Interview with Christine Cetrulo, April 9, 1992

Partial Transcript: We left off last time on question 513 and that is, "How would you describe your work to someone who is interested in entering the field?"

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo says that you need to look at present and past issues and work while doing research. You should use other sources to help guide you and it will benefit you.

Keywords: Benefits; Credit framework; Issues; Qualifications; Using research; Using, storing, and preserving; Work

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; Universities and colleges--Research; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: How would your colleagues describe your work?

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo says that her colleagues feel sorry for her because of the amount of work she has. She is very involved. She studies how students learn and how the brain processes information.

Keywords: Brain psychology; Brains; Colleagues; Learning; Working and living

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; Universities and colleges--Research; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, how would your students describe your work?

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo says that she does a lot for students. She wants to be accessible and there to help all. She typically serves as a mediator when conflict arrives. If they are not able to work their problems out with a teacher, the students can visit the office to get help. Students can also come there for help with grades, or other sensitive issues that students face on a regular basis.

Keywords: Disagreements; Help; Helping students to learn; Mediators; Student growth; Students

Subjects: College environment; College students.; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Well, we have an advantage over, say, some of the large lecture classes...

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo feels as if there are advantages to both large and smaller classes. The ideal number would be 18, but they can't reduce it because of the amount of students they have at the university. The dean is very involved with the decision. Small classes allow for more collaboration.

Keywords: Class catalogs; Class sizes; Classes; Lectures; Students

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Uh, what line of work would you want to be in if the present were not available?

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo is interested in publishing and graphic arts. The hardest part of her job is making time for everything. The easiest part of her job is working with the staff. Most have been there for several years and she's developed good friendships with lots of them over the years. She uses them for ideas and their creativity when she is at a loss. She talks about the amount of travel she does for work.

Keywords: Friendships; Graphic artists; Graphic arts; Libraries; Publishing; Staff; Time management; Travel; Work

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: What percentage of your daily work involves other colleagues?

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo spends a lot of time working with her colleagues and peers. She spends up to 4 hours each day with them. With students, she spends time with at least one student who has a question or is seeking answers from her office. They come in for help, or questions about grades or test scores. She works alone about 50% of the time.

Keywords: Alone; Collaboration; Colleagues; Office information systems; Offices; Percentages; Students; Undergraduates

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: What affects your attitude to work?

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo says that both the beginning and end of the semester are very busy times for her. She will stay late at work to get everything done. To her, work means a lot. She enjoys the work she does and doesn't mind to do it, even when she's not getting paid. She enjoys the variety of the job and all the activity it brings.

Keywords: Holidays; Job duties; Joy; Obligations; Overtime; Semesters

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; Universities and colleges--Research; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, now we move to a section called University Conditions.

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo says that the faculty wants the best for their students. They are rooting for their success. She sees this in all faculty in every department.

Keywords: Faculty; Faculty advisors; Students; Success; Success on the job

Subjects: College environment; College students.; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Do you think gender influences academic career possibilities at this university?

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo says that the literature faculty has historically been male-dominated, but now there are more females. Tradition has been changing. She sees equal opportunity for everyone. For students with English as a second language, she thinks they are a little more challenged. She feels as if there should be more support for them in helping with their reading and writing skills. She discusses whether she has witnessed age discrimination at the university.

Keywords: Discrimination; English; Gender; Gender, race, and discrimination; International students; Language development; Nationality; Race; Skills; Success

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; College environment; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Discrimination in higher education; Educators; Minorities in higher education; Sex discrimination in higher education.; Sexism in higher education; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky; Women in higher education.; Women--Education (Higher)

Partial Transcript: What distinguishes working at a university from working in a non-academic private sector?

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo sees similarities and differences between working at a university and working in a non-academic private sector. Her husband doesn't understand the hierarchy within the university. She can't just solve problems in one easy step; it takes a lot of time to get things done because of all the committees and bureaucracy one must go through first.

Keywords: Hierarchy; Industry; Problem solving; Solutions

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Do you perceive any racial tensions on this campus?

Segment Synopsis: A few years ago, Cetrulo did witness tensions among the students, especially regarding remarks made by Happy Chandler.

Keywords: Discontent; Discrimination; Happy Chandler; Race; Racial identity; Tensions

Subjects: African American college students--Social conditions; College environment; College students--Attitudes.; College students--Social conditions; College teachers.; Discrimination in higher education; Educators; Minorities in higher education; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: What are your thoughts about funding for this university from state government and private sources?

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo discusses funding sources for the university, as well as budget cuts. She thinks the university spends too much money on decorating the campus. She doesn’t think they need campus beautification, no matter who the money is being supplied by. She knows that it is not her decision though.

Keywords: Beauty; Budget cuts; Budgets; Decorating ideas; Finances; Funding; Funds; Landscapes; Money; Private sources; State government; Urban beautification

Subjects: College campuses.; College environment; College teachers.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: The next section we get to is working conditions.

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo finds that the work she does in her job is drastically different from what was included in her job description. However, it doesn’t make her want to do her job any less. They added a revision in her job description to add all the extra things she does. She enjoys her work environment. She also works with a number of directors and likes to work with people who have a sense of humor, while also doing the right thing.

Keywords: Job descriptions; Jobs; Outlines; Sense of humor; Work environment

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; Universities and colleges--Research; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: How would you describe the work culture at your place of work?

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo describes her work culture in her work environment. She would like to see more offices in her job, with more equipment. They are in short on projectors and computers, printers, and space for storage and more people.

Keywords: Additions; Betterment; Culture index; Cultures; Improvements; Inventory; Population; Shortages; Work culture

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Do your students have sufficient or too much access to you?

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo likes when students come in with concerns during office hours for her to help them out. Sometimes it’s a mistake from the instructors. She finds that she always learns something new during these interactions.

Keywords: Concerns; Concerns in learning; Issues; Learning; Problems; Students

Subjects: College environment; College students.; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Does your salary adequately reflect your work and responsibilities?

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo says that she is not the only source of income in her family; her income makes up about a quarter of their total.

Keywords: Income; Money; Salary; Wages

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Salaries, etc.; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Educators; Finances; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Have you done any consulting work?

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo has worked with Tates Creek High School. She helped to curate writing projects. She has worked with other high schools and also colleges.

Keywords: Consulting; Freelance work; Writing consultants

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Has your gender had an influence on your career?

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo says she believes her gender and nationality had no impact on her success. She also hangs out with coworkers separately and feels accepted.

Keywords: Acceptance in the workplace; Gender; Nationality

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Educators; Sex discrimination in higher education.; Sexism in higher education; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky; Women in higher education.; Women--Education (Higher)

Partial Transcript: What are the rewards coming in to your work?

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo received grant money for research projects. She believes that she received this grant because people felt she did something interesting.

Keywords: Grant money; Personal research; Research grants

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; Universities and colleges--Research; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: What other thoughts do you have about your own working conditions...

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo says that there is just too much work to do.The budget will impact the students. Also, the writing program is underfunded.

Keywords: Budgets; Impacting students; Underfunding; Working conditions

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: The next section is the important section...

Segment Synopsis: In the writing program, you must be able to write clearly and explain your writing. You must also be mature in your writing. She helps students stay anonymous in order to keep them comfortable.

Keywords: Communication; Workplace communication; Writing

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: How do you feel you're well-informed about university matters?

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo says decisions were made without her. She tries to talk to the college to expand the arts and writing program budget. She believes all employees should be heard.

Keywords: Communication; Decisions

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Do you feel you're well-informed about college matters?

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo says that there is a lot of communication in the Arts & Sciences Department. She feels very supported by the dean. She thinks there could be more input from the dean and thinks the dean should communicate more with staff.

Keywords: Departments; University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences; Workplace

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Job satisfaction; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Communication; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Arts and Sciences

Partial Transcript: Do you feel you're well---do you feel you're well-informed about department matters?

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo believes she is very well informed, especially by her national organizations. She regularly goes to those conferences.

Keywords: Information

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Communication; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; Universities and colleges--Research; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Can you describe your organizational structure of your unit?

Segment Synopsis: The organization of the department is set up from top to bottom: chair, writing director, writing assistant director, undergrads.

Keywords: Hierarchies; Hierarchy; Organization; Power pyramid

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Do you receive much information through in-official channels such as "the grapevine?"

Segment Synopsis: Teaching assistants help out often and help to connect with students. This helps to bridge the gap in communication.

Keywords: Co-workers; Coworker communication; Coworkers; Workplace communication; Workplace relationships

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: And how much is your work s--how much of your--how much is your own work supervised?

Segment Synopsis: Cetrulo says she has very unsupervised work; she wishes there was more collaboration. She works with the director as a team. She is mainly independent in her work. She takes reports while sitting in on classes sometimes to try to give feedback to faculty.

Keywords: Supervision; Supervisors; Unsupervised work

Subjects: College environment; College teachers--Workload; College teachers.; College teaching.; Educators; Universities and colleges--Faculty.; University of Kentucky