Well, not really ‘on the job’ so much as flying away across the USA.
Saw the munchkins off to school (see: http://dubber.org/blog/?m=20060828) and lead-footed it to BWI.
I’m in plenty of time for the flight and in the A boarding group and first here ‘on station’ but I’m sitting in a seat rather than on the floor - as the floor is decidedly uncomfortable.
Did some more moving in type stuff. Need a good filing system. Cogitated on that for a good long time, did not finish unpacking a box, did move loads of stuff around.
Apparently, the first official day for Fall Semester for faculty is 8/28. Ah well, there’s already lots to do.
Sat in on a conference call for an upcoming RFP with a colleague; I think I’m the new designated hitter (well, representative) for Ship in this effort. Time will tell. Obviously, I cannot reveal what the criteria are - but the process seems to be almost complete.
Moved in boxes and started the unloading… nowhere near done.
How is it I seem to often make a splash with a story?
We had the General Meeting of All Faculty today, where the colleges introduce their new faculty to the teeming mass of the rest of the faculty. Doesn’t sound so bad, right? So the newest 26 faculty (including myself) do our calisthetics by Department. Then, after all that wraps up, the Provost does (as Provosts seem to do) his start of the year, make everyone grin story. Here’s (approximately) how he finishes up:
Oh, and one of our new faculty - I won’t mention him by name as this is could be kind of embarassing, but he is one of our new library faculty - has a story to tell himself. It involves a party, a wall sconce, breaking the President’s house, and a President’s hand between his legs. Oh, I’ve said too much… let’s move on.
Needless to say, I was the only new person listed in the Library Department and had some storytelling to do. I told the story ~9 times (including different details each time, as I get tired of telling the same story twice) between leaving the meeting and getting back to my office.
What was that they say about first impressions?
Woohoo, had an extra half-hour to stagger about today; start time 8:30 am.
Met my new colleagues (officially) today - they are as wacky a bunch as I recall from the interview - I’m liking it here already.
It was a challenge to get in gear and be to work by the appointed hour (8:00 am). I’mnot used to this not-sleeping-in-and-being-a-slug-a-bed stuff. Oi.
Day two of orientating included the “Pedagogy Institute” in the morning; consisting of selecting 2 out of 3 sessions to focus on an aspect of providing good classroom experience/interaction/extension.
I chose to do the ‘Blackboard Support in the Classroom’ and ‘Actively Engaging Students in the Learning’ sessions. Sounds dry, I’m sure; but the sessions were fun and reinforced many of my preferences for instruction. Yay, no contradictions to the way I like to do things were received. 
The afternoon session explaining the tenure process (different and much more rigorous than my previous (and successful) process) — I will have an assigned mentor for my first 5 years and an assigned writer for the documentation itself for each year. Wow, I’d better get in gear on my publishing. (anyone want to collaborate on something?)
And the late afternoon session explaining the Faculty Union from the APSCUF folks
was informative, too. Was late to the APSCUF reception - got to talking about stuff needing to get done around here - so I mised the lion’s share of the food; met some nice folks and managed to not volunteer for anything (so far)
Quite good orientation sessions today — I think I like how ‘Ship‘ does this a bit better than ‘the Peay‘
We were given an hour and a bit to navigate on our own to the Campus Police station for our IDs and parking decals. Then a few introductions to the campus administrators and some of their supporting casts. Followed by a brief address or two. Followed by quite the nice comfortable, social hour (which was 30 minutes) and dinner with the Provost and Prez.
Shared my best Provost and Prez specific story from a Post-Tornado, Post-Renovation Holiday Reception at APSU.
Wow, time flies when one is not ‘at work.’
Three weeks have gone by, only loosely chronicled by my alter-ego. Scroll back to July 6th and read forward for the Saga (I’d link it directly, but I’m spaztic and out of practice).
I feel a little like I did when I was an incoming freshman. What should I wear, what is expected of me, how dorky will I look/should I dress? Hm… actually, I didn’t have any of that going through my head — I spent my freshman and sophomore years at Norwich University (where the wonderful Meredith Farkas now works) where all those choices/decisions were taken away from and made for me.
Luckily this is orientation week — Hey! The invitation said ‘casual’ and mentioned jeans; it’s hot, so I’m wearing shorts and a loud hawaiian style shirt (yes, the one with the big yellow flowers - if you’ve seen me wear it - my daughter picked it out)
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