Or at least construction of a graduate department…

CMU’s grad school offices are under construction.

I just learned that the thesis-holding filing cabinet was pushed out of the way by construction people. It was pushed up against a wall, so the grad department cannot open it until next Friday, which I think means June 15.

I have already made tentative plans to meet with two of my professors this week to resign my newly formatted thesis signature page. I am hoping both of them will be available Friday (June 8). I also plan to submit my revised thesis (minus new signature page) to the grad department Friday (June since I will be in Mt. Pleasant.

That’s what prompted my call today to the grad school. I wanted to make sure I could submit the format revisions without submitting the newly formatted signature page too. Because I have to mail the signature page to one committee member, and I won’t be able to turn it in Friday. The good news is that is OK.

And because I called, I received several tips and updates including the construction news.

Overall, I am very pleased with how quick the grad department has responded. I mentioned that to the lady I talked to today, and she noted it is a lot easier to respond quickly this early in the semester. She said it was a different story when they have 60 of them pending later on in the semester.

Plus she shared information that will save me a possible heart attack later. She *technically* doesn’t work in the summer, so if I were to e-mail her, I would get an auto-responder that said she is off for the summer. This would have made me panic. But, she said she DOES check her e-mail, and she will follow through with my thesis so I can graduate in August. She doesn’t, however, check her voice mail. This is all very good information to know.

Plus, because of the construction, she suggested a few other changes when I show up on Friday. Nothing major, but it makes me feel better.

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Today is the first day of the summer semester at Kirtland. So my summer break is “over.” I’m teaching online, so I am excited about all of the gas I’m saving. At almost $4 per gallon, it is nice to be working from home.

Thanks for playing.