Ironic Moments 94

So last night, whilst insufficiently binge-drinking, I was reflecting on the role of programme leader and how at some point I as likely to have to take the role on again. I'm not convinced that timetabling, checking registers, and giving extensions are academic jobs, or, if we are being paid to teach and research, I don't think it's an effective use of resources. (I leave to one side the notion that a third of our time is thought to be administration.) In addition to this the logic of whatever DRAM is called now - devolving the visibility of budgets as far down the foodchain as possible, and at Bucks that was meant to be the programme before they hastily retreated - it might include number crunching. In return for this, you are given teaching remission equivalent to one day a week. My theory is that I would therefore only spend a day a week doing so.

As I said last night, if I wanted a job where I had to take work home and work in the evenings and weekends, I would have become an accountant like my dad.

Sweeping Up the Fag Ends

And so a long term comes to an end, a term dominated by marking and more arguments over marks and extensions than I can remember, with many of those arising from students I have been generous to. I don't think I've been any harsher than normal, but entitlement is all over the place. I feel micromanaged, second guessed and undermined.

Perhaps the study leave around the corner has caused an exhaustion to emerge, as I weigh up the urge to get on with the need to take time out. But there are still jobs to do:

• Write resit questions
  
• Comment on module questionnaires
  
• Deal with annual reports for doctoral students
  
• Comment on two dissertations
  
• Mark essay which has been resubmitted
  
• Mark essay from student given long extension
  
• Check and if necessary mark essay from student who had mitigating circumstances
  
• See doctoral student in London
  

Is the word I'm searching for asymtopic? Jobs left to do tend towards zero, but never reach it?