Stanford hates fun - Printable Version

Stanford hates fun - Printable Version

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RE: Stanford hates fun - Crafter Artisan - 11-18-2022

(11-10-2022, 12:25 AM)Genuine Realist Wrote: And yes, that is unrepentant nameism. But I stand by my bigotry.

Post count checks out....

RE: Stanford hates fun - lex24 - 11-18-2022

(11-18-2022, 10:46 AM)81alum Wrote:
(11-18-2022, 08:35 AM)lex24 Wrote: Stanford has unlimited resources to fight lawsuits. Certainly not “disadvantaged” on that score. I doubt very much Administration is “petrified” of lawsuits. If so, they should find other jobs.
I think it is much bigger than Stanford. Higher education over the last generation of time has become extremely fearful of litigation--often irrationally so. Many managers act in ways that they think will reduce liability even if the actual threat of a lawsuit is minimal. It is a financially conservative approach that now colors the thinking of most administrators most of the time--and is especially strong in student affairs divisions. I've witnessed this personally at several other universities. Paradoxically, the main problem is that the managers making these decisions are frequently NOT lawyers and so they misunderstand and often exaggerate the risks.

Example: For me to walk my class from my campus 4 blocks down the street to a downtown art museum now requires liability waivers signed by each student. The "Risk Management" team is now a ubiquitous feature at most universities and they promulgate these kinds of rules with no specialized understanding of students or faculty. They cut their teeth managing construction projects which needed copious amounts of liability insurance, hardhats, safety training, etc., and they apply that model to all aspects of university life.

Are your students 10? My gawd that is ridiculous.

RE: Stanford hates fun - cardcrimson - 11-18-2022

Moving from the litigious turn the thread has taken, I was struck by this job title in the Daily article: "Associate Vice Provost of Inclusion, Community and Integrative Learning". Can anyone succinctly explain what this job is and why it is necessary?

RE: Stanford hates fun - oldalum - 11-18-2022

No, but here is the (largely unhelpful) job description: [note that one of the promised attractions of working at Stanford is "Discovery and Fun", e.g., you can "stroll through historic sculptures, trails, and museums."] (come to think of it, depending on the sculpture, strolling through it might be fun although possibly destructive)

[b]To be successful in this role, you will bring: [/b]

Bachelor’s degree and at least ten years of relevant experience that includes progressively responsible leadership and supervision as well as administrative and financial management experience, or a combination of education and relevant experience. Advanced degree, preferably a doctorate, and prior leadership experience in an academic institution strongly preferred, including experience in diversity and inclusion, community development and integrative learning. In addition, candidates for this role should have:

Demonstrated strategic leadership, planning and change management skills.
Demonstrated background and expertise in equity, inclusion, anti-racist practices, and integrative learning.
Exceptional respect for and understanding of the needs of a highly diverse student body at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Outstanding oral and written communication skills. Advanced financial expertise in budget planning and financial forecasting.
Exceptional interpersonal, negotiation and political acumen skills. Ability to influence people, solve problems, trouble shoot, think creatively and resolve conflicts.
Expert analytical and problem-solving skills.
Strong knowledge of industry standards, trends and regulatory requirements.
Ability to relate to a variety of constituencies, including students, parents, faculty, community groups and alumni, and to appreciate the interests and concerns of each group.
Subject matter expertise for areas of responsibility.
Knowledge of student development theory and of concerns, challenges, interests and issues currently prevalent among undergraduate and graduate students, with a strong background in advising.
Proven ability to work in an inclusive, proactive, values-driven and consultative way with faculty, staff, peers, students, parents, and the broader external community.

[b]Working Conditions:[/b]

University on-campus housing is provided with this position; residing on campus is a condition of employment.
This position a fully on-site role.
The university requires all staff to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination prior to their start date, unless granted a medical or religious accommodation.
Work evenings, as needed and occasionally on weekends.

[b]Why Stanford is for You[/b]

[b]Freedom to grow. [/b]We offer career development programs, tuition reimbursement, or audit a course. Join a TedTalk, film screening, or listen to a renowned author or global leader speak.
[b]A caring culture. [/b]We provide superb retirement plans, generous time-off, and family care resources.
[b]A healthier you.[/b] Climb our rock wall, or choose from hundreds of health or fitness classes at our world-class exercise facilities. We also provide excellent health care benefits.
[b]Discovery and fun. [/b]Stroll through historic sculptures, trails, and museums.
[b]Enviable resources.[/b] Enjoy free commuter programs, ridesharing incentives, discounts and more

RE: Stanford hates fun - Goose - 11-18-2022

(11-18-2022, 06:18 PM)lex24 Wrote: Stanford is not Monsanto. It’s a highly respected University. Santa Clara County is a nice place for it to have cases heard.
Obviously there has to be policies and procedures that are reasonable. But that includes the realization that College students are not going to sit in their rooms studying 12 hours a day.
Sorry, but given Stanfords resources and standing in the community I don’t view them as the underdog in any litigation…. Far from it.

Back to the litigious :-). Stanford is indeed not Monsanto, but I am surprised that you believe that Santa Clara County is a nice place to have cases heard. I lived in Palo Alto for 14 years, and my work colleagues during those years lived mostly in Mountain View and further south. While they all pretty much respected Stanford as an "institution of higher learning", they were almost equally divided between those who thought the Stanford administrators were a bunch of smug malefactors who were actively trying to screw over Santa Clara County (and those who lived there) and the ones who though Stanford administrators were just a bunch of amoral people doing their jobs as they understood them. Both groups agreed that under no circumstances could Stanford be trusted. Interestingly, many of the people who trusted Stanford the least either worked there (my neighbors) or were alumni. I really don't think a jury pool of these folks would be real advantageous to Stanford as a defendant. I now live in Portola Valley, where many of my neighbors are "Stanford People". Their views are a bit more nuanced but when it comes to trusting Stanford's "good intentions", they don't. The "Stanford Trail" was a local cause celeb. Fortunately it kind of came out OK. Stanford indeed has resources, but their "standing in the community" is another story, based on my experience.

RE: Stanford hates fun - Phogge - 11-18-2022

My high school now has one of those positions... a five word title. Too bad they have never had a title of “Watchdog Over Pedophile Faculty.”

RE: Stanford hates fun - dabigv13 - 12-22-2022

*Turning and facing camera like Jim from The Office*

Quote:Samuel Santos Jr., associate vice provost of inclusion, community and integrative learning within the Division of Student Affairs, says the school is working to address students’ concerns about Stanford’s social atmosphere.

The party-planning process will be streamlined and more administrators will be hired to help facilitate student social life.

WSJ certainly loves the Stanford beat.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/stanford-tree-mascot-suspended-11671720777

RE: Stanford hates fun - Goose - 12-22-2022

(12-22-2022, 09:53 AM)dabigv13 Wrote: *Turning and facing camera like Jim from The Office*

Quote:Samuel Santos Jr., associate vice provost of inclusion, community and integrative learning within the Division of Student Affairs, says the school is working to address students’ concerns about Stanford’s social atmosphere.

The party-planning process will be streamlined and more administrators will be hired to help facilitate student social life.

WSJ certainly loves the Stanford beat.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/stanford-tree-mascot-suspended-11671720777

Leave it to Stanford to make fun mandatory and bring in more administrators to make sure it happens. Isn't the definition of totalitarianism that all things that are not forbidden are mandatory? Then again, Stanford never claimed to be a democracy.

RE: Stanford hates fun - rudruff - 12-22-2022

I know when I look back on my time in college, I really miss the interaction with administrators.

RE: Stanford hates fun - Beeg_Dawg - 12-22-2022

(11-18-2022, 09:04 PM)cardcrimson Wrote: Moving from the litigious turn the thread has taken, I was struck by this job title in the Daily article: "Associate Vice Provost of Inclusion, Community and Integrative Learning". Can anyone succinctly explain what this job is and why it is necessary?

I'm struck by the number of administrators, counselors, resource person, associates, ad infinitum there are. Wouldn't it be easier just to have a parent attend with their child? Is the time far off when there are more administrators than students?

I recall seeing something about the University of Michigan had over 400 employees involved directly with Title IX compliance. Here's a thought. Maybe tuition could be reduced if half the admin staff were eliminated?

RE: Stanford hates fun - Mick - 12-22-2022

(12-22-2022, 10:17 AM)rudruff Wrote: I know when I look back on my time in college, I really miss the interaction with administrators.

Based on a silly and immediately rectified mistake, I was hauled in front of a college administrator by another classmate who was very unhappy with me. After listening to both our stories, the administrator said "why are you wasting my time with this sxxt? Get out of here."

Very happy with that administrator interaction....

RE: Stanford hates fun - Beeg_Dawg - 12-22-2022

So let me get this straight. Stanford students - the best and the brightest - need adult supervision to plan social events? Really?

50 years ago I was part of a group that planned a party that included a live band, pig roast and 20 kegs of beer. No adults, and the only problem was running out of beer.

RE: Stanford hates fun - rudruff - 12-22-2022

I don't think the university views intelligence and resourcefulness as a positive for students planning parties. We definitely begged for forgiveness rather than ask permission for a lot of the stuff we did.

RE: Stanford hates fun - gailtate - 12-22-2022

(12-22-2022, 12:22 PM)Beeg_Dawg Wrote:
(11-18-2022, 09:04 PM)cardcrimson Wrote: Moving from the litigious turn the thread has taken, I was struck by this job title in the Daily article: "Associate Vice Provost of Inclusion, Community and Integrative Learning". Can anyone succinctly explain what this job is and why it is necessary?

I'm struck by the number of administrators, counselors, resource person, associates, ad infinitum there are. Wouldn't it be easier just to have a parent attend with their child? Is the time far off when there are more administrators than students?

I recall seeing something about the University of Michigan had over 400 employees involved directly with Title IX compliance. Here's a thought. Maybe tuition could be reduced if half the admin staff were eliminated?

Ah, yes, but what how would this affect what I am sure must be an already onerous WORKLOAD? :D

RE: Stanford hates fun - CTcard - 12-22-2022

(12-22-2022, 12:22 PM)Beeg_Dawg Wrote: I recall seeing something about the University of Michigan had over 400 employees involved directly with Title IX compliance.

There is an expanding administrative blob at most universities forced by federal and state regulations, but ...

Your recall appears to be off by about 370 employees ... or more.
The UMich office for Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX (it's not all title IX) lists 30 employees.
https://ecrt.umich.edu/about-us/our-team/

(12-22-2022, 09:53 AM)dabigv13 Wrote: *Turning and facing camera like Jim from The Office*

Quote:more administrators will be hired to help facilitate student social life.

perfect

RE: Stanford hates fun - lex24 - 12-22-2022

(12-22-2022, 01:02 PM)Beeg_Dawg Wrote: So let me get this straight. Stanford students - the best and the brightest - need adult supervision to plan social events? Really?

50 years ago I was part of a group that planned a party that included a live band, pig roast and 20 kegs of beer. No adults, and the only problem was running out of beer.

Well, if you had adult planning assistance you’d have had enough beer…..:)

RE: Stanford hates fun - 81alum - 12-22-2022

(12-22-2022, 12:22 PM)Beeg_Dawg Wrote: I'm struck by the number of administrators, counselors, resource person, associates, ad infinitum there are. Wouldn't it be easier just to have a parent attend with their child? Is the time far off when there are more administrators than students?

Administrators may not outnumber students, but they do outnumber faculty at many universities--Stanford is probably one of them. Faculty have been complaining about the expansion of university bureaucracy for many years.

This is a cutting and humorous book, now about 10 years old, by a fellow political scientist about the problem:

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-fall-of-the-faculty-9780199782444?cc=us&lang=en&

RE: Stanford hates fun - TonyLima - 12-22-2022

(12-22-2022, 05:13 PM)81alum Wrote:
(12-22-2022, 12:22 PM)Beeg_Dawg Wrote: I'm struck by the number of administrators, counselors, resource person, associates, ad infinitum there are. Wouldn't it be easier just to have a parent attend with their child? Is the time far off when there are more administrators than students?
Administrators may not outnumber students, but they do outnumber faculty at many universities--Stanford is probably one of them. Faculty have been complaining about the expansion of university bureaucracy for many years.

This is a cutting and humorous book, now about 10 years old, by a fellow political scientist about the problem:

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-fall-of-the-faculty-9780199782444?cc=us&lang=en&

Read "Fall of the Faculty" when it first came out. Highly recommended. You may disagree with some of the author's conclusions, but it's easily worth the time.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

RE: Stanford hates fun - Phogge - 12-22-2022

In my business there are way too many producers, especially the one with p.g.a. on their credits and the executive producer types who just produce budgets and think that they should have final cut.

RE: Stanford hates fun - TonyLima - 12-22-2022

(12-22-2022, 01:02 PM)Beeg_Dawg Wrote: So let me get this straight. Stanford students - the best and the brightest - need adult supervision to plan social events? Really?

50 years ago I was part of a group that planned a party that included a live band, pig roast and 20 kegs of beer. No adults, and the only problem was running out of beer.

Back when I was an undergrad at MIT, … nevermind