Rocket from Richmond Sends in a "Customer Service" Link He Thinks We Might Like.

Oh, the customer service model. Yes, I hear my son (a faculty member at Xxxxxxx University) always talk about it. So your readers might enjoy this website about customers and how often they're NOT right.

And as a teaser, here's one that comes from their blog about faculty members...

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Wake Up And Smell The Fumes

COLLEGE | ORANGE COUNTY, CA, USA |

(I’m a public safety officer in charge of the entire campus over the weekend. A large building has been locked, secured, and the key card access has been turned off because the building is being fumigated. I get a call on my work phone.)


Me: “Campus safety, how can I help you?”
Faculty: “Hi, I need to get into [building].”
Me: “Sorry, that building is closed for fumigation.”
Faculty: “I know, I left something in my office that’s really important. I need to go up and get it.”
Me: “I understand, but the entire building is locked up so no one can get in.”
Faculty: “I know, I have been trying to get in. They must have shut off the keycard readers.”
Me: “You’re trying to get in? You can’t sir. The entire building is filled with toxic fumes.”
Faculty: “I know that! I just need to get in real fast and grab something.”
(His office is actually on the 4th floor. Even running and taking the elevator could be a 6-10 minute round trip in poisonous gas.)
Me: “Sir, I can’t let you in. You could become seriously ill from the fumes. I can’t take that responsibility.”
Faculty: “What if I wrote you a note saying it was okay?”
Me: “That likely wouldn’t protect me from much if I let you in and you collapse. Then I would have to go in and get you and compromise my health and safety.”
Faculty: “But you’re Campus Safety! Isn’t it your job to do that?”
Me: “I’m ensuring your safety by not letting you in a poison-filled death trap.”
Faculty: “Fine, then!” *hangs up*

Would The Last Person to View College Misery Please Turn Out the Lights.

When "Out of the Office" Means, "Adjuncts, Please Go Fuck Yourselves."

I've been asked to teach yet another new class this fall. Adjuncts are thrown any class that no one else wants (in this case, a class that starts at 7:45 am). I am starting my third semester at this particular school, and this is the sixth new course I have been given. I've been asking the course coordinator for a book list and sample syllabus since April. I was able to get the book list, and put in requests for desk copies, which arrived in June. Laid off after maternity leave, I came in to pick up the books, schmooze with the new baby, get in, get out. I've been slowly familiarizing myself with the three texts, collecting unemployment, and have been waiting on the syllabus. Since there are about a dozen different instructors for this course, it's important I get an idea of what everyone else is doing.

A few days ago, I received a detailed course description. Still no calendar. But revealed to me: there is a fourth book. A novel I've never read.

I emailed the course coordinator. Of course, I get an "Out of Office Reply" from her. And the secretary. And the chair. In the meantime, I order the fourth book myself on Amazon. A popular book, at least it only cost me a penny. I finally get a response from the course coordinator: "Yes, you'll need that book, too. It doesn't start until the fifth or sixth week, so you'll have plenty of time to read it before then." No apologies for the slip-up. No offer to get me a copy, or contact the bookstore. Of course, the bookstore deadline was back in April, so who knows how successful I will be in begging for modifications at this point. The bookstore manager is also "Out of Office." I took a look at the textbook requests the other adjuncts had put in, and it looks like even the ubiquitous "Dr. Staff" is missing this novel. So I am not the only one left out.

I am fuming. For twelve years, I prepped for four different levels every day of the week, plus one random elective totally out of my content area. Her only instructional duty is to teach this one course, and make sure all of us slaves are in lock-step with her. How is it possible that she could forget one of the required texts? How is it possible that she can get herself dressed in the morning? How is it possible that she is my boss?

-Frankity