Janet D. Stemwedel (whose nom de blog is Dr. Free-Ride) is an associate professor of philosophy at San Jose State University. Before becoming a philosopher, she earned a Ph.D. in physical chemistry. Email her at dr.freeride@gmail.com.
You're coming to the close of your sabbatical year. Probably you didn't make quite as much progress on your research or writing project as you had hoped to, but you have enjoyed a much-needed break from the demands of teaching (and especially grading) and committee work. Whenever they see you, your colleagues comment on how well-rested you look.
And now, it's time to reestablish contact with reality.
You're on the phone with your department chair about your duties for the fall semester. Do you choose:
Option 1:
A full teaching load that includes a lower division course that you have never taught before, in any version --one that will undoubtedly require much time and effort to prepare,
or
Option 2:
The task of being lead author for a major administrative task for your department, a task that will require tracking down many pieces of information from your colleagues, and that must be completed before the fall semester starts, but that will release you from teaching one course (the one that would have been the new prep) during the fall semester?
Why do you choose the one you choose? (After you tell me, maybe I'll tell you which of these options I chose and why.)
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Will you have to teach the new course eventually anyway? If so, by choosing the committee option you're only putting off the inevitable and making more work for yourself in the long term.
Honestly: Depends on the course. And depends (very much) on the colleagues.
Posted by: Leslie M-B | May 22, 2009 10:03 PM
Option 2, because then you can blame colleagues when it isn't done to someone's satisfaction, or by deadline.
Posted by: John S. Wilkins | May 22, 2009 10:45 PM
New course. No contest. I thought that as I got into the university I'd become less cynical about committee work and lose my "I'm too cool for this" attitude. Nope. My attitude has expanded and I now think that anybody who wants to see things get done will avoid formal service tasks and report preparation like the plague. There are lots of important things that happen outside of class and lab, but very few of those things happen because of Official Reports. The most productive service people in my department find important things to do and they do them, rather than assembling thick stacks of paper to feed to the administration building.
Posted by: Alex | May 23, 2009 12:44 AM
If you hate admin, option 2. And do it poorly, so you never get asked again.
Option 1 might be good in the long term if it means you'll be teaching it in the future, and if you don't mind the subject too much. You can use it to get out of other things in the future.
Posted by: Bob O'H | May 23, 2009 2:16 AM
Death by teaching overload or by administration overload - is switching institutions an option...?
Posted by: Mike_F | May 23, 2009 7:02 AM
I would choose option #2, because I already have a lot of experience with research and tecahing, but not much with adminstration. I find academic administration fascinating, have reason to believe I will be good at it, and want to expand my horizons.
Posted by: Comrade PhysioProf | May 23, 2009 2:34 PM
Thank goodness these are the post-tenure options, because they both sound BAD pre-tenure. Post-tenure, I think I'd take the admin IF there was a real chance of making a tangible difference in the department.
Posted by: ScienceWoman | May 23, 2009 4:17 PM
Ummm...cake?
Posted by: ambivalent academic | May 23, 2009 6:41 PM
I've done various administrative/service assignments which have allowed me to accomplish things which I thought ought to be accomplished. When I became department chair, I immediately had to initiate and complete two program reviews within a very short period of time. I used the program reviews to advance causes which I was concerned to advance. Thus I saw the reviews as opportunity rather than torture.
So the question really is, "Which would you prefer to do?" Which will best serve to make the world a cheerier and happier place for you?
Posted by: Jim Thomerson | May 24, 2009 11:57 AM
So, since comments seem to have dried up, what did you choose...?
Posted by: Mike_F | May 27, 2009 3:39 AM