tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post2925858497321481893..comments2024-01-28T03:35:51.182-05:00Comments on Reassigned Time: So You're about to Start a Job with a 4-4 LoadDr. Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12457967076373916629noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-14503733227382932332009-06-06T19:09:42.687-04:002009-06-06T19:09:42.687-04:00So. So. Helpful. Sign me, "am there, doing it...So. So. Helpful. Sign me, "am there, doing it."jeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12869460051254283412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-4559580911218120642009-05-31T01:21:01.417-04:002009-05-31T01:21:01.417-04:00This is all excellent advice, especially the parts...This is all excellent advice, especially the parts about thinking for 24 hours before saying yes to anything and putting yourself first. Those both seem to be simple matters of common sense, but they're all too easy to forget when you embark on a new role where you're acutely conscious of being judged and having to make a good impression.Bavardesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10737120234578385755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-22336639444220616032009-05-30T10:43:29.160-04:002009-05-30T10:43:29.160-04:00Thanks for this. I'll no doubt refer back in the f...Thanks for this. I'll no doubt refer back in the future. I was just hired for a t-t which starts in the fall, and I'm pretty in the dark about what to expect.PhillyChiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03355892225956705948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-79740558811745214582009-05-30T10:19:09.651-04:002009-05-30T10:19:09.651-04:00hey crazy! thanks for this!! i am copying it and p...hey crazy! thanks for this!! i am copying it and putting it in a file for my teaching so that it is readily available. i'm glad, at least this first semester that i only have 2 preps and i think a great schedule. on M/W is the comp class, back to back, not too early in the am either. T/R is the lit survey course, same times as the M/W schedule, so i think that i'm fortunate enough to have consistency throughout the week. and that they were willing to do a lot of work to get me such a schedule when i asked to have the same times across the board. i'm already thinking about how i'm going to schedule my time in the fall--when i'm going to carve out time for research and working out--two things i want to make sure i have scheduled as part of my weekly life to keep me sane. and then i can relegate teaching and grading to afternoons. i can get my "me" time out of the way, first thing so that teaching won't interfere.<br /><br />one thing i am nervous about is spring semester because my job comes with an administrative responsibility (i thought it was something i was going to be "encouraged" to apply for in the next year or two--but no, it's part of my job as a new t-t, weird, but it is). it comes with a course release and an added stipend, so it's likely i'll still have two preps and then this administrative thing, which really makes me nervous.<br /><br />thanks again, and sorry for such a long comment!!Maudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11918488082176862598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-43636838551750126842009-05-30T00:53:39.135-04:002009-05-30T00:53:39.135-04:00Oh, and let me add: this holds true even if you're...Oh, and let me add: this holds true even if you're not scheduled to be on campus that day. In other words, the whole "But I only teach on Tuesdays and Thursdays" things means nothing. If a meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, you've got to find your way to campus and be there. Period.Dr. Crazyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12457967076373916629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-82032080400080562402009-05-30T00:49:23.332-04:002009-05-30T00:49:23.332-04:00YES, Academic2! It didn't even occur to me to wri...YES, Academic2! It didn't even occur to me to write that because it just seemed obvious to me but seriously: YES. Any meeting of the department when you are not teaching? YOU MUST BE THERE! Any meeting required of all faculty? YOU MUST BE THERE? If you're assigned to committees in your first year (I only had one committee assignment; some places require more in the first year) YOU MUST BE AT THOSE COMMITTEE MEETINGS! The ONLY legitimate excuse is if you can't come because you teach at that time. Office hours are not an excuse, needing to write is not an excuse, an individual meeting with a student is not an excuse. YOU MUST GO TO MEETINGS!!!<br /><br />(And meetings are annoying. And long. And often boring. But yes, they are mandatory.)Dr. Crazyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12457967076373916629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-66060758092206068452009-05-29T23:16:50.323-04:002009-05-29T23:16:50.323-04:00I will say one thing about the whole 'getting tenu...I will say one thing about the whole 'getting tenure' thing. <br /><br />SHOW UP TO MEETINGS.<br /><br />Even if your department isn't social--ESPECIALLY if your dept isn't social--show up to meetings! It's a chance to see and be seen, to discuss your work, to show your interest in your department's work, etc etc.<br /><br />You don't have to do a lot of service work, if you can get away with it. But DO the work that you say you will and suit up/show up.<br /><br />We hired a tt person who can't ever seem to make it to meetings. I can't tell you how negatively it has affected this person's reputation among the more junior faculty who will have to deal with such habits should tenure be granted. What does this person do? Where do they stand on major departmental issues such as new programs or new assessment issues or new technology or new grants?<br /><br />Meetings are a mandatory *part* of the job, not an optional part of them.Academic2https://www.blogger.com/profile/01877811817399947220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-58199206673537459942009-05-29T19:54:35.964-04:002009-05-29T19:54:35.964-04:00This is great advice. All I remember about my firs...This is great advice. All I remember about my first semester teaching is that I didn't breathe. I finished one class and prepped the next. (I was on a 3-3, not a 4-4. . .)Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09716705206734059708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-50468871497243495472009-05-29T18:32:40.440-04:002009-05-29T18:32:40.440-04:00Even though my load was only 4-4 when overloads hi...Even though my load was only 4-4 when overloads hit, your advice would work well for people in teaching-intensive jobs anywhere. Learning how to balance your worklife and to handle the loads wisely is a rare skill!Janicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14093558563358431804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-24634079152570873662009-05-29T17:06:19.932-04:002009-05-29T17:06:19.932-04:00Sis, I just awakened from a 2-hour nap and the day...Sis, I just awakened from a 2-hour nap and the day is sunny and gorgeous and not even humid. I will say, the technique I favor most frequently is making myself feel so bad that I can't do anything other than work without deep self-loathing. Clearly, I'm not there yet. <br /><br />Oh, and it helps to leave the place where cats are lazy. They are bad influences :)Dr. Crazyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12457967076373916629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-75449291135899041402009-05-29T16:37:19.202-04:002009-05-29T16:37:19.202-04:00Yay! Great advice that I shall bookmark from the C...Yay! Great advice that I shall bookmark from the Crazy. Someday it shall come in useful!<br /><br />Now, if you have any good advice for how to get off the couch and get working when it's a terrible, gray, mucky, cloudy day out, let me know ... ;)Sisyphushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09880634753539329199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-26715010246941201362009-05-29T15:24:33.613-04:002009-05-29T15:24:33.613-04:00Thank you so much for this. I'm still waiting for...Thank you so much for this. I'm still waiting for final board approval, but should be starting a 4-4 teaching load this fall at a new university, with three preps a semester. This is great advice!EmmaNadinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11813648613912843721noreply@blogger.com