Holy moly. I just received this email from the Associate Dean of the School of Social Work, University of Michigan:
—
Hi Holly,
As a special studies student, I want you to be able to get the most out of the experience, to minimize the disruption you are experiencing but maybe also to get some value added if we can manage it.
I am hoping we can provide some consultation and mentorship via distance mechanisms –phone, computer, etc, as you work towards your dissertation. This can be above and beyond the access you will have to the library resources as an enrolled student.
I am willing to act as your special studies faculty member and coordinate any additional help we can provide you as a faculty member. I know you have been in contact with Deb Schild, and there are undoubtedly others who can provide some expertise and support. Maybe we can speak briefly to see how we can best be of assistance.
Take care,
Rich
Richard M. Tolman, Ph.D.
Professor and Associate Dean for Educational Programs
University of Michigan, School of Social Work
—
Jeez. That is hard act to follow. And what exactly has Tulane done for me (or any of it’s doctoral students) lately?? I’m not quite sure how to proceed with this.
Anonymous | 16-Sep-05 at 1:27 pm | Permalink
holly… i think it is soooo wonderful that michigan has been so accommodating. i think maybe it is hard for the tulane people to help their students because of the bad shape of the city right now. but, i know there has been a huge educational response from around the country to help students in need. i am speaking mostly from my experience with the medical education side of things because i know the residents from tulane have been accepted very easily into programs around the country to complete their training. we were actually originally supposed to get two neurosurgery residents at our program but they have had so many offers from other programs that we are not actually getting any residents anymore. anyway, my point kind of is that even though the response from your city and school seems to be suboptimal, at least other places around the country are available and willing to help. i am soooo glad you have found an outside resource to help you through this bump in your educational experience….. your strength has been amazing to me through all of this 🙂 keep smiling, elisa
Holly | 16-Sep-05 at 1:37 pm | Permalink
Yes — I have to keep it in perspective that Michigan is undisturbed, while Tulane is completely struggling. I’m mostly disappointed because the response we’ve gotten from our relatively small department toward our concerns has been erudite and vague. The nature of the department is that many of our faculty spend a great deal of time overseas, so not having the first of the term (when most are in-country) to re-group and hold meetings, is really a strain on those of us who’ve been planning and reading and waiting for the opportunity for face-to-face mentorship. It’s a frustrating situation and the department really isn’t putting a lot of effort into keeping us informed or reaching out. I think this is the most frustrating.