For years, I've looked forward to posting the results of DH's tenure decision. I spent years looking forward to the day we could relax a little knowing that he had been promoted and given a lifetime contract. In the last three years, I was looking forward to the day we knew he could easily go find another job - one that would make DH happy because the culture at this one was not good but it would be much easier to find a job with tenure than without.

But, it didn't happen this way. DH didn't get tenure. It would have been ok if he hadn't deserved it, but he did.

His department voted for it unanimously. But, the levels above it did not.

At the higher levels, DH was noted for excellent teaching, even creating new teaching techniques, and excellent service. But, they decided he wasn't strong enough in research. Yea, pretty sad when a university doesn't value teaching.

There were the official reasons, but really it was political. I can't go into them in such a public arena, but they are really stupid. So, at this point DH is being given a one year contract and will have to find a new job.

So, we are appealing because there were some procedural violations. Depending on the decision they make, DH could go back through tenure (but we don't anticipate a different decision because the same individuals are involved), but it could give DH a second one-year contract and that could help us find a better job because he'd have two hiring cycles rather than one. Plus, he has some thing that he'd like to have negotiated here before a hiring cycle and we need time for this.

Since March, things have felt pretty bleak. BUT, this week we got some fabulous news that has given us some new hope that DH will be OK.

While DH was in DC this week, he was at NSF (National Science Foundation) and he was informed that the grant he applied for in January was being funded - $300K. Not only that, but the project officer was appalled that DH didn't get tenured and asked what he could do to help undo this decision. Yep, DH, who wasn't tenured based on research had the person who funds his research appalled that he wasn't tenured when he was proposing such a unique and innovative research project.

So, we think we will be OK. We have some very strong people in our corner and the project officer is going to structure DH's grant so he can take it with him.

If you see my parents, don't tell them. We haven't told them yet.

Now to finish fixing up the house for selling. We know that either next spring or the spring after the house will have to go up for sale. MAN we love this house and I've been fighting much anger as I have to think about buying things for the next owner. I am doing as much as I can this summer so we can enjoy our improvements as much as possible.

Off to clean some before the race starts today. Let's hope for dry track conditions.