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Original poster

Academics Chat Thread Mark II

217 replies

SignsofSpring · 10/02/2021 13:22

As the one who didn't look and then managed to close the last thread, I'm going to be the one to start this one! All thoughts, rants, ideas on being an academic especially in Covid-19 times are here...

OP posts:
worstofbothworlds · 22/04/2021 11:17

Also, though I had an (unsuccessful) interview for an internal/mini Dean type position recently, I haven't had any external interviews for a while and as I say, I always get the interview, never the job. So, I am wondering about seeing if a colleague can do a practice interview with me should I get one.
I'm very much assuming everything is virtual at the moment (I could almost certainly legally stay with my DPs as "support" though given the dates it sounds like it will be after restrictions are eased anyway).

KeflavikAirport · 22/04/2021 11:19

Wearing, isn't it? I've just been selecting candidates for a precarious maternity cover type contract. 70-odd applicants, of whom a good half would be excellent.

worstofbothworlds · 22/04/2021 11:34

And then there are the "I have an undergraduate degree in a related subject but I'd just love to be an academic" and "I run a mad pressure group that might vaguely be considered a research organisation" type applications that are exhausting to even look at.

worstofbothworlds · 01/05/2021 16:39

Anyway, back to the application. Helpful chat with head of research group, working on CV. We always say to our students "summarise yourself at the top" but I am not sure I look for that when shortlisting TBH. Confused

ScotlandUnited · 02/05/2021 07:54

Is anyone else frustrated with how 'woke' and 'snowflake', their university is becoming?

I'm working on an inclusive language document for our department, except I'm not allowed to give examples of what not to say in case those examples offend or upset.

How do they think the document will work then? Confused

I'm meant to keep it generic like: "others may have a different view" - yeah but what is that view and how would it offend? urrrgh.

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 03/05/2021 16:01

Could you ask what kind of pedagogical approach they wish you to draw on? Or would that be a fool's errand?

worstofbothworlds · 04/05/2021 16:26

Oh dear, I put off doing the examiners' comments for a thesis and now I have to finish it today and clearly the supervisor does not know how to do the analyses the student is doing.
They've explained what quantitative data is.
They've copied and pasted tables from another program.
They've said everything AT LEAST twice.
Almost all of it wrong.
The data are excellent, should I just nick them and re-analyse them?
I am losing the will to live. No, I lost it around the 4th biscuit this morning.

ghislaine · 04/05/2021 23:42

Re the inclusive language document, could you get around potentially offensive pages by linking to websites or other resources where these are spelled out?

I suppose I would try to say something like “avoid language which is outdated or reveals prejudice” - not that helpful, i know. Or something like these eggs where people probably know what you’re trying to avoid saying it but you don’t actually say it, you just give the alternative.

Susan will act as Chair for this meeting

Christmas - the season of peace and goodwill to all

The welcome desk in freshers’ week will be staffed by Dr Jones and Dr Singh

ScotlandUnited · 05/05/2021 21:46

cheers!

lomaamina · 17/05/2021 15:58

Did anyone see the thread in HE that got zapped? The one about writing a PhD proposal? Not wanting to make a TAAT, but what an attitude. The deletion message somehow implies that it’s the respondents’ fault for being nasty Hmm

GCAcademic · 17/05/2021 17:55

Yes, I saw it. Good luck to that supervisor!

lomaamina · 17/05/2021 19:18

Yes, struck a chord with me as I wade through dissertation applications, with too many forming a generic “I’d like to do a PhD in your department, I’m a hard worker. What funding can you offer me.?”

SarahAndQuack · 17/05/2021 23:29

I wish I could say I thought that was a troll.

lomaamina · 18/05/2021 06:15

Oh well. I have more urgent problems. A senior academic has wangled himself a summer without dissertation supervision because of his “heavy commitments” convening a sister programme. This puts us with caring responsibilities, research and teaching loads at least as bad, left with a heavier load. All because he’s a swine of a bully that no one, including HoD, will stand up to. The only consolation is that we won’t have to suffer the student complaints about his nastiness towards them (done so subtly you cannot touch him).

IntoAir · 18/05/2021 09:16

Did anyone see the thread in HE that got zapped? The one about writing a PhD proposal?

Indeed.

I responded with useful advice, but got called a troll. I reported the OP & asked for the whole thread to be deleted because I did not appreciate giving good advice & being called a troll & mocked for my expertise.

IntoAir · 18/05/2021 09:18

And don't get me started on parents on comments about online teaching elsewhere. Such anger & wilful not understanding/reading academics' patient explanations ...

dreamingbohemian · 18/05/2021 09:41

Hi everyone, I've just found this thread, hope it's ok if I join you?

I should be writing. I can't start writing! One of those days.

I'm actually wondering if anyone here has ever not met a manuscript deadline (book manuscript, academic publisher) and if it's a huge catastrophe or something that happens all the time and can perhaps be managed well?

Mine is not due for months but I don't know if I can finish. It was presented as a rather hard deadline so I think I have to just do it somehow.

dreamingbohemian · 18/05/2021 09:48

@IntoAir

And don't get me started on parents on comments about online teaching elsewhere. Such anger & wilful not understanding/reading academics' patient explanations ...
Yes and I think academics are in for months of bashing, another lovely Daily Fail article today equating online lectures with 100% online teaching and lazy lecturers Angry
SarahAndQuack · 18/05/2021 10:12

@dreamingbohemian, I didn't meet my manuscript deadline. I (stupidly) submitted my proposal to a publisher just before DD was born and said I was nearly there and would have a full submission in the autumn. I was well over a year late.

My publisher was lovely and explained that it happens all the time. I think she knew full well it wasn't a realistic proposal when I submitted, though (first book).

Can you email now and be really open with them that you think you will need more time and want to plan with them how that could be managed?

IntoAir · 18/05/2021 10:34

I should be writing. I can't start writing!

I could have written 3 books in the time I shirk on MN ...

dreamingbohemian · 18/05/2021 10:38

Oh thank you @SarahAndQuack, I was hoping someone would say something like this!

Normally I'm quite good about asking for more time but I'm hesitating because it's my first book, and I was also a bit flaky during the proposal stage -- it took me months longer than I expected to get the sample chapters to them. So I feel like I don't have any goodwill to fall back on, if that makes sense.

I was thinking maybe I'd see where I'm am after the summer but then that's only 4 months before the deadline -- is that too short notice to raise it with them?

Part of me thinks I should just try to meet the deadline no matter what because I also have a new project starting in January so I do really need to get this book off my desk.

dreamingbohemian · 18/05/2021 10:40

@IntoAir

I should be writing. I can't start writing!

I could have written 3 books in the time I shirk on MN ...

Smile

If only MN posts counted toward the REF

GCAcademic · 18/05/2021 10:41

@IntoAir

And don't get me started on parents on comments about online teaching elsewhere. Such anger & wilful not understanding/reading academics' patient explanations ...
I've given up offering advice on the Higher Education board. A lot of the posters only want to vent and moan; they aren't interested in advice or facts. There's one poster on there who outright says that it's a board for parents and she doesn't want to hear from university staff. Also, as someone who did teach f2f in the autumn term in a scenario where everyone wore masks and was seated 2 meters apart, I pointed out once that the learning experience was terrible because my seminars are heavily discussion based, and this is better facilitated by Teams seminars than through masks and social distancing. We don't care, was the response, our kids are paying for the experience of sitting in a room with other people, not for the best learning scenario.
GCAcademic · 18/05/2021 10:43

@dreamingbohemian

Hi everyone, I've just found this thread, hope it's ok if I join you?

I should be writing. I can't start writing! One of those days.

I'm actually wondering if anyone here has ever not met a manuscript deadline (book manuscript, academic publisher) and if it's a huge catastrophe or something that happens all the time and can perhaps be managed well?

Mine is not due for months but I don't know if I can finish. It was presented as a rather hard deadline so I think I have to just do it somehow.

DH is now on his third re-negotiated deadline from his publisher. I know that they prefer having as much advance warning as possible if you're not going to meet the deadline, though.
SarahAndQuack · 18/05/2021 10:50

@dreamingbohemian

Oh thank you *@SarahAndQuack*, I was hoping someone would say something like this!

Normally I'm quite good about asking for more time but I'm hesitating because it's my first book, and I was also a bit flaky during the proposal stage -- it took me months longer than I expected to get the sample chapters to them. So I feel like I don't have any goodwill to fall back on, if that makes sense.

I was thinking maybe I'd see where I'm am after the summer but then that's only 4 months before the deadline -- is that too short notice to raise it with them?

Part of me thinks I should just try to meet the deadline no matter what because I also have a new project starting in January so I do really need to get this book off my desk.

Grin Glad to be of service.

I don't think it is flaky - at least in my field. I realised as I went along how very common it is.

I take the point about January as a deadline in practical terms, though. I bet you can do it! Or at least most of it.