Obviously, I love teaching. I tell anyone who will listen, that teaching is my hobby, and I am being paid to go to committee meetings. (This makes the hourly rate of pay come out right, do the math.) ;) I am also deeply devoted to the concept of Faculty Governance. Therefore, it is important for all faculty to participate in committee work. Each committee has its own important role to play. I have so far served on Academic Affairs General Education Assessment Science and Math Division work and search committees.
Unofficially, I have sometimes done new faculty mentoring, peer advising and had a special relationship with the Pegasus,the student newspaper. In all my campus work I try to promote what is best for the College.

Faculty Status
Deciding issues of tenure and promotion is a tough job, but someone has to do it. More fun is being able to issue checks to faculty for professional development.

Academic Affairs
At an academic institution, Academic Affairs is a central and important role.

General Education
I have been on the Gen Ed committee often, sometimes its chair. It is subordinate to Academic Affairs, but directly focussed on what makes this a Liberal Arts school, instead of an institute for (insert your major here.) I am directly involved in a project for assessment of general education.

Assessment
Assessment sometimes gets a bad reputation. I was pulled into it my first year here. Try these simple questions. (1)What are we trying to accomplish? (2)What are our methods? (3)How do we know how well we are succeeding? (4)How do we use that information in making decisions about the future? Assessment is about getting the information WE need for OURSELVES to do OUR job better.

Science and Math Division
At this writing, Dr. Mike Toliver is Division Chair. (I call myself the Multiplication Table.) A chair cannot do it by himself, so we all do work.

Search Committees
Hiring new faculty and staff is valuable. I try to meet new candidates ever when I am not part of the official committee. During the 2007-2008 academic year when 4 returning Science and Math Faculty had to hire 4 colleagues, it was overwhelming. All that work paid off. The Science and Math Division at Eureka College is the best group ofprofessional colleagues I could hope to have.

New Faculty Mentoring
When I first arrived, I was the only new faculty with decades-long ties to the College. We had seven new faculty that year, and got together as a group. I found it so valuable that I have encouraged new faculty to do the same every year. The College now has a more formal orientation, but I still see what I can do to help.

Peer Assistance
Faculty help each other. I often find myself helping other faculty with computer issues, statistics, or guest visits to classes. When I need help, others are there for me.

Pegasus
I have a love/hate relationship with the Pegasus. Some years I love it, some years I hate it. I think it is important for faculty to all help. It is wonderful when the student newspaper runs according to principles of good journalism, and challenges the campus.