So Lost

I found out yesterday that my department is cutting funding for ALL seventh-year graduate students. There are more students than there is funding. AGAIN.

When I sent out emails to other departments looking for funding as a TA, I was asked in return whether I had reached the maximum number of quarters for such funding.

What am I going to do?! I have no idea if I have reached the max limit for TAships. I emailed my program administrator to ask. She hasn't replied yet. I thought I wouldn't have to worry about this kind of thing until NEXT year, NOT this year.

Not only am I strapped for funding, but I am also still hoping to get a place in graduate housing. This is a nightmare. My whole life is filled to the brim with uncertainty right now. I am trying to move to somewhere cheaper only I may not be able to afford "cheaper" either if I don't get paid work. Ugh!

Sorry, Shals. Looks like I won't be able to visit you in England in September. I was really, really hoping to do that. *sigh*

Proactive or Reactive?

Well, I sent off an application to a community college for a part-time faculty position teaching English composition. Joy. Hopefully, if I do get the job, they'll let me set up the course the way that I want to. I hate teaching to a set syllabus. In my experience so far (and in the experience of many of my cohort), set syllabuses for composition courses frequently never turn out well.

Especially if there are arbitrary mandates like, four essays per term (even though we're on a quarter system of TEN WEEKS), with revisions, drafts, and one-on-one appointments. Good god. No one's paid enough for that kind of work -- especially if they expect the comp instructor to actually TEACH! I mean, how do you help each student in a class of 23 learn to write well in TEN WEEKS with that kind of schedule??? It's insane!

Well, at least community colleges are on semester-systems. That's got to be better for comp classes.