Coarse Objectives

I am teaching a new graduate class this year. I have set coarse (course) objectives so I’ll know our target.

They have to be a bit coarse, because I’m not sure how the class will go. If I can see the target I want to hit, I may still miss, but if I can’t even see the target, any success is pure luck. I need objectives.

It is the start of another academic term. I need a target here too. For newer faculty, the objectives are pretty clear: do those things that will earn a permanent spot on the faculty of this fine institution. For those of us who have been around a while, the objectives may be more flexible, or at least simpler.

Nor long remember…

I contemplate my own long career in the University, the papers written and the talks given. And as I reflect, Abraham Lincoln’s words at Gettysburg come to mind. “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here.” Lincoln was wrong about his own words, but I suspect that my words won’t be remembered very long. So setting goals of papers published and grant proposals submitted, though important, usually does not have value for long.

Here are some more important goals from which we can choose:

• Show the love of Christ in our classes.
• Encourage Christian students.
• Identify ourselves as Christians on campus at appropriate times and places.
• Invite students to our homes for pizza and discussion of the Big Questions in life.
• Contact the leader of a Christian student group and offer to be of service.
• Start a prayer meeting.

Volunteer to…

• Meet with Christian colleagues.
• Mentor a younger faculty member academically and spiritually.
• Give a service talk with a minor or major Christian apologetic to fraternities, sororities, etc.
• Go on a Christmas break, spring break or other retreat that a Christian student group has planned.
• Help an international group.
• Go on an international mission trip with a Christian student group.
• Speak to students or in the community when you take an international trip. (Contact Faculty Commons for more info).

I have tried all of these but one, and they have all proved enjoyable and productive, at times. Don’t be intimidated by the list, just pick out a few objectives for the year, and go with those.

As professors we have numerous opportunities on one of the best mission fields in the world. Let’s set some objectives and ask the Holy Spirit to bless our efforts.

© 2012 Phillip A. Bishop
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