As noted in the previous post, this week I interviewed for the position of Campus Executive Officer at a college in the Southwestern U.S. [This job is at a two-year branch campus of a university; it would bear the title of “president” at just about any other two-year college.] Although I was pretty positive that I would not be considered further in this search, the next morning (i.e., yesterday) I received a phone call inviting me to campus to interview as a finalist!

Ohmygod! (I said to myself…) How can this be?

THEN, came the rest of the news: I was being offered a maximum of $750 in reimbursement for travel expenses (airfare alone would cost over $600), which would not be paid at all if I either withdrew from the search or declined an offer of employment.

WHAT!?!

I called and wrote back to them expressing my interest in being reimbursed actual expenses (100%) and in having them drop the “terms.” The final offer from them was a maximum reimbursement of $1,200, under the original terms. (My expenses would have been, I think, a little over $1,400.)

This is how you hire a president?

I don’t think so.

Sorry, Bobbi Jo…nice to have met ya…