Because of my long week [which included a funeral and our Walnut Hills movie night] I haven't yet been able to recount any of my experiences from working at Cincinnati Christian University. Starting a new job is always difficult but this was probably the easiest experience I've had in first week acclamation because of working at the school before.*
First, let me explain my new gig: I'm an admissions coordinator for the College of Adult Learning. Also known as the CALL program [it's an acronym that includes the words "Christian" and "Leadership"], this college was started about six years ago under the umbrella of Cincinnati Christian University to allow non-traditional students [read: adults over the age of 25] to finish their college degrees through an accelerated program. It has somewhat rapidly grown to where it now has over 300 students; this is the program in which I've been adjunct teaching this past year. As the program now has three campuses [on the main campus in Price Hill, at Vineyard Community Church in Tri-County, and in Indianapolis at Indian Creek Christian Church], with another campus on the way [this spring, we'll open a greater-Louisville campus across the river in Jeffersonville, Indiana] it was critical to add recruiting positions to keep up with the growth. While I might have a little to do in Louisville, and since they're adding a recruiter for the Indianapolis area, I'll be centering my focus on the Cincinnati campuses.
As far as my specific tasks, I'll be assisting prospective students throughout the admissions process as well as spreading the word of our program throughout the city. Since the admissions department of the College consisted of just one person until I was added, I'll also be attempting to install some systems that will keep pace with the program's growth. I'll also be looking for opportunities to use my expertise in marketing and technology to enhance the selling of our program.**
In order to work around the schedules of adult students, the college operates classes at night. Thus, my "regular office hours" will be all over the place. This week, I tried to get in early just so I could get a jump on things. What I realized is that, while some things are different, some of them are very much the same. I'd like to think that this transition has provided me with a list of easy things and hard things.
EASY THINGS:
The people I work with are great. I seem to fit very well with our department's staff and am sure that I'll have a stapler in a Jell-O mold by Christmas.
Already teaching in the program has been a plus. I've taught about eight classes this past year in all three of the College's campuses. So I'm familiar with the students, their stories, and what makes the program so important.
The main campus looks much better than it did ten years ago. My first time around, I was selling prospective students on a hole in the ground. And the walls hadn't been painted a new color since they built many of the buildings. While every college campus has archaic buildings, there's certainly a fresh feel to things now.
I still know many of the faculty and staff. I left my previous job at CCU seven years ago. In the meantime, I've been in the city so I've maintained a working knowledge of who was where.
My current job is similar to my previous role here. There are certain procedures that are in place that haven't changed. In short, I know the flow.
The computer database is still the same. While I loathed the database when I worked there before, I understand the power in utilizing it in this job. I think my former co-workers would laugh that I'm going to play the role as advocate for this system.***
HARD THINGS:
Getting enough sleep will be difficult. I went three years without having to be in the office at a certain time. While I've tried to get in bed by midnight, I haven't been very successful yet. And this is in the summer when there's nothing on TV. I already took two naps this week when I've gotten home, so I'm going to have to readjust my body quick if I'm going to make it.
My workspace is incomplete. Since they're going to be doing some wall-building in September to give me an office with a door, I've taken up residence in a conference room. I spent most of the week with papers all over the place. It'll be tough for me to get organized until I get settled into a new place.
I have to use a PC. Seriously, this is the absolute toughest thing about the job. I keep forgetting that when I "Command" click as a keyboard shortcut, the PC looks at me like I'm an idiot. I'm probably going to bring in my laptop from home once a week to keep myself sane.
Bringing in my own Diet Coke. CCU is a Pepsi campus. It is the last remaining demon that ought to be exorcised. Until then, it's a BYOB situation.****
Still. It was a great first week. It's [almost] like I never left. I'd predict my blogging pace will pick up a little as I continue to get settled. Maybe I'll find some interesting things to say as well.
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*By my count, I've now held seven different jobs in my life. I'm not sure if that's a lot or not, but I'm thinking I've set myself up so that I could make it to retirement without crossing the double-digit threshold.
**True, I don't hold any marketing or technology degrees, but I have started a church which has provided me a depth of experience in these tasks.
***Ten years ago, when I was prone to having more fun, I actually entered Tupac Shakur into the database. Sadly, as I scanned the system for him this week, his name had been purged. That's twice I've lost him from my life now.
****Bring Your Own Beverage, obviously. I read in the employee handbook something about not being inebriated on the job that leads me to believe alcohol is prohibited.