The Fora: A Higher Education Community

Quote from: Wahoo Redux on May 07, 2024, 07:52:37 PM

Quote from: Hibush on May 07, 2024, 10:36:08 AMI wonder how MIT worded the request so that it appeared to be compelled speech.

I think it actually has to do with the answer: you must answer in a very specific way, with specific jargon, and agree to a specific ideology, to get the job.  That is my takeaway from the mass of articles and complaints out there.

If I were truthful, I would say that all students are equal in my eyes until they F*** up in my classes, and then some students are obviously better than others no matter their ethnic or race or religion or socioeconomic status.  But that absolutely would not fly.  And I can't just say, "I am very aware that some topics are sensitive to some people, so I avoid those unless they are absolutely necessary or are brought up by a student, and then I take steps in class and out to make sure that said topics are handled appropriately." DEI wants more than this, and I am never sure what that is.

That uncertainty is a big part of what causes such paranoia and pushback around DEI.  Maybe a lot of it is more perception than reality, but perception matters a lot in getting people on board with something.

The only time I ever missed significant classes when I was an undergrad was when I took out two weeks early one November to go on a short-term mission trip.  It was not school-sponsored, but it was a church-supported school, and my profs were all understanding.  I let them know about the plans before time, and managed my work accordingly that semester to get everything done.  As I recall, it was all done informally through the individual instructors.  I didn't have to seek any special permissions.

This week our library's HVAC system has pulled its annual beginning-of-summer flake-out.  Seriously, I don't believe we've had a single year in two decades that we didn't lose air conditioning right about the time the full summer heat set in.  The only difference from year to year is precisely what will go wrong with the system.  This time it was a broken coupling on the chilled water pump.  The pump itself probably needs replacing in the near future.  We had our usual expensive out-of-town service call yesterday, and the system is now up and running.

Also this week, I have a bad cold.  The need to oversee HVAC work, prepare for a Board of Trustees meeting tomorrow, take care of payroll, etc. means that I've still been having to come in each day.  I can usually only take half-days when I'm sick like this.

Thankfully most of our predicted rains in recent days have failed to materialize.  Full, brutal summer heat and humidity have now set in.  They're running earlier this year.  I've had to turn on my home air conditioner a full week earlier than ever before.  It's two weeks before it used to be necessary a decade or so ago.

I heard coyotes a good deal growing up, but never saw any.  They apparently don't get close enough into town here to hear them.  We do have them in the region.  A couple of years ago a young woman in our church went deer hunting and said that all she saw was a coyote.  Somebody told her "You should have shot him--I hear they make great tacos!"  I really don't think that coyote tacos will ever catch on.

I'm not sure whether requiring students to arrange alteratives to due dates for religious reasons is compatible with my school's policy.

I did check with the dept chair about a student who asked to be able to make up missed work after final grades were submitted, and the chair said yes, allow it.

Quote from: Dismal on May 07, 2024, 03:45:01 PMSt. Cloud State in Minnesota announced plans to terminate 46 out of 136 degree programs.  See page 42 of this slide show:  https://www.scribd.com/document/729982751/St-Cloud-State-University-Budget-Update-May-6-2024#from_embed

St. Cloud apparently is the most worse off financially of all of the MN state schools.

With a steadily declining and 50% enrollment drop since 2011 something had to give!

The dogs alerted me to a beautiful young Coyote on the other side of my back fence at the edge of the woods last evening. I suspect it was a recently evicted young-in, we had another sighting around this time last year. He hung around for a bit until the barking sent him scampering back into the deep woods. Now if they would only finish the construction in our neighborhood so the deer would come back...

Students need to let you know well in advance that they won't be able to submit assignments on certain dates or days of the week. Assignments for my courses are usually due on Fridays by 5 PM or Sundays by midnight (assignments are submitted online) which helps students who observe the sabbath on Saturdays. If you have a sentence about your religious exemption policy in your syllabus, you shouldn't have problems with students taking unfair advantage of exemptions. We aren't allowed to ask for proof.

Good morning!

Genius with the pangram. Last word yesterday was oddball.

cathwen, glad that things sorted themselves out so smoothly. Used cars are at a premium these days! I still get letters and emails from dealers wanting to buy my almost 8-yearold car.

Happy solving!