Academic Alchemy Blog by Greg Pillar

Academic Alchemy is where higher ed meets the elements of transformation. These are periodic reflections designed to catalyze change, reduce the activation energy needed for progress, and distill complexity and noise into clarity. Rooted in curiosity and sparked by real campus experiences, from advising to pedagogy to student belonging—this space lives at the intersection of curiosity and combustion. No smoke, no mirrors, just honest reactions to the volatile, pressurized ecosystem we call higher education.

(Caught the chemistry references? Don’t worry, no goggles required, you’re already part of the experiment.)

This blog is an independent venture, and the views and opinions expressed here are mine or ones I have shared. It does not in any way reflect the views or opinions of my current or previous employers.

A stage set for the Fall Academic Convocation 2025-2026 at Gardner-Webb University, with podiums, flags, and two large boards with text on easels, viewed from the audience seating area.
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gregpillar

A New Beginning: First Convocation at Gardner-Webb

As I settle into my second semester at Gardner-Webb University, having arrived last January after an incredible 18½ years at Queens University of Charlotte, I’m still pinching myself at how quickly this place has started to feel like home. This

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A diverse group of people walk up the steps toward the entrance of a large brick university building with columns and a sign that reads UNIVERSITY above the doorway.
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gregpillar

Starting the 25-26 Academic Year: Opening Week

Today marked the official start of the 2025–26 faculty contract year. We began with new faculty orientation. Ten new colleagues joined us. They bring new ideas, energy, and skills to our community. Tomorrow we hold the faculty assembly. It is

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A man in business attire throws boxes labeled “Outdated Policies,” “Unnecessary Procedures,” and “Questionable Practices” into a flaming dumpster. Papers labeled “S.N.A.F.U. Evidence” lie on the ground nearby.
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gregpillar

Every University needs this position……

Every University needs a Director of B.S. I’ve been in higher ed long enough to see my share of head-scratching policies, processes, and practices — the kind that make life harder for students, cost them more money, delay graduation, or

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A diverse group of happy students and teachers reach toward a glowing scroll labeled SYLLABUS, surrounded by flying confetti, cups, and pencils, with university buildings and a clocktower in the background.
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gregpillar

Academic New Year’s Eve……

Because the countdown to the fall semester might not have fireworks, but it definitely has stress. It’s early August, which in higher ed can only mean one thing: the real show is about to begin. While most people are savoring

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