This is sooo good, I can't refuse the offer. I haven't signed my contract but I'm officially working for them. I am finally getting giddy, can't sleep excited over this job.
1. My house situation:
The university president, Dr. Ed Huckeby, heard of my predicament in finding a house that would take both my piano and my cat. Dr. Huckeby is a well-published band composer, conductor and musician himself. He didn't want me to have to part with my piano. He said to the Vice-Pres to offer me the house. It's referred to as the "Animal House" because 4 guys lived there last semester. My VP told me about the house immediately when I got there just to follow orders. He said that the house is in terrible condition, stinks and is probably trashed. I insisted on seeing it for myself and how bad it is. I said that it is better to have a tenant than to leave the house vacant.
So 5 of us went over there - Pres, two VPs, maintenance and I. The house is across from the music house where my office is located. It's a house with 2 bedrooms, dining, living, laundry, kitchen and a small yard, with no appliances. PERFECT! Yes, it's a little trashed but it will be cleaned and painted. They offered to put in new carpet and I said to just steam clean it. They jokingly said the rental would be $2000 with a 50% discount. I said, then I'll sign over my paycheck and hold a sign $5 for parking each basketball game. :)
The 4 guys who lived in it were still on campus .. and they got a surprise visit from the VP. It was pretty funny. So the cleaning begins this Friday. When we discussed the rental with the finance office, the rent came to less than what I'm renting my house for in Ark City!
- Wake up 20 mins before work. No wasting time commuting.
- Walk to work. No gas! (Post office, grocery store, restaurants, shops, fire dept - within walking distance too!)
- Free lunches.
- An-An becomes the unofficial mascot. Everyone is waiting to see cat on a leash. I will be able to see her from my office window and take her to the park to continue training.
- If I'm sick, people to look in on me. They'd probably lay hands and pray, "In the name of Jesus be healed! Get up and go to work." :)
- A park behind the university.
- The lake is 2 mins drive away.
- Wireless internet (pretty weak signal but it's there)
- Access to the grand pianos anytime and can practice late into the night as I used to.
- Get to live "on campus" again.
- BECAUSE OF THIS, I will be spending way less than I had to in Ark City!!
2. My visa
They are processing my H1-B visa transfer. Once that is approved, we will proceed with the green card application
3. My contract and pay
I haven't started work yet and yes, they raised my pay by $3000. I will be signing a 12-month contract so that I am always in status for my visa. Because of that, they decided to throw in more money, cos I will only have a month's leave in the summer (dates flexible). All campus ministry expenses or anything I spend on my students is on the budget. This means I am free to support other ministries in my giving as I have wanted to. Benefits: health & dental insurance, retirement and life policy. Faculty benefits: a laptop and iPad.
4. My job duties
(1) Creative Arts
I will be taking care of the outreach teams (2) and the chapel worship team. My role is to bring leadership and to spearhead the program, eventually increasing the outreach to 6 teams. I will be arranging local, out-of-state and international tours for the teams as well. The teams will have to travel through the academic year. Each summer there will be an international tour - they already told me the order of countries. Singapore/Malaysia, you're up first. As far as the week-to-week rehearsals, the students are in charge of that, but the rest is my responsibility. The university and I are in agreement of how it is to be handled for the students not to pit "daddy" against "mommy." LOL We will be sitting down and meeting soon to draw up the contracts for the students. My initial proposal for the Singapore/Malaysia visit has been given the approval by the President, so the paper proposal will follow. This took my department chair by surprise!
(2) Music Classes
No piano! No accompanying! They already have someone for that. I will be teaching music theory, aural skills and music appreciation. Students are at similar level of my Cowley students, so no surprises there. Best news is, music appreciation has no textbook!! YAY! I am expected to get students involved in professional organizations (MENC or MTNA) and take them to conferences. First one coming up, Ok City OMEA in-service. I will also be helping with working towards accrediting a music ed degree with NASM. Looks like when I leave higher ed for good, there will be a willing library to take my books. There is no music building yet, so I will pretend I'm at Camp Allegro full-time all-year. The students will be practicing outside my office which is a bedroom of a 2-bedroom house.
(3) Piano
I am free to do whatever I so please. Dr. Huckeby said that his contacts all over the state are at my disposal. I have already agreed to perform a piece at their alumni banquet this fall. A recital will be in the works as soon as I move and settle in. Will likely be the same program I performed earlier this year at Cowley.
5. Other things:
- Yes, my yard will be forked, toilet papered and my car will be painted.
- I get to help landscape the campus. Right now the President's wife helps pick out plants, so I get to help.
- Will help plan other activities on campus. Thanks Cowley for great ideas!
- As expected, to take care of the international students as well.
- I asked the President for a car sticker!
1. My house situation:
The university president, Dr. Ed Huckeby, heard of my predicament in finding a house that would take both my piano and my cat. Dr. Huckeby is a well-published band composer, conductor and musician himself. He didn't want me to have to part with my piano. He said to the Vice-Pres to offer me the house. It's referred to as the "Animal House" because 4 guys lived there last semester. My VP told me about the house immediately when I got there just to follow orders. He said that the house is in terrible condition, stinks and is probably trashed. I insisted on seeing it for myself and how bad it is. I said that it is better to have a tenant than to leave the house vacant.
So 5 of us went over there - Pres, two VPs, maintenance and I. The house is across from the music house where my office is located. It's a house with 2 bedrooms, dining, living, laundry, kitchen and a small yard, with no appliances. PERFECT! Yes, it's a little trashed but it will be cleaned and painted. They offered to put in new carpet and I said to just steam clean it. They jokingly said the rental would be $2000 with a 50% discount. I said, then I'll sign over my paycheck and hold a sign $5 for parking each basketball game. :)
The 4 guys who lived in it were still on campus .. and they got a surprise visit from the VP. It was pretty funny. So the cleaning begins this Friday. When we discussed the rental with the finance office, the rent came to less than what I'm renting my house for in Ark City!
- Wake up 20 mins before work. No wasting time commuting.
- Walk to work. No gas! (Post office, grocery store, restaurants, shops, fire dept - within walking distance too!)
- Free lunches.
- An-An becomes the unofficial mascot. Everyone is waiting to see cat on a leash. I will be able to see her from my office window and take her to the park to continue training.
- If I'm sick, people to look in on me. They'd probably lay hands and pray, "In the name of Jesus be healed! Get up and go to work." :)
- A park behind the university.
- The lake is 2 mins drive away.
- Wireless internet (pretty weak signal but it's there)
- Access to the grand pianos anytime and can practice late into the night as I used to.
- Get to live "on campus" again.
- BECAUSE OF THIS, I will be spending way less than I had to in Ark City!!
2. My visa
They are processing my H1-B visa transfer. Once that is approved, we will proceed with the green card application
3. My contract and pay
I haven't started work yet and yes, they raised my pay by $3000. I will be signing a 12-month contract so that I am always in status for my visa. Because of that, they decided to throw in more money, cos I will only have a month's leave in the summer (dates flexible). All campus ministry expenses or anything I spend on my students is on the budget. This means I am free to support other ministries in my giving as I have wanted to. Benefits: health & dental insurance, retirement and life policy. Faculty benefits: a laptop and iPad.
4. My job duties
(1) Creative Arts
I will be taking care of the outreach teams (2) and the chapel worship team. My role is to bring leadership and to spearhead the program, eventually increasing the outreach to 6 teams. I will be arranging local, out-of-state and international tours for the teams as well. The teams will have to travel through the academic year. Each summer there will be an international tour - they already told me the order of countries. Singapore/Malaysia, you're up first. As far as the week-to-week rehearsals, the students are in charge of that, but the rest is my responsibility. The university and I are in agreement of how it is to be handled for the students not to pit "daddy" against "mommy." LOL We will be sitting down and meeting soon to draw up the contracts for the students. My initial proposal for the Singapore/Malaysia visit has been given the approval by the President, so the paper proposal will follow. This took my department chair by surprise!
(2) Music Classes
No piano! No accompanying! They already have someone for that. I will be teaching music theory, aural skills and music appreciation. Students are at similar level of my Cowley students, so no surprises there. Best news is, music appreciation has no textbook!! YAY! I am expected to get students involved in professional organizations (MENC or MTNA) and take them to conferences. First one coming up, Ok City OMEA in-service. I will also be helping with working towards accrediting a music ed degree with NASM. Looks like when I leave higher ed for good, there will be a willing library to take my books. There is no music building yet, so I will pretend I'm at Camp Allegro full-time all-year. The students will be practicing outside my office which is a bedroom of a 2-bedroom house.
(3) Piano
I am free to do whatever I so please. Dr. Huckeby said that his contacts all over the state are at my disposal. I have already agreed to perform a piece at their alumni banquet this fall. A recital will be in the works as soon as I move and settle in. Will likely be the same program I performed earlier this year at Cowley.
5. Other things:
- Yes, my yard will be forked, toilet papered and my car will be painted.
- I get to help landscape the campus. Right now the President's wife helps pick out plants, so I get to help.
- Will help plan other activities on campus. Thanks Cowley for great ideas!
- As expected, to take care of the international students as well.
- I asked the President for a car sticker!
