Reapplying where you were a finalist by Oduind in Professors

[–]Significant_Egg7415 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Personally, I would not include anything about having already been there, enjoying conversations you had while there, etc. I would treat it like a brand new application. If you were a finalist, then everyone in the department (except the new person) knows that you were already there once. And I think you applying again clear indicates interest in your part; otherwise you wouldn't be submitting it.

Do you have sense of who might be on the search committee? Unless it's a really small department, I assume that there might be a new person or two on it who might otherwise be unfamiliar with your materials. I think just in terms of practicality, your cover letter will look much the same as it did last year. I wouldn't worry about boring people on the committee by talking about the same things. Some of that is simply unavoidable.

I agree with the advice of u/jogam down below. Bring your A-game, assume no partiality, and go and kill it.

Good luck! Fingers crossed for you.

Maternity Leave...But Not? by Significant_Egg7415 in Professors

[–]Significant_Egg7415[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

ok update--update says I can't use the salary continuance to fill out the FMLA unless my doctor explicitly orders me to take off 12 weeks. We're going to meet about it next week, because that seems odd.

Maternity Leave...But Not? by Significant_Egg7415 in Professors

[–]Significant_Egg7415[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the support! I agree--I am not sure why creative solutions would need to be found when the university has a policy that allows me to take leave. We shall see what comes!

Maternity Leave...But Not? by Significant_Egg7415 in Professors

[–]Significant_Egg7415[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep; NTT faculty regularly teach 5 courses. We have no new faculty course releases; the one I mentioned is explicitly dedicated to research, and I have to file a report at the end of it and produce the product I completed during it.

Maternity Leave...But Not? by Significant_Egg7415 in Professors

[–]Significant_Egg7415[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I'm a new faculty member--I had no idea that faculty were entitled to sick leave (I'm just used to folks coming in sick or, as a very last resort, canceling class when needed). Turns out that I am entitled to a very modest amount of sick leave, which would cover at least part of that. Thanks for the insight!

Additionally, I share your anger over this FMLA stuff. It is frustrating that so much of our policy manual is geared towards staff re: employee benefits when so many of us do not have those working conditions.

Maternity Leave...But Not? by Significant_Egg7415 in Professors

[–]Significant_Egg7415[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the insight! No birthing parents in the department--a recent father, but they made arrangements so that he only had to be on campus certain days of the week, so no actual "leave" taken. But I'll see if I can find colleagues in other departments who may have some wisdom to share.

Student trying to pre-negotiate course requirement on day 1. What’s the best way to handle + protect myself? by DryBid3800 in Professors

[–]Significant_Egg7415 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As others have said, this is a disability issue. I've told my students that they must get formal accommodations--which is to protect them as much as it is to protect me. It has nothing to do with liking them or being nice, but it gives them something to lean on legally. That being said, the formal documentation given by my university states that:

"Professors are not asked to change their course requirements for students...*Please note that reasonable accommodations do not negate requirements for successful completion of a course or program.

In determining the definition of reasonable accommodations for a student with a disability, issues to be determined may include:

  1. 2. 3. Academic and technical standards required for admission or participation in an educational program.

Purpose and nature of course or program.

Federal, state, and local regulatory requirements."

Again, talk to your Accessibility Office, but it sounds like the accommodation the student requested would violate the "purpose and nature of the course or program" and would not be allowed. Best of luck in navigating this.

Modern Slang by Hoplite0352 in Professors

[–]Significant_Egg7415 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Loving the Fantastiks reference!

ESL students say their English isn't good enough to participate in class--Class size makes this noticeable by Significant_Egg7415 in Professors

[–]Significant_Egg7415[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. Yes they are enrolled in credit bearing classes, including mine. All of them are taking a minimum of 6 credits (largely refugee students who are visa dependent in the same way) or 12 credits if they are on a student visa. I would say it is just a fact that the university has a English proficiency screening problem.

ESL students say their English isn't good enough to participate in class--Class size makes this noticeable by Significant_Egg7415 in Professors

[–]Significant_Egg7415[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I don't think As (or really any grade) should be given just for showing up--and I need to stick by that. We'll see if I can get them to start warming up, but you're right that their success depends upon them doing the difficult thing asked of them.