The Lord works in mysterious ways. About a year before the pandemic, at a friend’s suggestion, I started listening regularly to two sports podcasts (The Tony Kornheiser Show and The Right Time with Bomani Jones). At the time, I just wanted to escape the constant political news cycle and listen to conversations about stuff that didn’t really matter (well, in comparison to nuclear warheads); I wanted to relax.

Only the Lord knew that these two podcasts would become little bright spots in my days in 2020.

Five years later, I’m still listening—and I’m still not watching sports on TV. Tony and Bomani help me clean my house, mow my lawn, think about issues I would never consider on my own. They’ve become my friends (sadly, our friendship is one-sided—but Tony did read one of my emails on his show! Best. day. ever—for the record, I’ve only written him three times!).

I’m going to spend the next two months looking for and trying some new ways to relax so when fall semester starts, I’m prepared to stay afloat. I hope you discover some new ways to relax too. Maybe you’ll find your own Tony and Bomani.

Two newly required trainings

Check your BYU’s Outlook inbox for an email from Heather, giving us instructions on how to complete two newly required trainings: Sexual Harassment Prevention for Employees and Information Security and Privacy Essentials.

It’s my job to help adjuncts!

Send me an email if you have any questions or concerns or need some help—it’s my job as adjunct liaison to help you! You can reach me at my new professional address [email protected].

Stuff for your calendar

Normally, stuff for your calendar includes stuff from the university, the English department, and me, the Adjunct-in-Chief, but as most of us have entered our favorite time of year, it’s not as robust as it usually is.

Also here’s a link to the department calendar if you care to see the future: The English Department Calendar. It’s looking quite empty right now.

JULY

The Adjunct Advocate is taking July off. You should too. Unless you’re teaching summer semester. That would be no bueno.

AUGUST

August: The Great English Department Syllabi Workshop. Want to learn what the research says about syllabi? Want to create a more effective syllabus? Want your students to use your syllabus during and after the first week of the semester? Join us as syllabi expert Julie Swallow, our own College of Humanities’ Center of Teaching and Learning consultant, shows us ways to make our syllabi matter to our students. There will be a Zoom option!

August 24: The Annual Adjunct Academic Year Kickoff from 9-12 pm in 4186-88 JFSB.  We’ll be meeting the new people in charge, reviewing important stuff, mastering Learning Suite tips and tricks from Lisa Johnson, and eating lunch. It’s going to be a good and helpful time—please plan on coming (or Zooming)! Keep an eye on your Outlook inbox for an invite at the start of August.

SEPTEMBER

September 5: The First Day of Fall Semester 2024.

September 6: The Last Day to Complete the Scheduling Survey. Please ask your questions and share your thoughts here.