FDS Newsletter

Dear Faculty Relations: I’m constantly at odds with my department chair. In the past, I’ve been vocal in disagreeing with how decisions are made in our unit. And now she’s retaliated by giving me a bad schedule and speaking ill of me to colleagues. Can someone in Faculty Relations please set her straight? —Had It to Here

Dear Faculty Relations: I’m a teaching faculty member with ambitions for leadership. Is there room for that on campus? And if there is, what are my options? —Shaking Things Up

Dear Faculty Relations: I received a letter from the Office of Victim Assistance saying that my student has recently experienced a traumatic event. I want to be helpful but not intrusive. Can you help? —Teachable

Dear Faculty Relations: I want my students to succeed, both as learners and as human beings. But I confess that I’m frustrated by DFWs (for lack of a better phrase). Do my actions in the classroom matter? —Hungry for Hope

Dear Faculty Relations: I love the autonomy that comes with teaching and research. (It’s one of the reasons I became a professor.) But to be honest, I often feel isolated and alone. Can I have my cake and eat it too? —Lone Scholar

Dear Faculty Relations: At long last, I am the happy recipient of tenure. I have to say, I’m relieved but uncertain as to what comes next. How should I think about the next phase of my career? —Newly Tenured

Dear Faculty Relations: I used to love to write, but the pressure to produce has taken away a lot of the pleasure. Am I wrong to want to enjoy myself this summer? —Weary Researcher

Dear Faculty Relations: My colleagues keep talking about academic freedom, and many of them seem worried. I think I know what academic freedom is, but could you give me a primer? –Making Sure I Know My Rights

Dear Faculty Relations: Students sometimes express a lot of emotion. My office hours are starting to feel like an extended therapy session and to be frank, I’m exhausted. Am I doing this right? —Not a Licensed Social Worker

Dear Faculty Relations: I have a colleague who has a skewed sense of personal space. They often walk into my office without knocking and launch into long monologues about whatever is on their mind. Don’t get me wrong, I like them fine. I just want them to respect my boundaries. —Pestered Prof