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Message from Gage E. Paine,

Vice President for Student Affairs

A few years ago as I was becoming what is known as ‘more senior’ in the field of Student Affairs, I noticed a syndrome that afflicted some of my newer colleagues.  Over time, I began to realize that anyone could experience this syndrome – the 'Failure to Be Curious Syndrome'.  Sometimes this syndrome is acute lasting for a short time during a period of intense overwork or a crisis situation.  But sometimes it is chronic.  It can be caused by style or a misunderstanding of the importance of things outside the task at hand. However, regardless of the cause, it is always something to avoid.  Failure to Be Curious can negatively impact your work, but it can also rob us of the enjoyment that can, and should, be a part of working on a university campus.  Obviously we need to do our jobs, but I believe we also need to become insatiably curious about our departments, our division, our university and higher education, not to mention the greater community. 

Early in my career, during my first semester at UT-Austin, the campus experienced many controversies including a student death related to hazing (which had the local media calling repeatedly) and protests against the Board of Regents’ investment policies.  These protests ranged from protests, to repeated burning of a mock-shanty on campus, to a short-lived takeover of the President’s office.  As a result, the first thing I did every day was to read the student newspaper.  It told me what the coming day had in store.  Even when things calmed down and my job moved off the media radar, I maintained the habit.  I still read the student newspaper first thing.  I also make sure to find time to at least skim The Chronicle of Higher Education every week or to read the news in UTSA today (every time I do I learn information about students I haven’t met yet or more about my colleagues and the amazing work they do in their areas of expertise.)  So, give yourself ten minutes to review The Paisano.  Don’t just cross your name off the routing slip and send things on; read as much as you can even if you have to schedule time to do it.  Learn to be curious about every aspect of our institution.

Now, I assume that you know the name of our university president and the vice president for Student Affairs, but do you know our academic fields of study and the schools from which we obtained our degrees?  'Why', you may ask 'should I take time to learn that?'  If you aspire to obtain a leadership position in a university, these two people and the rest of the leadership in any institution are people who have been successful in your chosen field of endeavor.  Having information about their career paths gives you models for analysis and emulation.  But regardless of your career interests, it gives you something to talk about at a university function or during a surprise elevator ride.  Knowing who’s who on campus is critical.  I’ve watched a staff member stuttering in embarrassment when, upon being introduced to the provost, he asked very nicely, ‘And what do you do here?’  Look through the UTSA website and be familiar with the leadership names on campus.

But don’t just learn about the people with big titles.  Get to know as many different people in as many different departments as possible.  There are amazing people all over campus doing great work, who also have fascinating interests and hobbies.  They are worth your time on many levels, but knowing people across campus can also help you be more effective in your job.

So besides people and the news, what do you need to be insatiably curious about?  Here is a list of questions to get you started.  Maybe they will trigger an idea some other questions to ask.

1. Who is our current president?  What is the name of his Chief of Staff?

2. Can you name any past presidents?  Knowing the current one and the first one is a good place to start.

3. Do you know all of the vice presidents and the names of their departments?

4. Just what is a Provost?

5. Who is the Chair of the Faculty Senate?

6. Who do you really need to talk to when you need to order equipment for an event?  Who do you really need to apologize to when a student event leaves a bigger mess than anticipated?

7. What is our campus admissions philosophy in one sentence? 

8. Can you find the campus non-discrimination policy?  Who does a student talk to if they believe they have been harassed?  Staff member?

9. What was the headline in this week’s newspaper, The Paisano? (Where does that name come from?)  Who is the editor?  What is the paper’s legal relationship with the campus?

10. Who won the volleyball game or the soccer game or the golf tournament this past weekend?  Who were we playing?  (You don’t have to keep track of all the sports, but you ought to know about the ones in which students you work with are involved.)

11. What are the school’s official colors?  Do you know where to find that information?

12. What were the Campus Activities Board’s big events this last month?

13. What are the biggest, most important groups in the life of our campus?  Do you know something about their history?

14. What is your campus mascot?  Its name?  Its history?

15. What art shows and musical performances are on campus this month?  Have you gone to any?

16. What outside agencies impact our campus?

17. What is the role of the Board of Regents?  How do people get to be Regents?

18. How is the university funded?  What is the budget process? 

19. How do other departments on campus work? 

20. What is really important to your boss?  What is really important to his/her boss?

The cure for the 'Failure to Be Curious' syndrome is to become insatiably curious, to seek out information.  There are many ways to gain answers to these and many other questions that you will face over time.  I’ve mentioned the importance of reading, but also know that asking your supervisor good questions is another way to find information.  However, s/he doesn’t have time to tell you everything you need to know.  Don’t forget about the informal communication methods.  When you go to a meeting, don’t just sit and wait for the meeting to start; talk to people.  Introduce yourself to the people you don’t know.  On your lunch break leave your desk and walk over to the University Center, have lunch in the Roadrunner Café or explore the library.  Invite a colleague from another department for lunch.  Find ways to do your job and to learn more about your university and the world of higher education.  Becoming insatiably curious is an important job skill. You will not only improve your job performance, you’ll have a much clearer picture of the way your job fits into the bigger scheme of things.  You’ll become a better resource to students and colleagues.  You will start enjoying some of the best benefits of working on a university campus – taking advantage of the arts, sports, and resources we have, not to mention getting to know all of the interesting and talented people who come here every day to work and to learn.  Don’t let the 'Failure to Be Curious' syndrome get you today – quick, go ask somebody a question and see what amazing thing you learn!

 Adapted from “How to Be Insatiably Curious” NASPA NetResults online journal, August 2005

The first Student Affairs staff member to receive a visit from Thank You Rowdy was Sam Gonzales (below left, receiving Thank You Rowdy from Bob Miller, below right).

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