Your Career: This summer, try something you’re bad at

How pushing yourself to learn outside of your comfort zone can re-energize your teaching. ADVERTISEMENT [Your Career Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. How pushing yourself to learn outside of your comfort zone can re-energize your teaching If you’re looking to become a more knowledgeable teacher this summer, you can always explore new subfields or deepen your expertise in your research area. But exercising familiar intellectual muscles doesn’t necessarily help you to be a better teacher in the college classroom — more patient, more empathetic, more effective. What does: Learning something way outside of your wheelhouse, something you know you won’t be very good at. No matter how much you remind yourself, as a teacher, that your students are still learning how to learn, the message sinks in far more effectively when you are trying to acquire a difficult new skill yourself, with its attendant frustrations, satisfying successes, and embarrassing failures. That experience can remind you of the challenges that your students face every semester. Things like having to learn unfamiliar meanings to words, figure out how to break a project down into manageable steps, and accept a certain amount of error as the price of getting started. Continue reading: “[Do Things You’re Bad At]( by Rachel Trousdale Share your suggestions for the newsletter with Denise Magner, an editor at The Chronicle, at denise.magner@chronicle.com. If you’d like to opt out, you can log in to our website and [manage your newsletter preferences here](. ADVERTISEMENT SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to essential news, analysis, and advice. UPCOMING PROGRAM [The Chronicle's Library and Institutional Success Program | July 2024] The Chronicle is partnering with Ithaka S+R to host a brand new [professional development program for librarians]( in July. This innovative two-week program will help library leaders understand the many roles they might take on, boost the success of the campus library, and better align with their institution’s goals. Learn more about our seminars and workshops, and [register today]( LATEST CAREER ADVICE, OPINION, AND NEWS ADVICE [How to Publish a ‘Timely’ Scholarly Book]( By Rebecca Colesworthy [STORY IMAGE]( Dos and don’ts for making your writing project relevant as it moves from proposal to manuscript to promotion. ADVERTISEMENT [How to Publish a ‘Timely’ Scholarly Book]( PARKING DISPUTE [A History Instructor Complained About Parking Fees. It Cost Him His Job.]( By Nell Gluckman [STORY IMAGE]( The military veteran had taught at Tarleton State University for over a decade. His colleagues were stunned. ADVICE [The Provost Files: How to Work With the Faculty]( By George Justice [STORY IMAGE]( A key part of the academic vice president’s job is interacting with professors, without stepping on the toes of deans and chairs. DATA [How Much Do Noninstructional Employees Earn?]( [STORY IMAGE]( Here’s how wages have changed over the past five years for those who work in sectors such as business and financial operations, management, and education services. THE REVIEW | OPINION [Community Groups Shouldn’t Dictate Academic Hiring]( By Alexander Jabbari [STORY IMAGE]( Recently, the University of Minnesota tarnished its reputation by caving to community pressure over the hiring of a director for its Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. 'COMPLIANCE U' [Colleges Must Set Up a Whole New Bureaucracy to Comply With Republicans’ Anti-DEI Laws]( By Maggie Hicks [STORY IMAGE]( In Republican-controlled states, lawmakers are leaning on legalese and intimidation to stamp out diversity efforts in public higher ed. FROM THE CHRONICLE STORE [Fostering Students' Free Expression - Buy Now]( [Higher Education in 2035]( Higher education is facing an array of challenges: economic headwinds, political pressures, and shifting demographics. [Order your copy]( to help your institution prepare for what’s ahead, and discover how the sector will evolve in the coming decade. What we’re reading Here’s more on career issues and trends from around the web. See something we should include? [Let me know](mailto:denise.magner@chronicle.com?subject=Your Career feedback). - [Advice]( in The Wall Street Journal on “the rules for making a good impression on Zoom and emails.” - In the Harvard Business Review, [a look]( at three “exercises to boost your emotional intelligence.” - Entering midlife? The New York Times has a handy “[user’s guide]( for you on all the fun stuff you can expect: aches and pains, weight gain, memory loss. MORE CAREER RESOURCES NEW SEMESTER [How to Create a Syllabus]( By Kevin Gannon [STORY IMAGE]( There’s never a bad time to re-examine and rethink how to write your syllabus. This guide walks you through everything you need to know, with specific tips and strategies, to craft an effective syllabus. DATA [How Much Are Private-College Presidents Paid?]( [STORY IMAGE]( Base pay, bonuses, and benefits for 312 chief executives at private colleges with expenditures of $100 million or more in 2021. DATA [How Much Are Public-College Presidents Paid?]( [STORY IMAGE]( Base pay, bonuses, and benefits for 195 chief executives at public doctoral universities and systems in 2022. [Professional-Development Resources]( [STORY IMAGE]( Visit The Chronicle’s professional-development resources page to read stories from Chronicle journalists and contributors, and to explore videos and research briefs on a variety of topics. JOB OPPORTUNITIES [President]( Berry College [Assistant Director of Strategic Communications]( St. Lawrence University [Associate Director of Admissions]( University of Maryland, Baltimore [Search other jobs.]( Stay ahead of the game and upload your resume to our job board. You'll be visible to hiring managers who are actively seeking top talent like you. [Upload your resume today.]( CAREER RESOURCES [Preparing for a New Role] [Read the July collection]( for advice on preparing for a new role. Learn how you can prepare for onboarding, move into your new office, and more! 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