Are We Having Fun Yet? Get out of the office and into the classroom...

I am one of those boring accountants. It's who I am and I enjoy it. One of the parts I enjoy about being an accountant is the ability to work in nearly any industry. During my career I have had experience with varied industries. I enjoy going out and actually seeing how things are done. I have had opportunities from cheese making, circuit board manufacturing, lumber mills, and various opportunities in agriculture, including participating in an emergency fresh water shrimp harvest. I have met with government officials on local, tribal, state, and federal levels (including a trip to DC to attend a meeting with the President of the United States, but that is another story – one which did not turn out as planned). For approximately five years I have been in higher education.

I like going out and seeing how things are actually done. I am amazed at what is out there and how the whole system works. Recently at our college, the college leadership team decided that we would spend one entire day each semester actually visiting the classrooms – Tour de San Juan. We would split up between the schools and let them plan our day. In March of 2014 we had our first day out. I was assigned to visit our School of Math, Science, and Engineering. The Dean scheduled my day in the School of Science, specifically in the labs. Wow, what a day!

Now I have to explain --- I have an MBA. This did not require a whole lot of science classes.

 

My day began in a physics lab. I was introduced to the class and they were told that they were to treat me like a fellow student. A project was presented to the class and I was assigned to help with one of the groups. I was first impressed with the students themselves. They introduced themselves to me and gave me assignments to help. And guess what? I was actually able to help as there was computer work – graphs and even some calculations in Excel.

Among other things, I was also able to participate in catching spiders out in the fields by the college. First we had to learn the signs of where the spiders were, and then... dig.

Now this isn't how we found them. But, we colored them – with a non-harmful powder that will wear off in a couple of days – then released them. This allowed the class to watch them better as they tend to stand out a little more when they are bright florescent colors. We would have done this with squirrels as well, but did not catch any on this trip.

Our 2nd Tour de San Juan was in October of 2014. This time I was assigned to the School of Humanities. Once again, the Dean scheduled a full day, from performance halls to English class (including some time learning about grading papers) to Raku firing in the ceramics program.

Just recently, in March 2015 we had another Tour de San Juan. This time I was assigned to the School of Energy. I began, and ended, the day with our CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) program. Our CDL program is perhaps the largest in the State of NM with more instructors and examiners in our remote corner of the State than anywhere else. While we are nearing completion of a new 65,000 square foot facility for our School of Energy, I spent the part of the day in some older facilities, one of which we currently rent, along with a current look at the new facility. Once our new facility is complete there will be a lot of shuffling and moving (and a lot of remodeling as well) – including the closure of our rented facility.

The Tour de San Juan is proving to be a success. Not only for the members of the college leadership team, but for the faculty, students, and others. We are now discussing the need, and benefit, to expand this into other areas of the institution – such as student services and administrative services.

It is great to get out of the office and into the classroom... try it sometime...you might be surprised at to what you can learn.

Russell M. Litke

Vice President for Administrative Services

San Juan College

Farmington, NM