I hope at least one of The Advocate’s dear readers noticed its absence in their inbox last Tuesday. The Advocate’s latest issue was delayed due to sick kids and husband, student writing conferences, and my son’s pink eye. On Friday, I asked my husband, Jon, “Is this how things started going down for Job?”

“Maybe.”

My children are conflicts—what now?

I had a question about BYU’s Conflict of Interest policy that adjuncts were recently asked to follow: Are my children considered conflicts?

They certainly fit the definition: “inconsistent with, interferes with, compromises, or could compromise the best interests of the university.” They interfere all the time! Many lesson plans have been compromised by sick kids, school performances, phone calls from school! Sometimes they even call me while I’m teaching, even though they know I’m teaching!

Do we need to meet with Jon or Amy “to develop a written plan describing how the Conflict will be reduced, eliminated, or appropriately managed”?

According to Associate Academic Vice President Justin Collings (yep, I was referred to upper management!), we can use common sense when it comes to our children—and church callings. They’re acceptable conflicts.

I just had to check. I just had to wonder if BYU would offer some childcare help, you know, for our conflicts. Nope. They’re acceptable. Struggle on!

ChatGPT is here

The ChatGPT slides that Brian sent out last week were everything all at once: depressing, amazing, terrifying, and holy cow!

ChatGPT made its presence known to me on the first day of class this semester when “Nate” shared with everyone his ChatGPT story.

For his political science class, Nate wrote an essay that he thought made a strong argument and had good style. He submitted it to Learning Suite and then decided to explore ChatGPT. Nate put into ChatGPT the essay prompt and seconds later, ChatGPT produced an essay that was similar to the essay Nate had spent an hour on.

When he finished his story, it felt like time stopped as we all wondered, myself included, why were we even in WRTG 150 when ChatGPT can write papers in seconds!?!

Every sign indicates that WRTG 150 is going to be required for every freshman entering BYU when the new GE requirements roll out (date TBD still!). Hurrah for job security!

But by fall semester are we going to extol the virtues of typewriters and require our students to use them during class to write and think and revise? Who knows!

But right now, we need to engage in conversations about ChatGPT to figure out our next steps. Fortunately for us, Brian Jackson is leading a conversation about Chat GPT for the English department this Monday, March 6 at 4 pm in 4186 JFSB.

Adjuncts can now access BYU’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP)!

From the College of Humanities’ email on February 14:

“Just a reminder that all non-student BYU employees and their households now have access to a new resource: the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), a completely free, completely confidential service provided by Beacon Health. The EAP can help with planning for significant life events, sorting through legal matters, achieving professional goals, handling mental health challenges, and balancing work and life situations. Visit https://hrs.byu.edu/employee-assistance-program to learn more about how EAP can help you.”

Questions, concerns, in need of help?

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

Stuff for your calendar

This list of stuff includes stuff from the university, the English department, and me, the Adjunct-in-Chief. You’re invited to it all! Please come when you can!

Also here’s a link to the department calendar if you care to see the future: The English Department Calendar.

MARCH

• March 2-3: BYU English Symposium. Check out the schedule! I’ll be representing adjuncts on the Brandie Siegfried Women in Academia Panel at 11 am in the Education in Zion Auditorium. I aim to be more encouraging than discouraging. Teaching part-time is hard! (Teaching, researching, and writing full-time is hard!)

• March 6: Let’s Chat about ChatGPT with Brian Jackson at 4 pm in 4186 JKB.

• March 10: Tea @ 2 pm in 4186 JFSB. Join us for a conversation on class discussions! How do we manage smaller groups or larger ones? Younger students or more advanced? English majors vs. non-English majors? And what about those shy ones? Or those that over-share?

• March 23 & 24: Unit Review. Some adjuncts will be asked to share their thoughts with the reviewers—people from BYU and people not from BYU. Watch your email! Represent us well!

• March: The Adjunct Book Club—Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. If you signed up, watch your email for a chance to vote on a day and time!

APRIL

• April 6: How to Respond to Students’ Mental Health Crises @ 11 am in 4186 JFSB with Jon Cox, a psychologist at BYU’s CAPS (and Katie’s husband). I know, where was this presentation at the beginning of the semester?! But if we know one thing, it’s this: student crises will continue to happen. Come learn how to respond to students in a way that’s helpful for both you and your students!

• April 14: Tea at 2 pm in 4186 JFSB. Teaching Triumphs! Cha-cha-cha! End the semester on a good note by celebrating: What went well this semester? What pleasantly surprised you? What helped you enjoy teaching?

• April 20: The Adjunct End-of-the-Year Awards Party @ 12 pm on the Hinckley Center’s Third Floor. There will be lunch, service awards, and cheering—be sure to put it on your calendar today!

MAY

May: A Scheduling Survey. Watch your inbox for this survey! We—the English Department, University Writing, and I—hope to use the information we collect to improve the scheduling process and to create a single document that lays out the process so everyone can have a better understanding of how it works. I also hope to put this information on a future website for adjuncts.