Radke - Week 7 - Dickinson

As I arrived at work this morning I was welcomed with looks of disgust from the heat that has invaded the Northeast this weekend.  The office has decided to blame it upon me since I, “brought this from Mississippi” and has made life unbearable to them.  Between us I’ve had to stop from laughing over the conversations because as we know, this is pretty typical for this time of year and heat indexes floating around 105 seem like normal July and August.  But for Carlisle, PA and the rest of the Northeast, this weather is unheard of.  (I think this is what I get for gloating about the 85 degree weather last week.)  I say all this though because it has brought the attention of how different your location and culture can impact where you are working and how you serve those students.

I have had many conversations over topics that seem to shock me initially, but after taking a step back and remembering where I am, it has been taken as a learning experience.  Some of these things include the fact that alcohol is allowed on this campus and their stance on it.  I spoke about this in class this week, but it is all seen as educational opportunities.  This allows faculty to hold events on campus with alcohol, there is the annual champagne brunch for graduating seniors, opportunities that have become valued here as a part of their institutional culture. Another is letting men and women students live together in their campus apartments.  I have to admit that this one shocked me more than the alcohol, but it’s a simple stance that they are adults and can decide who to live with.  This is not an option in the residence halls, but if you are an upper classman living in special interest housing or apartments then you have the right to choose.  I think this shows more of a cultural change and while this probably goes on all over the country, not just the Northeast, it will be a very long time before the South ever allows availability like this.

We talk about how we must factor in our institutional fit whenever we are starting the job searching process, but I am quickly seeing how cultural fit should be factored in as well.  Just another one of the many things that is now on my radar when thinking about my final year in the program as I prep for finding the right institution.

Suffering in the heat like my Mississippi friends,
Carrie