It's Evaluation Time

There it is, a manila envelope with your name on it stamped with "Confidential" across the front. It is that time when your supervisor decides how valuable you are to this department.

Do you:
1) Exceed Expectations
2) Meet Expectations
3) Does not meet Expectations

My thoughts: Subjective descriptions to fill someone's biased opinions.

There are the columns for your supervisor to appraise your performance, overall ratings, comments, areas of successes and areas of improvement. You talked about it with your supervisor and the cherry on top is how you have to sign and date your evaluation.

Now it goes hidden in your personnel file in HR, but will any of these issues get addressed? For some departments it is an instrumental tool to measure how well the employees are doing. For other departments it is a necessary task to cross off the list of HR requirements. Where does your department fall?

Only advice I can give you: Be honest.

There is absolutely no point in hiding how you feel about your work environment, your relationships with co-workers, the positives or the negatives or your area. If you hold in your comments, you could prevent change from occurring. If you hold in your comments, you may explode when least expected.

Why am I sitting in a meeting room alone?

I truly care about students coming to college. Especially those who wouldn't be here without the help and encouragement of some faculty/staff member from his or her's high school and university. I found some HS students that I said I could help. I can sacrifice some of my precious time and see to it that they are prepared for college. Even if it is just a little prepared. To do to this, I created a program for two students to attend to get ready for college, get advice from students, and have a head start on personal statements. I scheduled rooms, I set up speakers, and arranged time to do some volunteer work. Today and tomorrow were to be the first days of the program, with today including tutoring, college essay prep, and some other activities. One of the students could not make it, so I cancelled today and tomorrow on Monday and told the students we would get started next Tuesday. I go to cancel my room, of this program that I created solely from the goodness of my heart and I am told: You need to cancel three days in advance, not including the day of the program. WHAT! Fine, I won't cancel the room. If you don't show up, we will still charge you. Oh don't you worry student staffer, I will be there. Here I am, on a computer that projects on a large screen doing some work.

I would like to note, however, that when I got here, the student staffer here said I could leave and he would tell scheduling I was here. It is the principal now, I am here and will be here for at least part of my day.

Use your genderized bathroom

So, a situation of boys using the girls bathrooms:

Hello Gentlemen,
It has been brought to my attention that someone has been using the Female Facilities (bathrooms) in the Residence Halls. You were placed on the Male Floor as you listed on your application that you are a male. If this information is incorrect or if you do not find the facilities up to your standards or the facilities do not meet your gender orientation needs, please contact me. If the bathrooms on the male floor are dirty, please contact the security desk and/or conference services.
Thanks!

My supervisor said I shouldn't send that, the one who is breaking the rules might find it offensive, so, first edit:

Hello Gentlemen,It has been brought to my attention that someone has been using the Female Facilities (bathrooms) in the Residence Halls. Stop it.
Thanks!

It was then brought to my attention that I forgot to mention that the residents could get kicked out for doing such a thing. So, third and final edit:

Hello Gentlemen, It has been brought to my attention that someone has been using the Female Facilities (bathrooms) in Residence Hall. Improper use of the facilities in the Residence Hall can result in your dismissal from the residences. You are still responsible for any financial obligations that are in your name. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!

This of course led to a few emails back and forth with a former RA on the floor not understanding.

Student: I don't understand. We are on a different floor, we are group together...

1st 5: Boys are using the girls bathroom

Student: LOL. What

1st 5: Exactly! I knew a RA would be outraged by this!

Student: Couldn't have been any of us... we have a bathroom on our floor.

I still don't think he fully understands at this point and explained that he could go visit the girls on the floor below, which he stated he does not do. I might point out that there are three boys in summer housing...

Swift Hand of Justice

Student: Dear First Five, I will not be able to come to the presentation tomorrow as I got a ticket two weeks ago and my court date is tomorrow. Sorry for the inconvience! Thanks, Student

First Five: Dear Student, I hope the firm hand of justice comes down hard on you for missing class. Thanks, First Five