Category Archives: academia

Professor goes to Washington

Posted on March 18, 2014 by rglw

Okay, so I did not exactly go to Washington. I did take some students to the capital building to watch a public hearing last week and returned yesterday to listen to testimony on other education committee bills. Before last week, … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, ed policy, everyday life, higher education, lessons learned, media, personal, politics, sociology, work | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Tackling “Should I Go to Graduate School?” (Part deux)

Posted on March 12, 2014 by rglw

Last week I drafted a conversation between you and me if you asked me “Should I go to graduate school?” Thanks for reading (or for finding this post). I have to assume that I piqued your interest in graduate school … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, dissertation, grad school, higher education, lessons learned, research, sociology, teaching, tenure, writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The one where I tackle: “Should I Go to Graduate School?” (Part one)

Posted on March 4, 2014 by rglw

Several former students have contacted me seeking letters of recommendation as they consider applying to graduate school, so I have been thinking about what I would say to them when we discuss their future plans. If you ask most grad students … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, grad school, higher education, lessons learned, personal, real talk, teaching, work | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Students are people, too: When you’re the professor and the therapist and the career counselor…

Posted on February 12, 2014 by rglw

Towards the end of last semester, a blog that I follow featured an essay entitled “I’m Your Professor Not Your Therapist.” In it, the author described feeling helpless and unprepared for dealing with students in crisis. The only advice offered … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, grad school, higher education, schools, students, teaching, work | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Taking your own professional advice is tough: on teaching

Posted on January 13, 2014 by rglw

This isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve prepped plenty of new classes. Every time I do, though, I go through the same exercise. Where to start, what to include, what to exclude, how to structure the semester…. My desk starts to … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, education reform, higher education, lessons learned, procrastinating, productivity, schools, teaching, work | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Happiest of new years!

Posted on December 31, 2013 by rglw

I think my first resolution for the new year is to STOP writing things like “I can hardly believe that it’s already September” or “I can hardly believe that it’s December 31st” as I just started to type. Time passes … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, blogging, dissertation, everyday life, family, higher education, kids, lessons learned, marriage, parenthood, work, writing | Tagged | 1 Comment

Forging ahead: reflections on the first non-grad school semester

Posted on December 11, 2013 by rglw

The fall semester is grinding slowly to a halt.  If you told me on the first day of classes how this semester would proceed (family ups and downs, moving our whole life, moving the kids from one school to another, … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, dissertation, family, grad school, higher education, lessons learned, personal, productivity, teaching, work, writing | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Time diet update

Posted on December 3, 2013 by rglw

At the beginning of November, I wanted to get my act together. I invented the time diet where I tracked how I spent my time.  Here are my mixed results: 1. Strict dieting can really help get your act together: On … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, blogging, everyday life, higher education, lessons learned, productivity, work, writing | 3 Comments

I’m going on a time diet

Posted on October 31, 2013 by rglw

I’ve got an accounting problem on my hands.  Accounting was my worst grade in college–the only class where I earned a C.  Overburdened by responsibilities in other classes and woefully behind on and confused by the material, I capitulated mid-semester.  It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, blogging, community, higher education, lessons learned, personal, work, writing | 2 Comments

A post on Conditionally Accepted that is actually published

Posted on October 28, 2013 by rglw

I remarked three weeks ago that I thought the semester was flying.  It is indeed a slippery one.  By my calendar, it is Week 9.  The great push towards the end of the semester is on. Today, I am excited … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, family, grad school, higher education, lessons learned, personal, sociology, teaching, tenure, women, work, writing | 1 Comment