Oregon State had hired him too, but only as an adjunct professor, a position guaranteeing him little more than an office and the geology department's blessing to scramble for part-time teaching and grant money. Although Dilles persevered, became popular as an instructor, and earned an adequate income teaching a variety of courses, he lacked the job security and prestige enjoyed by the regular faculty, one of whom, of course, was his own wife. Most galling of all, he was not tenure-track.
For two years, the couple made do with the arrangement, appealing to the dean for an improvement in Dilles's status, and constantly debating whether they might be better off to leave Oregon State. Then a new dean arrived at OSU, a part-time faculty vacancy came up, and the geologists devised a solution to their dilemma. With the support of the dean, they essentially redefined Grunder's job as a 1.5-time ...
