Well, did you eva...

So today at a meeting I was reminded forcibly of how post 92 institutions work, and it was not a happymaking thing. I wont say specifically what happened but I was talking to a very pretty young lecturer afterwards and gave him some warnings. Some of which were  clearly too late.  So herefor anyone working in academia is a list of things to beware of, particularly in post 92s.

The Email Game.
In the mornings you will get a variety of emails. Your colleagues will send them, and they often start "I had thing x brought to my attention and I know this is your area of expertise so wondered..." and then proceeds to detail a task.  Here is the thing, if that task was anything kther thana shitstorm of dingoes kidneys then your colleaguewould do it themselves for the hours credit. They are playkng pass theparcel because they can hear it ticking. It is utterly vital that you pass these on again. Draw a flow chart of expertise and use it to divert. If you get a reputation for saying yes you are beyond fucked.

Do Not Say Yes.
At meetings or in conversation do not say yes. If a task tickles your fancy offer to look into it, in veiled language.  My old boss Tim used to say only do something if you care about it, or can do it well. Or both. He was right. At firstyou will be under pressure to meet your contact hours total and so tempted, but do not do it.

It Starts With An Audience.
This, in the competitive HE world should not need saying. But sadly it does. Do your market research first. Who are you trying to recruit? What do they want from a course? How can you contact them? What do they get from it?  Heres how it SHOULD go...
New course is mooted. Marketing and student recruitment identify a demographic and the demographics needs/wants.  Senior management sign off on the concept. The course is written to deliver this and then passed for validation. Then you recruit actively and launch.
Here is what happens...
Govt funding is announced and only noticed late in the day. A course, any course, is cobbled together at the last minute by junior staff who cant play the email game. The course has been recruited by staff who didnt know the content because noone did. It doesnt address a demographic because the course is about what the institution can easily deliver, not about need. It will work, at low recruitment levels, because anything will. Next time, because it ran ok the course is rerun because, well, it worked and nobody can be arsed to do it right. The course never developes and is dropled after 3 yrs.
Rinse and repeat

Get a Mentor.
You need someone to deflect the shit.

It Is Political, but Not Necessarily Personal
If you think Westminster has politics, buckle up kid you aint seen nothing yet. Do nlt align yourself with a bloc until you know who does what. Be aware of the manouevring even if you do not want to join in. Eventually you will end up doing it too. Find a way to live with this.

Learn The Rules
The only way you can help students is by understanding the power structure. Your jnstitution will have a constitution. Learn it. I am serious, you are pointless without it.

I do not doubt I will think of more. But that is it for now. Good luck Padowan.