The transition from graduate student to faculty member can be disorienting. Here are some pointers for balancing teaching and research in your first year on the job!
Love this post! One thing that I would have done differently in year one was spend more time (well...any time) over the summer thinking about my spring classes- I gave myself a little bit of time over the summer to get ready for fall, but winter break just wasn't enough to get things in place in the same way.
Thanks, Ivy! This is great advice! As you know, at UT we used to have more time before the spring semester started and losing that this past year was a shock. I definitely need to start earlier!
this is really helpful! I'd add *not* committing to any kind of service (if you can avoid it) until you've got a handle on department relationships, your work load, etc. I was able to stay reasonably balanced with service in my first years (and onward) by not volunteering for anything at first, and then being really strategic about what I took on.
I also think--every institution is so different and so quirky, and it really takes time to learn new systems/people/relationships/etc. if you have a mentor assigned, you should ask that person all your questions, and if you don't, you might ask for one!
Yes to all of this, Nancy! I have a follow up post coming out on Thursday that talks about mentors. This is so key!
And yes to saying no to service where you can. Mentors can be really helpful in explaining how much service you can resist based on the culture and expectations of the college/department.
I really agree re mentors! Your post reminded me of how hard the transition to a new role/new institution can be, perhaps especially when you're first out of your PhD and feel like you *should* know what you're doing (or at least I felt that way!). For me, the biggest difference between my first and second years in my job was that after a year, I at least had an idea of who to ask my questions to--and after 7 years, I'm still asking lots of questions!
absolutely! I think so much of the culture of academia makes people feel like they should have all of the answers or know everything. In reality, asking questions and finding people with solid advice and insight is actually how people navigate it more successfully.
Thank you! Just what I needed to read this week. I did decide to move about three weeks before the first day of class and two days before going to a conference. I feel the world of academia won't let me slow down. I think I am going to start trying the 3/3/3 method this semester:
3 hours per day to work on an important current project;
3 urgent but less time-consuming things (including meetings); and.
Wonderful! I love that you're going to do the 3-3-3 method. I've been thinking of trying that as well. Let me know how it goes and best of luck on your first year on the new job, Dr. Santillana!
This was so helpful! Thank you so much for this post!
I have a suggestion for time management.
1) having a to-do list w/ 3 items to tackle, and once those things are done, wrapping up for the day. Having a stopping point is important:
2) Having a lowered standard each day. “If I don’t do xyz, my day will still be productive.” So if you do have time to complete this task then great. But if not then it builds in allowing the flexibility for you to shift your expectations.
Yes to all of this, Briana! Achievable planning is so important for staving off that feeling that you aren't getting enough done. I love the advice to wrap up for the day when you are done instead of finding something else to do. Love it! Good luck with your first year on the TT, Dr. Barner!
Love this post! One thing that I would have done differently in year one was spend more time (well...any time) over the summer thinking about my spring classes- I gave myself a little bit of time over the summer to get ready for fall, but winter break just wasn't enough to get things in place in the same way.
Thanks, Ivy! This is great advice! As you know, at UT we used to have more time before the spring semester started and losing that this past year was a shock. I definitely need to start earlier!
this is really helpful! I'd add *not* committing to any kind of service (if you can avoid it) until you've got a handle on department relationships, your work load, etc. I was able to stay reasonably balanced with service in my first years (and onward) by not volunteering for anything at first, and then being really strategic about what I took on.
I also think--every institution is so different and so quirky, and it really takes time to learn new systems/people/relationships/etc. if you have a mentor assigned, you should ask that person all your questions, and if you don't, you might ask for one!
Yes to all of this, Nancy! I have a follow up post coming out on Thursday that talks about mentors. This is so key!
And yes to saying no to service where you can. Mentors can be really helpful in explaining how much service you can resist based on the culture and expectations of the college/department.
I really agree re mentors! Your post reminded me of how hard the transition to a new role/new institution can be, perhaps especially when you're first out of your PhD and feel like you *should* know what you're doing (or at least I felt that way!). For me, the biggest difference between my first and second years in my job was that after a year, I at least had an idea of who to ask my questions to--and after 7 years, I'm still asking lots of questions!
absolutely! I think so much of the culture of academia makes people feel like they should have all of the answers or know everything. In reality, asking questions and finding people with solid advice and insight is actually how people navigate it more successfully.
Thank you! Just what I needed to read this week. I did decide to move about three weeks before the first day of class and two days before going to a conference. I feel the world of academia won't let me slow down. I think I am going to start trying the 3/3/3 method this semester:
3 hours per day to work on an important current project;
3 urgent but less time-consuming things (including meetings); and.
3 “maintenance” tasks” ( e-mails!!!).
Wonderful! I love that you're going to do the 3-3-3 method. I've been thinking of trying that as well. Let me know how it goes and best of luck on your first year on the new job, Dr. Santillana!
This was so helpful! Thank you so much for this post!
I have a suggestion for time management.
1) having a to-do list w/ 3 items to tackle, and once those things are done, wrapping up for the day. Having a stopping point is important:
2) Having a lowered standard each day. “If I don’t do xyz, my day will still be productive.” So if you do have time to complete this task then great. But if not then it builds in allowing the flexibility for you to shift your expectations.
Yes to all of this, Briana! Achievable planning is so important for staving off that feeling that you aren't getting enough done. I love the advice to wrap up for the day when you are done instead of finding something else to do. Love it! Good luck with your first year on the TT, Dr. Barner!