Archives for The Education of Oronte Churm

There was no evidence of celebration among the students here, though we don’t live close enough to the dorms to be sure. Certainly, when I asked my World History students if they had any questions or reaction to the election, they certainly seemed quite nonplussed, even openly sour. Obama won this county by a very slim margin, and didn’t win another county for a hundred miles in any direction. I have a few colleagues who were clearly pleased, but we’re keeping it pretty low-key in public.

Jonathan Dresner, Pittsburg State University, Kansas, at 9:45 am EST on November 6, 2008

Sad that they do not see what we do...

I am 43 years old and have NEVER felt so much hope related to leadership of our nation. I cried as I watched TV Tuesday night...and then came to work yesterday. The College President’s secretary gave me a secretive thumbs up, and nothing else was said all day. Here in Obama’s home state — but many, many miles (and many degrees of racism and conservatism) south of Chicago — the mood is very “business as usual.” I am getting married in three weeks and having a baby in the spring, and I am more excited about the new President of the United States than I am about my personal life. It will have more impact. Thank you all who supported the man who gave me hope!

Southern Illinoisan, at 12:05 pm EST on November 6, 2008

Two sides to every coin

Having served on more search committees than I care to remember, I’d like to point out that those ‘rules’ that the author laments regarding online application procedures ARE, in fact, set up to the advantage of the individual—the committee member—as screening the qualifications of applicants is a huge task, and is usually expected as an ‘add-on’ to regular duties. In many cases, a hiring decision is not made by HR, and instead requires the careful consideration by a number of campus constituents, each perhaps with different motivations.

While it may take each prospective applicant an extra 10 minutes of effort to apply using such a system, it may save many times over that for the search committee members as a whole who are charged with reviewing all those files—as fairly and methodically as possible—making the added ‘burden’ well worth it. And quite frankly, if an applicant is not interested enough in the position that he or she can not be bothered with completing a relatively simple, straight-forward application, then perhaps the institution is better off not wasting time on such a person, either. Over the years, I’ve certainly had to fill out pages and pages of information for jobs, and send hard-copies of various materials through snail-mail—an approach still widely used for faculty positions. Let me assure you that the advent of an online application system is truly a welcome change!

Viewpoint, at 2:10 pm EST on November 10, 2008

Sustainability, Affirmative Action, quality and accountability measures(do more with less human beings), among other factors have all contributed to HR’s shift from high-touch to high-tech. Everything must be metric-a-sized! From my own perspective [as a member of the baby boom generation], I much prefer drop-down menus and keying employment information to writing it on a traditional application. On the HR side, it’s much easier to assess and compare candidates, collect demographic info, communicate applicant status, and limit paper usage. These systems really do create demonstrated efficiencies. Sadly, personalization goes by the wayside.

RS, at 11:45 am EST on November 12, 2008

I seem to be writing a parallel book on this topic — Archival Research and the Disappearing Reference Book. All you have to do is adjust your interests half a kink and discover worlds of knowledge that will be lost because we rely so much on the internet and a rapidly changing technology of transmission. At the University of Illinois, for example, it is virtually impossible to search the Carl Sandburg collection because the librarians can’t agree and have created 5 different incomplete databases that now constitute “the finding guide.” They don’t all know how to use it, either.

Lee Furey, Art Institute of Atlanta, at 8:46 am EST on November 17, 2008

Huh?

Is that where I was?

Rory, at 10:05 am EST on November 18, 2008

Congratulations!!

Lee Furey, at 9:20 am EST on December 4, 2008

Super News!! It’s nice to be recognized.

UIUC Dad Paying Out-of-State, at 10:35 am EST on December 4, 2008

Immortalized by Norton

Please tell me it was the 75 words or less blog!!! That was so great to read; truly a collaborative blogfest and so terrific to see everyone’s wordsmith burst forth. Congratulations, Oronte, you deserve it!!

Enquiring Mind, at 3:45 pm EST on December 4, 2008

link?

Congratulations! I’m surprised, however, that you opted not to link to the post. Which one is it? Was it a condition of the deal that you would not promote it? I don’t understand the logic.

Sara W, at 8:05 am EST on December 5, 2008

Well done! And well deserved.

Lisa B., at 10:40 am EST on December 5, 2008

Bus trip

Make the trip during the winter break and the bus could join the hundreds coming to D.C. for the inauguration. Perhaps some inspiration or enlightenment for thw eswriters.artists, poets, etc. could be found at the Capitol, on the Mall,or on Pennsylvania Ave. And maybe the bright bus colors could gain you (instead of the grey bankers, car company executives, and mortgage brokers) some attention.

David Chalkley, at 11:15 am EST on December 12, 2008

Further

Dude- Paint the bus. I will join you.

Will Mackin, at 10:20 pm EST on December 27, 2008