What’s to Like About Committee Work?

A lot. And I am not being a Pollyanna when I say that. Of course, there are negative sides to committee work-and I have personally experienced most of them over my years in academe and beyond. But, here I want to concentrate on the many positive aspects of serving on committees. First, one gets to know colleagues that one might otherwise only know by name or sight. One also gets to see different sides of colleagues one knows already–and some of these sides are decidedly humorous. This academic year I serve as co-chair of the provost’s search committee and, while it has been an enormous amount of work, it also has provided me with many positive experiences. First, I have gotten to meet and spend time with colleagues from across the campus.  Many of these colleagues I did not know-or knew only vaguely. These contacts remind me that we are a university community and they force me to see the world and William and Mary beyond the confines of my own discipline and department-a very good thing, indeed.  Additionally, I am reminded how committed to excellence, and to William and Mary, my colleagues are. I have listened to them debate and argue and, as a result, I have a new appreciation for how smart and, sometimes, downright funny they are. I have had the pleasure of wining and dining with these colleagues and have left those moments with a renewed sense of community and a renewed appreciation for why I really like being a faculty member at William and Mary.  Another huge benefit of serving on this particular committee is that, through the interview process, I am again reminded by outsiders that William and Mary is not only hugely respected in the academy at large but that we are recognized as a gem in the higher education crown.  Furthermore, in these tough economic times outsiders remind us that we have suffered less pain than many.

My other committees bring similar rewards: contact with smart, committed, articulate and funny colleagues. In addition, most of my committees this year have student representation and this allows me to see another side of our students-one where they play the role of university citizen and I get to see how they engage this role with enormous commitment and intelligence.

When we talk to friends and family members who work in a world very different from the academy, we are reminded of “how good we have it.” Committee work is part and parcel of university governance and when one looks at the positive side of this work it recommends itself.