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You Are Welcome!

August 24, 2011, 12:59 pm

By Gene C. Fant Jr.

I am fascinated with the advent of “swag,” tokens of appreciation for folks who attend something. Academe is not immune to this sort of activity, as new faculty and staff find themselves on the receiving end of all kinds of ‘welcome to campus’ gifts. I think that at a minimum all new employees should receive a new t-shirt or sweatshirt, a coffee mug, and perhaps something identified with the region like a specialty food or beverage. The worst things I’ve heard about were campus logo/mascot belt buckles (I have no idea how many academics wear belts with interchangeable buckles at this point in history), undersized (and therefore useless) polo shirts with no-longer-used campus logos (obviously clearing out the closets in advancement), and pens that only last for 20 minutes worth of writing.

What are the best ‘welcome to campus’ gifts you’ve ever heard of? What are the worst?

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  • uwstaff

    Is this common?  I’ve worked on multiples campuses in several different states, and have never received any type of gift before.

  • 11233028

    You must’ve not been a coach.

  • rhondagoolsby

    This is my first year on my new campus, and I’ve received the best “welcome gifts”! The first gift has been the support I’ve received. Being a new assistant professor can be tough, but the support I’ve received thus far has been truly amazing! The second gift I received was my regalia. With student loans nipping at my heels, this wasn’t exactly topping my list of purchases. And with this gift, I feel that the university wants me to feel as if I am a part of the “family” here. (Sorry if this sounds trite to some, but this experience has been a breath of fresh air.)

  • cwehlburgtcu

    Certainly I’ve gotten the coffee mug. But I’ve also gotten an umbrella (great gift!), a sun shade for my car (another great gift!). In addition, I’ve gotten a deck of cards (hmmm….), a reusable grocery bag (the year of sustainability focus), and a reusable water bottle.

  • clunce

    pens that dont work, t-shirts that have inane logos or designs on them in white. Who wants to wear white t-shirts all the time?

  • Brian Abel Ragen

    You are a lucky person! When I was hired, all I asked for was a box of business cards. I stayed at the place for more then twenty years and became a full professor, but I ever got anything more than brusque instructions on how I could order (and pay) for them myself. Trivial? Of course. But those little things show how an organization things of its staff. (Slumming assistant provosts would pass their cards out like confetti.)

    On the bright side, I think of a beloved aunt and uncle whenever I wear my academic gown.

  • cerebellum

    Regalia!  What a great gift!

  • kbeaty1

    Best — flash drives, 4 port USB hub, and large umbrella.  Others — luggage tags, coffee mugs, travel mugs, and more mugs!

  • djr46074

    My best gift was a captain’s chair with the university seal on the front of the seat back.  The back of the seat back has a brass plate with my name engraved on it.  The second-best gift was two season tickets to the football games.  I also received a wooden box with the university seal on the lid that I use as a business card holder and a set of leather coasters (embossed with the university seal) in a leather display box (also embossed with the university seal).

  • 22278921

    Whoa! A chair with engraved name plate? boxes, leather coasters? Are there any job openings in English on your campus?

    I thought things were great here when the university finally agreed to foot the bill for our business cards. Oh, and I did once get a wrong size t-shirt for helping with a student event, but that was only after about 15 years here.

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