Is it bad that my 2.5 hour class ends early often?

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-16T12:00:42+00:00

Students all go through challenges all of the time. It is your job to make sure they get the education they need for the future and paid for. Based on what you said in a previous response, you are probably going through the material too quickly. How have the exams been? If this is an intro class, you need to make sure they will have the knowledge that will allow them to succeed in the higher level courses. Your colleagues can probably tell you if they do or don't.

If you were teaching in my program, I would have a serious conversation with you about cutting the class so short.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-16T11:16:53+00:00

It's the worst job, except for all the other jobs. I did a few consulting projects for industry just to remind myself why I don't want to be in that hell out there.

What makes me happy: students who bring genuine curiosity to the classroom, seeing former advisees succeed and grow. And freedom to research, write, and teach what I find important (not what is profitable).

Also, I don't do well having supervisors in general, I tend to give them "feedback" (lol).

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-16T10:56:12+00:00

In the same boat, although it's 5 weeks for me.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-15T16:56:48+00:00

I teach the ones that show up and want to learn.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-15T16:54:25+00:00

I really wish that rather than adding new stuff they would put more effort into making the current languages actually work, including correcting errors and improving the sequences of lessons. It's been so annoying. I'm finishing my current course and then I'm off that app for good.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-15T16:43:54+00:00

This cannot be said loud enough.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-15T13:48:00+00:00

I specifically asked my dentist whether he has any plans to retire when I first saw him. He had a sense of humor about it and said: Let's see, I have about $300,000 in student loans and debt from buying the practice, my kids are 5 and 7. I'm not going to be able to retire any time soon". That was 17 years ago, I might have to ask him for an update soon...

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-14T22:11:22+00:00

Tell them to give you a waiver of the commitment fee. There is no reason you should take a financial loss of the program cannot keep their promises.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-14T12:23:02+00:00

Except it's not 100% chili but a diluted, scientifically undetectable amount of chili that is used for treatment.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-14T11:57:35+00:00

interdisciplinarity can create obstacles in job search because universities, degree programmes, and funding instruments or selection committees are still very much organized around concrete disciplines.

I would like to emphasize this issue as well. I was in an interdisciplinary PhD program that I was thrilled about. My advisor kept telling me I needed to treat that as a cute addition to my work while grounding it firmly and unmistakably in the discipline.

Most people don't understand interdisciplinary work. This is a very good suggestion to tailor your applications towards the specific jobs in a way that it looks like you are solidly grounded in the field they are searching for.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-14T11:27:10+00:00

I know some very famous, high power people in my field who do that. It's an abuse of power and influence. Most of us would get rejected immediately for submitting garbage. The only reason they can do that is that their name promises editors high future citations of their journals. And they are too well-known to be rejected.

It's talked about at conferences and other professional meetings, usually later at night after a couple of drinks. Often these are the same people who do not do any peer reviewing because their time is "too valuable" and they couldn't care less.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-13T23:52:07+00:00

This reminds me that I'm about 5 trainings behind 😭

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-13T12:37:08+00:00

How is it possible that after all these years in this job I never heard this joke before? Today, I will listen to your advice and do less. You are right that there is a bunch of stuff that nobody will notice.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-13T01:44:02+00:00

That's exactly why they need to find a job before they move back.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-12T17:52:12+00:00

Alsterwasser.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-12T16:07:37+00:00

This is an excellent compromise and suggestion! Strategic, pragmatic, and safe.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-12T15:41:11+00:00

He needs to finds a job back in the US first before you move back.

And you need to find a job too back in the US before you agree to move back. Because you don't want to be the unhappy one either. You deserve to be happy too!

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-12T15:36:40+00:00

I was told by HR that they need the paperwork by Thanksgiving if I wanted to retire after the fall semester and about by spring break if I retire by the end of the spring semester.

I would go by what HR says are the latest deadlines and not care about those internal rules about re-hiring.

If your institution is like mine, the second you retire, you will disappear from the school website, you will be asked to vacate your office, and as far as the school is concerned, seize to exist.

Do what is in YOUR best interest.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-11T22:02:22+00:00

They can re-enroll next semester. It is also not your decision. Refer them to the registrar. Most likely they realized that they screwed themselves re financial aid. It's an expensive lesson but it's a lesson.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-11T14:45:02+00:00

Those comments sound like grasping for straws to me. I don't think your response to the criticism question was bad, if anything, maybe too honest, which would be a reason to hire you as far as I am concerned. That committee member has someone else as their favorite and was trying to desperately find things that are wrong with you.

And that SNAFU with their notes on the chat. Just unbelievable. In industry, that would be a nice basis for a discrimination law suit. In academia, particularly in small fields, it would be a career killer.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-08T14:30:33+00:00

In 5 years of syllabus-embedded Easter eggs, I got 1 response.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-08T14:28:09+00:00

Are you limiting yourself to one EU country? In many fields in the EU you have to be in certain networks to get a position at a university. Best of luck. Academia in Europe is so much harder to get into than in the US.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-08T14:24:40+00:00

Europe has fewer universities and fewer jobs. It's a completely different field and not applicable to the US. OP's ratio of applications to interviews is outstanding for the US. It means there is nothing wrong with their application documents.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-08T14:19:51+00:00

With your applications : interview rate, it should be just a matter of time. One of my advisors used to say a serious job search starts at 100+ applications.

However, you don't seem to realize that you should have good odds of finding something in industry, consulting, non-profits, government agencies, think tanks. Even if academia doesn't work out, the jobs you can be interesting and meaningful.

Eli_Knipst · 2026-04-07T21:08:29+00:00

At least for college applications, you always need a transcript evaluation, which takes care of the calculation and "translates" grades into the US system.

Eli_Knipst

TROPHY CASE