tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36212542.post2594185143750709620..comments2024-03-09T03:20:20.004-05:00Comments on Tenured Radical: Department of Radical Pedagogy: Or, A Few Easy Steps Towards Being A Good Academic AdviserTenured Radicalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703980598547163290noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36212542.post-73155607201458148522010-08-20T15:35:10.448-05:002010-08-20T15:35:10.448-05:00Dammit, TR, it's your fault I'm cleaning m...Dammit, TR, it's your fault I'm cleaning my desk today. Hoardes of excited, exciting students arriving Wednesday.DrGunPowderPlotnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36212542.post-77276713819295249872010-08-19T20:08:47.281-05:002010-08-19T20:08:47.281-05:00yeah, I noticed today that my office is a mess, al...yeah, I noticed today that my office is a mess, although I did clean off my desk :-) And the plants mostly are healthy. But there are piles of stuff. Mostly, though, the students notice the geeky things on the shelves and seem to approve. But I do all of those things except the meals -- I was thinking of having the majors all over to the house at some point, but am weighing that against having a do in our lounge area, still for all the majors and minors. Our department is so small that I think it could cause real friction if I had my advisees over, because my colleagues just wouldn'tAnother Damned Medievalisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05231085915472400163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36212542.post-72315597832665350722010-08-19T07:02:03.477-05:002010-08-19T07:02:03.477-05:00I work at a uni in which it would be considered ex...I work at a uni in which it would be considered exotic, if not even rather strange, to invite undergraduates to a faculty member's house. We don't have advisees until they're declared History majors, so we don't have a lot of first year students. It's even difficult to get graduate students to come to your house--I think I'm one of the only two faculty members who has tried it.<br /><br />So TR's advice is great for those who work in similar cultures--but I'd suggest that individual faculty be attentive to their institutional and departmental culture. You don't have the power to change it, even if that would be highly desirable.<br /><br />I'm curious to see that TR's office doesn't get cleaned any more often than mine. Once a year (right about now, as a matter of fact), I go in with some rags and cleaning spray and do a major dust-off. I think my office gets vacuumed once a month or so, but I know no one but me dusts it. (And since they replaced the heating and A/C units in our offices, we don't get a collection of dead flies near the windows any more. Progress!) But TR's point that a tidy office is a welcoming office is a very good point. (Fresh flowers, though? Only if someone sends them to me! Maybe I'll pick a handful of marigolds or black-eyed susans from my garden.)Historiannhttp://historiann.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36212542.post-12758978107491447372010-08-19T06:27:26.294-05:002010-08-19T06:27:26.294-05:00I would also say for those of you with *many* advi...I would also say for those of you with *many* advisees, there's got to be triage, right? Major advisees have a tendency to be self-sustaining, and except for the occasional junior or senior who melts down, they don't need or want an adviser who hovers.<br /><br />First year advisees, however, do need more attention -- partly because they need to learn how to build relationships with faculty. It is worth remembering that the vast majority of high school students regard individual contact with faculty as intimidating and stigmatizing (i.e., teachers ask to see you when you are in trouble) and they have to be encouraged to do otherwise.<br /><br />Sophomores are more independent, but also -- particularly in the fall at schools where majors are declared in the spring -- in limbo-land. <br /><br />I also don't think that overstressed faculty have to do *all* these things -- doing even one or two of them would help.Tenured Radicalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05703980598547163290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36212542.post-35677894684446213252010-08-19T00:08:46.475-05:002010-08-19T00:08:46.475-05:00PS The word of the day is POTLUCK dinners...dozens...PS The word of the day is POTLUCK dinners...dozens of students at a time, lively discussion, folding chairs and tables. <br /><br />No more excuses to those who cannot envision this one to one contact. It is very possible. My mom was always on the go, her students loved that.soulful sepulcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12271584927611299868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36212542.post-23890398904257855102010-08-19T00:05:21.041-05:002010-08-19T00:05:21.041-05:00Growing up with a U Prof for a parent, I can safel...Growing up with a U Prof for a parent, I can safely say this is a great list. Saw it work first hand, right down to the dinners at our home, the office created for hands on learning and discussion for students, the open door policy, and the freedom given to say what was on their mind w/out retaliation. <br /><br />Thanks, good post.soulful sepulcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12271584927611299868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36212542.post-31744924703320369872010-08-18T15:58:08.272-05:002010-08-18T15:58:08.272-05:00I'm in an English Department. More like an asy...I'm in an English Department. More like an asylum than a program. <br /><br />Advising is one of those things that troubles me. I am satisfied with the way I advise students who request me as an advisor because of our shared intellectual interests -- or because their goals intersect with my realm of practical experience (I had a colorful existence before signing on to graduate school), but I don't even know what my goals are / were with other students. I guess I feel like I know how to mentor, but not how to advise.<br /><br />So in recent years I've traded off admin work (which I am, apparently, very good at) for much of a standard advising load (where I can't even find the target). <br /><br />Regarding the "dinner at a professor's house" stuff: I'm from a background where I learned to be very suspicious of crossing the social with the professional. So I found it incredibly stressful to have the opportunity as an undergraduate or the requirement as a graduate student to socialize with faculty. Now that I've moved to the other side of the table, I realize that most students luuurrrv this kind of thing. So while I won't invite my 90 advisees over for dinner, I am liable to take one to the coffee house when they are particularly tweaked over something. <br /><br />TR, do you find that some liberal arts faculty are less comfortable with this culture? And, if so, are they still successful community members?<br /><br />Thanks, c<br /><br />Erinna (aka Anonymous 1:28).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36212542.post-20162470400390418682010-08-18T15:27:58.177-05:002010-08-18T15:27:58.177-05:00My question was the same as Anonymous (who teaches...My question was the same as Anonymous (who teaches at an R1). I, too, appreciate your words here, but teaching at a severely underfunded state university in California I can't possibly imagine teaching my 3 courses and taking each of my advisees out to lunch. <br /><br />What transfers for from from your post is to be attentive, to listen well, and to help the students get situated in their new environment.<br /><br />And I would add to those of us working in huge state universities: to create a sense of a little personal connection amidst the soul-crushing bureaucracy, to try to keep tabs (as possible) so they do not fall between the cracks. I also try to give my students a tiny sense of entitlement that most liberal arts students have in excess.<br /><br />But lunch dates and dinner parties? I just can't manage it.Deb Cohlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14304333544424355203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36212542.post-80460617720551949652010-08-18T14:33:14.120-05:002010-08-18T14:33:14.120-05:00Actually, in the past I have had that many -- but ...Actually, in the past I have had that many -- but our loads at Zenith are extremely uneven, depending in department, field and whatnot; my goal is to hold mine down to 25 this year, and try not to let it rise above 30 next year.<br /><br />We have a system where, instead of getting 10-12 frosh every three years, you get 5-6 every year (that you are on duty, that is.) Then you add major advisees to that: in US history and American Studies, that drives it up again.<br /><br />I'm guessing you are in a program?Tenured Radicalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05703980598547163290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36212542.post-890322255620908902010-08-18T13:28:49.541-05:002010-08-18T13:28:49.541-05:00How many advisees do you have, TR? I'm at an R...How many advisees do you have, TR? I'm at an R1, where most faculty have 50-60 assigned. At what point would this approach become untenable? <br /><br />And many thanks for a thought-provoking, entertaining, useful blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36212542.post-70100262744941504362010-08-18T10:47:11.357-05:002010-08-18T10:47:11.357-05:00I think I would totally go back in time to be an u...I think I would totally go back in time to be an undergrad just to have the advisor who took all this advice.PhDeviatehttp://PhDeviate.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36212542.post-3211689976692152082010-08-18T10:04:26.075-05:002010-08-18T10:04:26.075-05:00You are very welcome.You are very welcome.Tenured Radicalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05703980598547163290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36212542.post-53783236669469890962010-08-18T10:00:29.630-05:002010-08-18T10:00:29.630-05:00i think i noted once before that i found you accid...i think i noted once before that i found you accidentally.<br /><br />maybe i don't have a lot to add to your conversation or have points to debate, but i want you to know i am reading, and reading thoughtfully.<br /><br />and i want to say thank you.<br /><br />that's all.flaskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02926786246931651655noreply@blogger.com