Hi Nancy: Well, I think it's all about how we structure our offices. My office is truly "a home away from home." I bought a small refrigerator for my office about 18 years ago. Miraculously it runs as well as the day I bought it. I have replaced the microwave but that's because I always drag in here the rejects from home, when we "upgrade" to a better, smaller, more efficient unit--and the old one is making funny noises.
I have blankets. I have lots of pictures and photographs and wall hangings. I love my office. It is also just a few steps away from a student lounge that is almost never noisy. I have lots of music I love on my itunes in my computer. All my books and reference materials are here. This intersession I am rearranging the furniture and painting some walls a nice tea green. Have to do that on my own because it violates the official architectural design conformity of the university. LOL! So I'm painting all the walls that can't be seen from my windows or if someone just passes quickly through the hallway. I am off the beaten path, so on the one hand students have a hard time finding me the first time, but also it means not too many administrators over walk by. Finally, my students have a 5 point assignment to come see me :) I believe that it's a good habit for students to come see their professors, so I make sure I build it into the syllabus and assignments :) Of course, I do have many lonely hours but, hey, I'm grateful for that. I get lots of good work done in here. I do like to go other places to work, as well, but I like it here. Annette, listening to my christmas music and watching my lights twinkle over my book cases and file cabinets :) ps: Happy Holidays to Hannah! Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology University of San Diego 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 619-260-4006 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---- Original message ---- >Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:42:05 EST >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: [tips] An scandalous admission from a professor >To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" <[email protected]> > > Hello everyone, > > I know I am about to draw a ton of finger-wagging > here. But I have to say it as a holiday present to > myself. > > I hate office hours! > > Perhaps it's the 2 year college environment. > Community college students tend to come to school, > take their classes and go to work or home. > Colleagues are actually not much different - even > full time ones. During the entire term I see 3 > students (that is not per week, that is over the > term) during my 5 weekly hours sitting in an > uncomfortable, distracting environment where I > cannot get any work done at all. It's a frustrating > waste of time If I go home to work and am on the > internet and computer I can get a half-dozen emails > or IMs from students, answer them quickly so > students feel attended to and I can get valuable > work done. It's a win-win. > > If a student tells me after class he or she is > coming to my office, I'll be there. But I hate > having to sit endlessly in the office like a > prisoner for no apparent good reason. From my > perspective I am much more effective and productive > working from home and put in more valuable "office" > hours by email and IM than as a prisoner in my > office. > > This makes me a bad, bad professor I know. But it's > my story and I am sticking to it. > > Voting for electronic office hours and in person by > appointment only... > > Nancy Melucci > School unnamed to protect the not innocent. > CA > > > > ------------------------------------------------ > > See AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in > shape for winter. > > --- > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) ---
