Zooze the Horse roams around the pasture near Lamar State College. Zooze thinks about problems in academia. Zhe wants proffies to submit posts (blog posts, not fence posts).
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Big Thirsty (at the end of the day)
If you could anonymously give $5,000 to anyone at your school, who would it be?
And if you could include a typed note to them, would you?
Our study abroad coordinator, with a note indicating that it should go to a student in need who would benefit from seeing more of the world. $5,000 would cover any of our month-long summer trips, and we have students who have never been out of the state.
Any of our wonderful and criminally-underpaid adjuncts. A truthful note would read, "you deserve better," but that would probably just make them feel bad, so maybe just the money.
I'd give it to our cleaning folks if they actually did any cleaning other then emptying the trash. They do not even do that well. We "out-sourced" it a few years ago and boy did it get worse!
In our grants office, one of the staff's contract situation is that renewal is based almost entirely on other people's results.
The staff in question is amazing. No note, because Batshit U would probably conduct an investigation costing a lot more than the 5,000 bucks.
Speaking of staff and money, BU has just announced it wants to form a working group whose specific purpose will be to figure out how to increase donations from the people working here.
The custodial staff, hands down. At my place, they work hard cleaning up after the often disgusting students (e.g., the ones who, inexplicably, often throw trash into the urinals, not realizing that someone has to clean that out) and sometimes disgusting faculty. They are a cheerful, friendly lot, but grossly underpaid, and one of the first targets of layoffs despite the fact that sacking just a couple of useless admins could more than pay for them to have decent wages.
Most of my students come from backgrounds that afford them with the resources needed to finish college in a timely way, but I had a freshman last semester who had to take a second job, on top of his already demanding on-campus one, to help his mom keep the lights on at home. I'd like to give it to him with a note saying "You can do this."
Our department's administrative assistant, who works magic. A note would apologize for the stinginess.
ReplyDeleteSame here, but there are three of them. Maybe a note (unsigned) saying "thank you"
DeleteOur study abroad coordinator, with a note indicating that it should go to a student in need who would benefit from seeing more of the world. $5,000 would cover any of our month-long summer trips, and we have students who have never been out of the state.
ReplyDeleteAny of our wonderful and criminally-underpaid adjuncts. A truthful note would read, "you deserve better," but that would probably just make them feel bad, so maybe just the money.
ReplyDeleteDear Walter. You look peaked. Go get some nice new ammo.
ReplyDeleteIt's a tossup among the adjuncts, the cleaning and/or food service folks, and the fund that helps students with DACA status pay out-of-state tuition.
ReplyDeleteBottom line is that all of them are working hard, and none of them have the security they deserve.
I'd give it to our cleaning folks if they actually did any cleaning other then emptying the trash. They do not even do that well. We "out-sourced" it a few years ago and boy did it get worse!
DeleteIn our grants office, one of the staff's contract situation is that renewal is based almost entirely on other people's results.
ReplyDeleteThe staff in question is amazing. No note, because Batshit U would probably conduct an investigation costing a lot more than the 5,000 bucks.
Speaking of staff and money, BU has just announced it wants to form a working group whose specific purpose will be to figure out how to increase donations from the people working here.
The custodial staff, hands down. At my place, they work hard cleaning up after the often disgusting students (e.g., the ones who, inexplicably, often throw trash into the urinals, not realizing that someone has to clean that out) and sometimes disgusting faculty. They are a cheerful, friendly lot, but grossly underpaid, and one of the first targets of layoffs despite the fact that sacking just a couple of useless admins could more than pay for them to have decent wages.
ReplyDeleteMost of my students come from backgrounds that afford them with the resources needed to finish college in a timely way, but I had a freshman last semester who had to take a second job, on top of his already demanding on-campus one, to help his mom keep the lights on at home. I'd like to give it to him with a note saying "You can do this."
ReplyDelete