What do you do if your academic research is overshadowed by administrative tasks in Higher Education?

When you assess your tasks, think about efficiency in performing those tasks. Those who obtain administrative roles are often high achievers. Consider if you tend to overwork and over process your responsibilities. Do you need to work on a policy until it is perfect? Or could you hand a draft to a committee so that they can complete it or work out the details? Handing it off to others also helps them to develop as professionals and may decrease your administrative tasks in the future.

I found that administrators, especially those new to the role and seeking tenure, must often remind others that research is part of their job responsibility. When the administrative tasks begin to take over, ask your mentor and or supervisor to help you prioritize your tasks. Here is the important part. Keep the research responsibilities on the list! Our tendency is to ask how to prioritize the administrative responsibilities and hope there will be sufficient time left over to work on your research.

The best advice I received was to negotiate release time for research when I accepted an administrative role. Even if you do have designated release time, you still need to protect and use that time consistently. Consider joining a writing group that meets regularly. A consistent meeting time with others provides a time you can anticipate and plan for each week because it is on your calendar. And if the group is structured, the members may hold each other accountable for progress.

To prevent your academic research from being overshadowed by administrative tasks in higher education, set clear boundaries. Prioritize your research by scheduling dedicated time blocks, delegating or minimizing non-essential administrative duties, and communicating your research commitments to colleagues. By maintaining a structured schedule and focusing on high-impact activities, you can ensure that your research remains a priority and continues to thrive amidst administrative demands.

If administrative tasks overshadow your academic research, innovate solutions to streamline efficiency. Implement technology tools for task management, automate routine processes, and seek collaborative platforms to share administrative burdens. Propose structural changes to optimize workflow and consider creative scheduling to balance both responsibilities. By adopting innovative approaches, you can reclaim time for research, enhance productivity, and ensure your academic pursuits receive the focus they deserve.

How can you combine your research and administrative responsibilities? Would it be acceptable if your research focused on an aspect of your responsibilities? This could be rather broad and include topics such as student achievement, new faculty support, or collaborative interdisciplinary projects.

Work hard to get a promotion, so you can have a secretary that does all the administrative stuff for you! Always have a goal and work towards that. PS: Complaining does not help. Either solve it if you can, or accept it. There is no third option.