Dilemma: Sharing Office Space

On December 29, 2010, in Being a GA/TA, Dilemmas, by Melanie Santarossa

m'officephoto © 2004 Kurt Nordstrom | more info (via: Wylio)It’s not always easy to share things. Especially when the thing you have to share is an office. How do you ensure you keep student matters private, maintain your sanity, and meet your deadlines?

Here are some tricks to making a shared office space work for everyone involved.

  • Have a weekly meeting with your office mates. This way you can discuss what worked and what didn’t during the previous week. If you have a meeting at the beginning of term, you can ensure office rules (like what constitutes a “quiet voice” when others are studying).
  • Keep an office calendar. Having a calendar that everyone can add/edit according to their schedules ensures that you do not overlap office hours.
  • Try to divide the space equally. If possible try to find where each of you can stash your books, bags, and goodies where no one else will misplace them.

Any other tips to share with those who share their office space?