Public Higher Education: Doing More with Less Since 1795

So what brought on this desire to blog again? Well, the month of April frankly.

Those of us in this field know that April in the higher education world is a whirlwind full of events and banquets and campus visitors and stress and planning and pizza and long days and catering and I could go on and on. It's busy and sometimes you feel like you run through the month forgetting to breathe. It's the final exam of the school year for higher ed professionals and if you make it through alive, you've passed!

I love April. While busy, it's a fun month where students are preparing for the next step. They're registering for fall classes, accepting summer jobs and internships, or picking up their caps and gowns. The air of excitement and anticipation sparks some life into the burn out that they have post-spring break. It's also the time we see new admits to campus and juniors who aren't yet stressed by the application process--- to me, it's the best time in the admissions world.

Since last posting, I went from Day 9 as an admissions counselor at UMD to day 365. Day 366 was my last day as an admissions counselor, and I have since worked across the street in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources as the Assistant to the Dean for Recruitment. I still am in the admissions realm, but I do more. I'd go in to the details, but they're not that interesting and I'm sure they'll be covered at some point. I get to talk with families, play with animals, and create new pathways to a college education-- it's a pretty good gig and I've enjoyed it the past 2.5 years.

But now there's a hiring freeze. I'm a higher education professional with 3-5 years of post-master's degree experience (2 prior) and there's a hiring freeze.

It's not so much a big deal because I was job hunting or planning to in the next 12-18 months so much, but because other people have left and vacancies cannot and will not be filled in the near future. Therefore that role's work is divided and everyone does more with less.

In my office there are 6 full-time positions. In July 2014 my boss, the Associate Dean, retired. Our Assistant Dean assumed all of his duties then parceled out what she could out to myself and the two other coordinators in the office, Tim and Angela. Now Tim is leaving, t-minus 12 days.

I'll be assuming a lot of Tim's responsibilities in addition to my regular duties and those I'm helping Evelyn with. This is in addition to the 2 new projects I started prior to the Assoc. Dean retirement (one is a new bridge program) and another one that I began this week.

I enjoy my work, I really do. Well about 85% of it at least.

I love meeting with families and showing them what UMD has to offer. I love the gleam of excitement in a student's eye when their dream is realized or they've discovered something new about themselves. I love being able to create and try things with a supportive supervisor who doesn't see failure as failing, but a way of learning. I love being in a small college with a family feel.

What I don't love is burnout, and I'm creeping closer every day.

The struggle is real and beginning to get harder. This blog will hopefully give me an outlet needed to hold on as long as possible.

Back to Blogging - New name, new purpose

Hey Universe, I'm baaaaackkkk!

I've decided to restart my blog. I gave it fresh name and tried some new templates before settling back to the tried and true. More importantly, I've decided to refocus the blog to my life as a higher education professional. I'll cover topics I'm interested in and the struggles/successes/celebrations that I've faced in the field.

Welp, here goes nothing!