Academics are judged by their accomplishments in teaching, research and university service.   But for one Canadian university professor teaching future professionals, much of her success has required excelling in these activities while limiting the time she could spend on them.

Jennifer has spent more than half of her 18-year academic career suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition that makes her feel tired and drained of energy if she does not get 10 hours of sleep every night.

Despite this impediment, Jennifer has managed to work on 14 academic committees, supervise graduate work, win four research awards, co-edit a book, write 10 articles, win two book contracts and participate in more than 50 lectures and workshops.

The key, Jennifer says, is the support of the administration and limiting her commitments.   A university ought to be flexible enough to foster norms to make professional life consistent with family life, subject to shifting health conditions, so people don’t feel they have to choose.

In 1994, Jennifer, who is jointly appointed in three of a university's faculties studies, came down with a bad flu that just never went away.   A doctor diagnosed her with chronic fatigue, an illness only recently acknowledged by the medical profession.   Where others in my stage of career were busy travelling and taking part in committees, I couldn’t do that, she says.   I felt guilty but I realized the costs were too high for me. I had to start turning things down.

That first year, Jennifer didn’t inform her superiors of her condition.   But when it came time to fill in her activity report for the year, her attitude changed.   She decided to list her condition right up front and put it on her c.v.

I believe in acknowledging the full reality of our lives, she says.   Maybe it’s part of my feminism but it’s important to remind people, especially when it interferes with work.

Her gradual recovery includes coping mechanisms such as jogging, only picking up voice mails every few days, reduced office hours and attending fewer conferences.   Most important, Jennifer tries to get 10 hours of sleep a night and catch up with long naps on weekends and days when she is not on campus.

There is no one part of my work that the illness prevents me from doing.   It’s doing it all that’s the problem, she says.   All includes time for two teenaged sons.   She gives much credit for her work-life balance to her husband, also a university professor.   I’d be in trouble if I weren’t married to an academic whose schedule is flexible.   Because I work at home, I spend time with my family.   But if I don’t function after dinner he takes over.

In the fall of 1999, Jennifer felt great and thought the chronic fatigue was almost gone.   She applied for and won three awards, including a National Fellowship in Research.   But months later, she suffered a major relapse, which extremely limited her writing and research ability for a few months.

After making further adjustments, Jennifer has rebounded she has developed new courses, conducted training sessions for judges across Canada and travelled abroad for a conference.   She is now working on two books.

Jennifer says if employees find their health has changed, they should investigate their options with the university.   I’ve learned that the university does have a policy to try and make accommodations before somebody ends up having to formally ask for some form of disability.   I haven’t formally asked for a lighter teaching load, or a leave myself, but at least the administration knows that there is this ongoing problem.   Whatever accommodation I have asked for, I have gotten.   As a result, I end up being a productive member of the university community and I love what I do.

Jennifer