Summer projects

So one of my summer projects (one for which the college is actually paying me, hurrah) is to get up to speed on Crusades scholarship for a course I'm teaching in the fall.

There is a lot of Crusades scholarship, folks. Hoo boy. I ordered a huge stack of books which I'm now skimming. Some I'll assign for class, and others I'll order for the library, whose collection in this area is not very current.

When I started this reading, I had only a vague idea of what I wanted to do with this class, and the process of reading has sharpened my ideas considerably. I have rejected several books for class assignments as being, to me, "too magisterial." I want my students to get a handle on what happened, but I don't want them to be too influenced by a single narrative that proclaims This Is What Happened. I am much more drawn to books that explain differing interpretations, that talk explicitly about how they handle sources, and that don't pretend to be the single definitive account of events.

I've winnowed my giant pile into rejects and books I want to take a second, closer look at. I'd also welcome suggestions.

The first year on the tenure track

So, I have finished my first year on the tenure track. I am taking stock a bit, and figuring out how it feels to have passed this milestone.

Last fall I was struggling a bit to feel differently about this job than the one-year positions I've had for the last few years. (I wrote a bit about that here and here.) At some point, when I wasn't really paying attention, I found that I had successfully transitioned. On some level, I have recognized that I have committed to this place. In fact, I have had to restrain myself from worrying too much about proposed curriculum and policy changes.

In a lot of ways, I am glad to have had experience working at other schools before starting on the tenure track here. In my very first (visiting) job out of grad school, I encountered faculty politics that were contentious and a little dysfunctional. That has given me a better idea of what to look for. I have spent much of the past year observing politics here, as well as the quirks of faculty governance, and I think I'm developing the ability to hear what lies behind apparently innocuous comments made in faculty meetings. My senior colleagues have, I think, been a good guide for me.

My classes generally had good enrollments, except for one which was cancelled. I'm writing that one off as a fluke, as my preregistrations for next year also look good. I think I was more relaxed about fitting in with college norms in the spring, so I hope I'm getting adjusted.

I didn't get a ton of writing done this year, but I did give two conference papers, so I think I'm doing all right on the research front.

Next year will bring a considerable change in my responsibilities, since I'll have advisees and committee work. But I think I feel ready, more or less, for this new work.

Commenced!

I went to commencement yesterday, the first time I have attended commencement as a faculty member, and the first time I wore my fancy new regalia.

It was a simple, lovely ceremony. Working at SLAC = small graduating class = shorter ceremony. I don't know many of the new graduates very well, so I didn't have to stick around long afterwards for the family meet & greet.

Now my obligations as a faculty member are basically done. I'm getting together with my faculty mentor next week to talk over my first year and next year's review. I'm torn between wanting to take it easy for a week and wanting to start getting the things on my summer list done.

Unfortunately, it already feels like summer. It's been hot, sunny, and humid 'round here. The house a/c unit needs repair, so we're making do with fans. (Unfortunately, my office at work isn't any better.) And the baby tomatoes I planted are wilting in the sun. :( I'm trying to remind myself that the entire garden was an experiment, so it should not be a surprise if not everything flourishes.

Almost summer

I am not counting time as part of "summer" until after commencement this Saturday.

But I find that I am somehow, amazingly, almost done. Classes are over. Most of the grading is accomplished. I am waiting on a few late assignments before I submit grades.

Here, therefore, some summer goals (just the academic ones, there are others regarding yard, social life, etc.):

1) Earn my summer stipend by ordering and reading materials and making plans for my fall course on the Crusades.
2) Look over my old conference papers and prepare an article to submit by the end of the summer.
3) Look at my book manuscript, figure out what revisions it needs, and begin work on them.
4) Make plans for a research trip in the fall.
5) Make plans for my other new courses next year, plus start putting materials together for my review. (My school does a 2nd-year review and another in the 4th year.)

Kalamazoo

I have not that much to report, really. I went, I zooed, I returned. I was a little disappointed by the lack of papers and books for sale that might be pertinent to my research. I gave my paper, which went fine. I had many lovely meals and meetings with many lovely people. I made a couple of contacts I hope to follow up with. I dragged my spouse along, and he claims to have had a good time as well.

And now, if you'll pardon me, I have a week of classes left and a stack of papers to grade.

Almost on my way

Kalamazoo paper is done, and may even not be crap! I also made a handout, and managed to fit it onto front/back of one page. Yee ha! I should be arriving Thursday evening. I'm looking forward to being away for a little while.

So this should be a busy month then

I've got three full weeks of class left. I'm hoping my senior students can hang in there and avoid the plague of senioritis.

I've also got an extremely short turnaround between the end of class and submitting senior grades.

I worked on my Kalamazoo paper yesterday. I'm kind of concerned that it may be crap at this point, but at least it's 75% done crap.

The weekend after Kalamazoo, my in-laws are coming for a visit.