2013 ~ P R E S E N T |
S T I L L E V O LV I N G
A day in the life of the SASS professional
staff (as told to Nicholas Chan)
Dr Nicholas Chan
8am: Nurul Farahin arrives in the office,
opens up her email, to address the
day’s Special Consideration requests for
extensions to assignment submissions. She
hasn’t had a ‘my cat ate my assignment’
excuse for a while, but they do happen from
time to time.
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10am: Ring ring! Eswary Sivalingam’s desk
phone rings, and she begins a conversation
with a prospective Ph.D applicant who
inquires about the application process
and necessary prerequisites, including
who a potential supervisor might be. The
conversation concludes with her advice
on making sure that the student can also
demonstrate research skills in previous work,
as well as English-language proficiency.
11am: While Nurul Fazreen is in the midst
of generating reports, two students come
to seek advice on General Studies units
offering in Summer Semester 2018. In the
meanwhile, one of the students stares
deeply into her eyes. She wonders what
exactly the students wants from her. Then,
suddenly, the student asks questions of
non-General Studies-related matters: ”Miss,
how did you put the eyeliner so nicely and
your eyes look bigger and beautiful. What
brand do you use?”
11.59am: Emily Chan participates in the
School’s annual external stakeholders’
meeting, where seven guests representing
local industry groups discuss how to
support graduating students in facilitating
their pathways to employment.
1pm: Felicia Chang is off to meet the
Campus Event Manager to finalise the
logistical arrangement for the upcoming
10th-year anniversary celebration. Among
the issues discussed for the day include
resolving caterer selection, menu, sound
systems, stage set-up and decoration
necessary for the event. Perhaps Dr. Yeoh
will put in a surprise appearance as a guest
MC. Again, Felicia always sees through the
needs of our events and will ensure that all
our events turn out perfect!
2pm: After lunch, Fong Yew Soon meets up
with General Studies coordinator Adrian Yao
about ICEP program experience sharing,
where about 80 international students on
Monash Abroad programs visit the campus
for Semester 2, 2018.
2.01pm: Tan Mei Sie resumes work on
finalising the school budget submission for
2019. She has had numerous meetings
with staff and the Head of School since
the morning to ensure that the budget
is sufficient to support the teaching and
research activities of the School in 2019. By
some miracle she has no meetings planned
for the afternoon and can actually get down
to some work!
3.16pm: It was during mid-day and the
sound of the keys on the keyboard tapping
away could be heard while the sliding door
swished open. A student walks into the
Course Management Office with his laptop
while looking uncertain; “Miss Krystal Anne,
can I check on my units for the exchange
programme?”. To which Krystal Anne Goh
replies, “Yes, may I know which course you
are from?” The student pauses for a few
seconds and explains “Ohhhh! I am from the
School of Engineering”. With a comforting
smile, she replies: “Sorry, I think you’ve got
the wrong office, we are from the School of
Arts” and the student laughs. He walks off
shyly but surely smiling widely.
4.30pm: The doors to the General Studies
office swing open again, but as it is now
midway through the semester, Nalini Nair
now knows the students beyond their
name and course of study, and can provide
answers before they even ask the question.
5pm: Hamdi Barjah checks the status of all
AV equipment that have been signed out for
the day. Students who have not returned
equipment will receive a “love letter” from
him.
5.30pm: May May gives a sigh of relief,
glad to see that the CMO received Excellent
ratings in the smiley-face Customer
Feedback System, only to find out later that
lecturers tampered with the device. It’ll get
reset tomorrow, the start of a new day for
the SASS professional staff.