Fellowship Tips
What I Wished I Woulda Known Sooner
Before kicking off from the shore into Georgia Tech’s rapids, I reached out to a couple fellows seeking advice hoping to avoid some pitfalls if I could. I will relay some of the guidance I recieved and a few things about moving that I have learned and wished I had known or thought about sooner.
Things to do early on in the fellowship:
Have a nice looking headshot picked out for your faculty photo. You will have an opportunity to have one taken but if you already have one you like it is one less thing to worry about doing.
Write a short bio in friendly, accessible language to go with the photo—Loose the jargon and academic terms.
Start identifying and connecting with faculty in literature, media, and communication to find professional mentors and partners for collaboration. There are also opportunities to colllaborate with other departments or programs at GT. I’m interested in connecting with Georgia Tech Arts, so, I will have my antena up as I meet faculty at orientation next week and at the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts New Faculty Welcome Reception towards the end of August.
Start documenting the work you are doing once you begin. You will be asked to prepare and submit annual reports for review. Ankita Rathour, one of the current Brittain fellows who graciously provided me with advice, mentioned that she keeps a google doc for this purpose and updates it regularly.
Get feedback on your syllabus from the program directors during orientation.
Set aside a block of time for your seminar reading.
Talk and/or vent with your new colleagues. You will make friends and feel better.
Don’t over do it your first semester:
Lots of opportunities will come through your inbox. You don’t have to apply for every single one. It’s good to be selective and intentional about your fellowship.
Relocating to a new city and university is exhausting! Give yourself a moment to breath and adjust and jump back on the job market the second semester.
Don’t feel like you have to design and offer a whole new themed course every semester. Ankita reccomends making “slight variatons if needed. That is life and time saving.”
Don’t let teaching prep gobble up all your time. It will take every minute and more that you give it.
Teaching Evaluation Tips:
You will be eased into it. Your first evaluation will be by your cohorts, other fellows who are brand new just like you!
The evaulation the following semester is also conducted by your peers, other fellows a year or two further along in the program. So, you will have some time to get comfortable before more formal evaluations take place.
Talk with your evaluators before and after the evaulation to set goals and debrief.
Have a well-planned class session for that day. It will help things go smoothly.
Keep in mind, one of the goals of the evaulation is to provide you with support to help you improve as an instructor.
Moving tips:
Walk all around your perspective new neighborhood before you sign the lease. What is immediately adjecent, across the street, and around the corner. I failed to notice a shipping and recieving area that is adjacent to my appartment, which is a constant source of trucks backing up emitting high frequency beeps, disturbing my otherwise tranquil sanctuary.
Be proactive about the moving cost remimbursment process. What form is needed? When is it due? Who do you need to submit it to?
Keep all your reciepts in one place.
That’s all for now. Wish me luck at orientation next week!