602 survey: TEACHER AND GRAD STUDENT: COPING WITH IT ALL

Please answer the following questions honestly. If you feel that any of the questions are too personal, just skip them.

  1. What percentage of working hours per week do you estimate that you spend on:

    2. Preparing classes you are taking as a grad student:_____

    Preparing class(es) you are teaching:_____

    Other academic pursuits:_____

  2. What do you do when faced with the following situation? It is late in the evening and you have to grade exams (which you promised to return to your students tomorrow). You are also supposed to read a text for your grad class tomorrow. There will be a class discussion about the material, and you have never read it before. Which of the following would you be most inclined to do? (Circle one)

    3. a. Grade the student exams first and hope to "wing it" in your own class.

    b. Read your assignment first and tell students that you did not have time to grade their exams yet.

    c. Grad a few exams, read some of your assignment, grade a few more exams, etc. and hope for the best.

    d. You try to stay awake all night and complete both.

    e. You waste an hour in front of the TV trying to decide what to do first.

    f. You get so frustrated that you just give up, don't do either, and go to bed.

    g. Other: ___________________________________________________

  3. If you suddenly had three hours free today which you had not anticipated, what would you do with the extra time?________________________________________________________
  4. Which do you usually find most personally rewarding? (Circle one)

    5. a. Conducting an excellent class which involves and excites your students.

    b. Making an important discovery about the topic you are considering for your dissertation.

    c. Finishing that leftover research paper from last semester.

    d. Finding a quarter on the sidewalk.

    e. Getting a few extra hours of sleep one night.

    f. Receiving a letter notifying you that your proposal for a conference paper or an article has been accepted.

    g. Receiving thank you notes from students you taught last semester.

    h. Attending 602 seminars.

  5. If you could eliminate ONE "professional" obligation, which one would it be?____________________________________________________
  6. In terms of your plans for your professional goals, are you (circle one):

    7. a. Ahead of schedule.

    b. Behind schedule.

    c. Right on schedule.

    d. So confused that you don't know if you are ahead or behind.

    e. Too early in your program to make a determination of your progress.

  7. Rank these items in order of interest to you, from 1(most important) to 10 (least important)

    8. ___ Completing my M.A./Ph.D. "on time."

    ___ Finding a tenure track position at a research university.

    ___ Finding a university position which emphasizes teaching.

    ___ Earning a REAL salary.

    ___ Finding a position outside of academia.

    ___ Traveling.

    ___ Doing academic research in an area I particularly enjoy.

    ___ Developing teaching models and methods for University courses.

    ___ Moving to ________________ (fill in the blank).

    ___ Other (specify): ______________________________________________

  8. Which statement most closely describes your current situation? (circle one):

a. I am very comfortable with my professional priorities and progress.

b. I am sometimes "stressed out," particularly when exams need to be graded or when my research papers are due.

c. I am very often frustrated, tired and can't find enough time to do the work I need to complete.

d. I am a total basket case.

If you could ask/answer one additional question on this survey, what would it be?