Thanks for all the memories!

Let’s just say that they don’t call our break week in February “Spring Break” for a very good reason. Brr!

‘Cause, after all, what’s more satisfying? Sleep or online flame wars?

Wait, don’t answer that!

More great insights from xkcd: How It Works (Gender and Math)

Trebuchet (or Auto-Targeting Lasers)

Real Programmers Use. . . .

• nursing a nasty cold that involves constant post-nasal drip
• dealing with new snow and old snow (courtesy of Canada Post deciding to shovel it from in front of the mailbox to in front of our driveway — breaking by-laws merrily along the way)
• driving much too much to get people places and errands done
• working hard to get a new collaborative network underway on my campus
• not having as much time as I’d like to work on my next article

Now I just need to think what’s the best sub-category on my CV to reflect that change. Should it be listed as “Forthcoming” or is there some other phrasing that sounds best? I ask because my dossier goes before a university committee on Monday and it’d be nice to give them that updated information (as well as copies of my other work that came out the end of December). Usually I just go with “Forthcoming” until it’s actually “In Press” or “In Print” but it doesn’t hurt to get some advice now, does it?

Our U is growing — offering more and fuller programs at a new (to us) location. The road to that hasn’t been easy — some administrators hoped to fast-track this. I have to admit that I was one of the ones pulling the brakes, not because I don’t want to see this growth, but that I want to see it done correctly. We’re already confronted problems that result from the difficulty of communicating well across hundreds of miles and there’s a disquieting feeling that the growth is unthinking. With no tenure-track faculty currently at the remote site and hopes to offer programs with a bare handful of new hires, the committee that I was on asked for a little time and a lot more consultation. At that point, I couldn’t feel happy supporting the nebulous proposal.

Two weeks later we were back at it with department representatives for the programs in question in attendance and someone teleconferencing in from the distant campus to boot. And things went well. People from one program spoke passionately about the inability to offer one of their four-year degrees under the current proposal, but staved off administrative unrest by pointing out the way that another program could fit the bill for now with hopes to build up to the research-based program. Details were offered about the additional hirings needed and acknowledged. Additional resources were also committed for the library at the site. All in all, two weeks gave us the opportunity to help make this a strong plan that I can happily support.

We’re still not moving at lightning speed. Matters have to go through the academic senate, ads need to be drafted, hiring committees approved, offerings outlined. Much as the administrators might like it, we’re probably not ready to offer the full programs for next fall. But now everyone involved is committed to the endeavour (unlike two weeks ago!) and we have a much better chance of getting something off the ground in short order. As well, we’ve set a clear precedent of what needs to be considered should another program experience a growth spurt at this distant campus and want to grow. That, to me, was definitely worth the wait!

This amuses me, mostly because my schedule usually gets a great deal more complicated around 3:15 in the afternoon.