My university is a very good place to work (when Rauner isn’t messing with us). There are no preparatory meetings that seem to eat up the last week of summer holidays for many academics. I have a departmental meeting on Friday and I can go an all-faculty breakfast also on Friday. It’s not obligatory. I decide whether to go or not based on whether I feel like gabbing with colleagues over free food. Last year I didn’t. This year I do.
Other than that, I’m free. This is important because there’s always stuff to do in preparation for classes to begin and in winding down all of the summer research projects.
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