spouses or partners who are working professionals, and almost half of these partners are academics as well. In fact, dual-career academic couples are so prevalent that "the two-body problem" has become a common way of referring to the situation. Increasingly, intense competition to hire the best faculty forces institutions to assist dual-career couples in finding suitable employment for the accompanying spouse or partner.

The authors of The Two-Body Problem examine policies and practices used by colleges and universities to respond to the needs of dual-career couples within the economic, legal, and demographic contexts of higher education. Using data from an extensive survey of public and private universities as well as in-depth case studies of institutions representing distinctive approaches to this problem, the authors find that the type of institution—its location, size, governance, mission, and resource availability—is a critical factor in determining dual-career employment options. The Two-Body Problem describes various accommodation models in depth and provides valuable information for college and university administrators responsible for hiring faculty and supporting their performance.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801874512
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	02/09/2004
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Lisa Wolf-Wendel is an associate professor in the teaching and leadership department of the University of Kansas.

Susan B. Twombly is a professor in the teaching and leadership department of the University of Kansas.

Suzanne Rice is an associate professor in the teaching and leadership department of the University of Kansas.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Dual-Career Couples: Who Does What and Why
3. Introduction to the Cases and the Qualitative Method
4. Relocation Services
5. Accommodation through Non-Tenure-Track and Adjunct
6. Faculty Positions
7. Accommodation through Split and Shared Positions
8. Accommodation through Shared Advertising
9. In Pursuit of Tenure-Track Positions
10. Common Concerns about Dual-Career Hiring Practices
11. The Two-Body Problem Revisited: Conclusions and Recommendations
Appendix A: Survey Methodology
Appendix B: Useful Internet Resources
Bibliography
Index

What People are Saying About This

Roger Baldwin

The Two-Body Problem is based on sound scholarship and will be a valuable contribution to higher education policy development and the literature on the academic profession. It will be of greatest interest to college and university administrators, serving as an easily accessible reference they can return to over and over again as the need arises.

— Roger Baldwin, Michigan State University

From the Publisher

The Two-Body Problem is based on sound scholarship and will be a valuable contribution to higher education policy development and the literature on the academic profession. It will be of greatest interest to college and university administrators, serving as an easily accessible reference they can return to over and over again as the need arises.
—Roger Baldwin, Michigan State University

Editorial Reviews

A useful compendium of how institutions of differing size, type and location are grappling with the dual-career problems . . . One has the sense of being privy to the kind of uncensored observation that would never show up in official minutes.
—Cynthia Goheen, Connection

Anyone aspiring to be a department chair or provost, or something similar, might do well to at least peruse this book.
—Karen Saxe, MAA Online

As the first comprehensive national study to systematically examine institutional dual-career policies and practices, The Two-Body Problem will interest administrators and faculty looking for ways to balance the needs of institutions with those of increasingly numerous dual-career couples.
—Karen Rowan, On Campus with Women

Administrators and policymakers will also find suggestions . . . about how to develop and implement an accommodation policy.
—Jessica Demovski, Adjunct Advocate

A useful guidebook and a solid, accessible starting point for scholarship on campus couples.
—Lawrence Rodgers, Department Chair

From the Publisher

A useful guidebook and a solid, accessible starting point for scholarship on campus couples.

Department Chair - Lawrence Rodgers

A useful compendium of how institutions of differing size, type and location are grappling with the dual-career problems . . . One has the sense of being privy to the kind of uncensored observation that would never show up in official minutes.

Connection - Cynthia Goheen

Administrators and policymakers will also find suggestions . . . about how to develop and implement an accommodation policy.

Adjunct Advocate - Jessica Demovski

Anyone aspiring to be a department chair or provost, or something similar, might do well to at least peruse this book.

MAA Online - Karen Saxe

As the first comprehensive national study to systematically examine institutional dual-career policies and practices, The Two-Body Problem will interest administrators and faculty looking for ways to balance the needs of institutions with those of increasingly numerous dual-career couples.

On Campus with Women - Karen Rowan

A useful guidebook and a solid, accessible starting point for scholarship on campus couples.

— Lawrence Rodgers

Department Chair

Administrators and policymakers will also find suggestions... about how to develop and implement an accommodation policy.

— Jessica Demovski

Adjunct Advocate

As the first comprehensive national study to systematically examine institutional dual-career policies and practices, The Two-Body Problem will interest administrators and faculty looking for ways to balance the needs of institutions with those of increasingly numerous dual-career couples.

— Karen Rowan

On Campus with Women

Anyone aspiring to be a department chair or provost, or something similar, might do well to at least peruse this book.

— Karen Saxe

MAA Online

A useful compendium of how institutions of differing size, type and location are grappling with the dual-career problems... One has the sense of being privy to the kind of uncensored observation that would never show up in official minutes.

— Cynthia Goheen

Connection