Back to School

I have been "going back to school" virtually my whole life. It has been 60 years and many schools from a downtown Wilmington, Delaware parochial elementary school to now, UAB. I have gone back to school in Wilmington, Kennett Square (PA), South Bend, Baltimore, Pago Pago (American Samoa), Honolulu, Amherst (MA), and the Alabama School of Fine Arts and UAB here in Birmingham. Each year my hopes are higher than the year before, and this year is no exception. A new research study has confirmed what I have known instinctively all my life -- teachers lead satisfying lives. Teaching is a wonderful way to experience the benefits of a life connected to people who need you. With the skills you get here at UAB you are prepared to interact with thousands of people in POSITIVE ways. Most "people jobs" have significant aspects of negativity attached to them, but teaching, when done well, has the potential to be uplifting to the teacher every day. I know, I know -- the pay isn't very good. But, it is literally true that money isn't everything and most teachers are able to live a comfortable, middle class existence. It has been a great life in great locations for Lyn and me. It can be the same for you!

SOME BREAKING NEWS:
The state recently required program revisions in all of our undergraduate programs to comply with the new Alabama Quality Teaching Standards. Our programs were approved in record time. This means we begin the year with refreshed confidence that we provide top quality programs in every area of our curriculum.

Another area where students will see new energy is in student communications. We did some experimenting last year, but we will be going full bore this year. This blog is but one example. I hope you'll take the time to post comments and questions often. I will be personally moderating the discussion and I hope to see many of our students out here in cyberspace.

Another example is our Student Concerns Digital Drop Box located on the web at: http://www.ed.uab.edu/scc/concerns.htm. Concerns raised by students and delivered at this site are reviewed by faculty and administrators regularly and are delivered anonymously. One caution -- if you have a question or complaint about a class or an instructor, go see the instructor before you do anything else. We insist on it! The reason we insist on it is that it is only fair and since most of you are training to be teachers we know you'll see the logic of working with the instructor to fix the problem.

Homecoming will be a big deal this year. Please help us out by contacting Ashley Cacioppo at ashmcap@uab.edu. There are floats to decorate, skits to perform, races to run and prizes to be won, so come on down!

Best wishes for a great start to the new year.