Another test to highlight, two open EP positions, trivia winners, and more… read below

Quick real life notes

Because these things are having an impact on my work as Headmaster, I feel it is only proper to share with you what’s going on. First, I’ve been interviewing for jobs, though there are two clear front runners, and I anticipate that both companies will offer me a job. Secondly, my mom is recovering (quite well) from pneumonia, so I’m having to help her a lot more than normal. Thirdly, I’m in the process of reclaiming my bedroom, which became a dumping ground for stuff while I was away at school. Yeah, I’m living with the parents, at least until I get settled in at a job. They’re not charging rent, but I get to make it up to them by doing things around the house (it has been awhile since I mowed the lawn; my dad got a new mower, but I don’t like it).

Test Highlight

Have you taken a look at the new Test of Agility? Smoke was pretty quick in recommending the needed changes, though we’re still tweaking the specifics a bit. But, like its sister test, the Test of Endurance, the Test of Agility has been expanded. Now, you don’t have to have the old flight sims (XvT, XWA, or TF) to take the exam: you can still use them, but you can also use Battlefront II, Empire at War (original and Forces of Corruption), and Allegiance. The emphasis is still on space combat.

Open EP Positions

Both Force Alchemy and Sith Empire III need new eclectic pedagogues. Here are the requirements:

•You may apply for one or both positions in the same email. There is no rank or position experience required. Though we may look more favorably upon non-current EPs, there is no restriction.

•You must have passed the exam(s) before the posting of this notice.

•Provide an answer key to the exam(s) you are applying for. This can either be as an attachment or in the body of the e-mail. If you’re applying for both tests, make certain you clearly label each answer section.

•This needs to be a real application; read the Leadership Applications notes if you need a helping hand.

•Identify one thing you like about the course and something that you think could be improved.

•E-mail Dranik and myself with your application by Monday, May 14, 2007. Include a subject line that clearly indicates what you are applying for.

•Remember: being an EP is not a position that will prepare you to be a house leader, or earn you any major promotions. I do award the SA staff from time to time, and clan/house leaders are always free to ask me for input about an EP in their clan.

•Finally, and most importantly, you are expected to have an e-mail turn around time of no more than 48 hours. Understand that as an EP it is your job to grade exams in a timely manner and to identify any issues with the exam or notes.

Beyond these two EP positions, there are currently no other positions available at the Shadow Academy.

Trivia

First off, congrats go out to Mayda and Cethgus for winning the IRC trivia event. Many thanks go to Kalak for hosting the event. Dranik won the message board event, and was the only participant (awards will be coming for all shortly). Participation in the IRC event was also low; I’m guessing that it’s just that time of year: a lot of people had/have finals around this time. Hopefully we’ll see things pick up this weekend. As it stands, everything should go off as normal this weekend.

Competitions

The SA run-on is still going, though we’ve kind of slowed down a bit. I’d like more people to participate, though the current group has done well. Aabs sent me an e-mail stating that he’s going to post ASAP, but I would encourage everyone to make it hard on him by changing the story around :P Here’s a link.

Also, a little later this summer (before or after the GJW, probably before), I will be hosting another little competition: Summer School. Spears ran something similar (we also had “final exams”), though I had a hand in it, too.

Course News, Course Count, and Upcoming Projects

There are some minor edits to be made to the Test of Agility and Sith Empire I, but nothing very big.

Though I believe the SA is more than just a place to take exams, and I want to work on changing that (one reason for the trivia and the run-ons), I still think that some good hard numbers help from time to time. As of this report, since I’ve taken over as Headmaster, 3219 exams have been passed at the SA while 515 exams have been failed. That’s 3734 total exams, or almost 8 per day (while not bad, it has been higher in the past). This doesn’t count Tests of Lore, or Dark Side Degrees. If I did that, the numbers would be drastically different.

Speaking of Dark Side Degrees, I am working on a system that will allow non SA staff members to earn at least Dark Maven, or the first degree. I get questions about the degrees from time to time and I think it is only fair that they be open to more than 20-30 some odd members. There’s also precedence for this, as Spears got nominations from Consuls for the Dark Maven degrees. I will likely follow this path, with some minor modifications.

Finally, here’s a brief list of the little things I’ve got planned for now: continue with the run-on, review the CP clan history course, edits to Test of Agility and Sith Empire I, and change Advanced Test of Wisdom. Larger projects will follow after this.

Summary

•Real life stuff causing some minor interference; short delays are not unreasonable.

•Take the Test of Agility

•Participate in the SA run-on and trivia.

•SA slowly working on continued expansion and refinement. We’re in no major rush.

•Special thanks go to Ricco Vao for at least sending in a proposed character image for my wiki page, though I found one that I liked better.

•Congrats to Sarin and his wife. I promise as a voting member of the DC to stop Sarin from making rule of the Brotherhood hereditary :P