Interviewing Students

I interviewed students for the first time in a long time yesterday.  The interviews were part of a scholarship application by the students.  My input, at least theoretically, has an effect on their ability to be able to comfortably afford our university.

I don't like having a fixed prompt or set of prompts.  I prefer to ask about the students' interests and go from there.  I think that I'm pretty good at it but there isn't any oversight so there's always that nagging doubt.

Being Sick

I'm often affected by some malady (sore throat, allergies, back pain) but I go into denial and keep chugging along.  Yesterday I had a fever and some diarrhea and had to call a halt to my scheduled activities.  My wife and kids don't handle it well.  They seem to take it for granted that I will just continue doing things as I usually do.  Is it the father role in general?  Do other father's get this kind of reaction?

Presentations

I am writing a presentation to give in a couple of weeks.  I had the idea firmly in my head months ago when I submitted the abstract, but work being what it is I haven't written anything until this weekend.

The Beamer package in LaTeX works pretty well so that I don't have to worry too much about formatting.  Each slide seems to be a good way of chunking content.  It's just a matter of typing, re-wording, practicing, repeating.

I wish that I hadn't let it run this late.  Too many other things going on simultaneously.  My talks have gone over well recently so I'm getting better in some fashion, but I can't slack off and just trust to luck.

Working on Saturday

I went in and worked most of Saturday at my office.

I try not to abandon my family (and put more responsibility on my wife) very often, but two or three times a year I need sustained focus and access to materials in my office.  This time it was to write drafts of annual evaluations for the faculty that report to me.

It's both quiet and loud.  I usually don't play music loudly at home.

I don't have to be prepared for interruptions.  I can focus without reservation on the task at hand.

I usually set unreasonable expectations for the quantity of work done.  This time was a closer match.

Not bad---kind of a vacation in a sick kind of way.

First Day of Classes, Again

Pretty light day---only one out of my three classes and office hours that were unattended.  Tomorrow is full so I spent a good deal of time preparing for it and doing paperwork for students wishing to enter closed sections.

I do feel a weight with the end of Break, that my life will be very strictly scheduled for the next three months.  On the other hand my mind is sharper with the adrenalin.  It has been so hard to focus since December final exams.

Always a trade-off.

Teaching an Overload

Well, in my nearly last act as department chair I am assigning myself an overload.  I jumped through all sorts of hoops to make sure that I was clear ethically, since it means more pay for myself.  But it is a class that only a handful of faculty can teach, none had classes to trade off, none wanted to take on the overload except for myself.

I will like having more money with a child getting braces.  It is more work, but I really do like teaching, far better than the chair administrivia.  I think that i will enjoy it.  I also think that I will lose more sleep.  Sigh.

Staffing

After preregistration I had five sections for the Spring without instructors.  I was busy dealing with an adjunct who had angered all of his students and didn't address it until December.

Two faculty on maternity leave, and one adjunct not coming back, with three sections added at preregistration.  What a mess.

It's been hanging over my head, through our Christmas travels, through a math conference out of town.  This should be the last time that it is my responsibility, and I will not miss it.  Staffing has hung over my breaks and vacations for over half my time at the university.

It's always worked out, but every new hire is a risk.  We've had very bad experiences these past three years.  The ones who have stayed have been good.

I'm mentally drained.  Glad that it seems to be resolving.