1. Academic committee-speak
If a Dean, Chair or other Big Wig tells a committee to do something, why is it called a “charge?” It just sounds like committee-gobbledegook. Why not just tell it like it is and call it a “mandate”, “directive” or “order?” Or, better yet, why not use a more appropriate term like “floccinaucinihilipilificate” (to judge a thing to be of little worth or value) … “we have received a floccinaucinihilipilificate from the Provost to form a committee to evaluate how much time we spend on useless committees.” Yep - that's much better.
2. Committee agenda
Why have a committee meeting if the sole point is to inform everyone that the committee has nothing to talk about at this particular point in time? Surely that’s time that could be better spent hitting one’s head up against the wall in one’s office.
For Beth, who is my friend
12 hours ago
"Why have a committee meeting if the sole point is to inform everyone that the committee has nothing to talk about at this particular point in time?"
ReplyDeleteI live in denial that anybody would actually do something this sadistic. After all, in the age of email it is quite easy to send out an email saying: "There is nothing on the agenda, anybody have anything they want to bring up or should I cancel the meeting?". In my experience there is usually a groundswell of support for cancellation!
You and Dr. Method and Theory are living the same, undeserved nightmare. :(
ReplyDeleteCommittees are where academics send ideas to die.
ReplyDeleteCommittees are where administrators send faculty to die.
ReplyDeleteI think your first problem is applying logic to this situation . Committees are the antithesis of logic. A black-hole if academia, if you will.
ReplyDeleteHow did you get roped in to this crap. I have a no-committee clause in my offer letter. Good for 3 years. Or so I hope!
ReplyDelete