Expectations Dave Reed Department of Horticultural Sciences Texas A&M University

Expectations a looking forward to; prospects for the future

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Expectations We’ll start with: Setting Expectations for Freshman (the given title by Dr. Litz)

Expectations But, we’ll finish with: Clash of Expectations between the “Baby Boomers” & “Generation X” “Baby Boomers” & “Generation X” and the “Millennials”

Expectations Setting Expectations for Freshman “Become the Best You Can Be” 2004 Freshman Convocation

Expectations Courses and Grades Courses and Grades Experience Experience People Skills and Networking People Skills and Networking Teamsmanship and Leadership Potential Teamsmanship and Leadership Potential

Expectations Courses and Grades “You are going to have to maintain a minimum of a 2.0 GPR or we will ask you to leave - bummer!” “However, you need to strive to maintain your grades as high as possible, because the higher your grades the more career opportunities will be available to you upon graduation.”

Expectations Experience “Whenever I bring students to visit industry leaders, I always ask: What is the first thing you look for when hiring employees? What do you think they always say?” “Experience”

Expectations People Skills and Networking “Can you apply your academic knowledge and work experience in an interactive world of incredibly diverse people?” “If you are that quiet, somewhat introverted, wall flower, you need to blossom.” “If you are that braggadocio know-it-all, you need to tone it down and learn to listen more.”

Expectations Teamsmanship and Leadership Potential “Can you put your academic skills, work experience and people skills together to accomplish tasks?” “Finally, you need to become a team player and a potential leader.”

Expectations Final Challenge “… to begin using this Learning Community and the opportunities available to you … to build yourself into the “Total Package” and become “The Best You Can Be”

Expectations However, I have come to realize that these are “My Expectations”, which reflect the Expectations of the Fading “Baby Boomers” & Current “Generation X”. Therefore, I am imposing the Expectations of “My Generation” on that of the “Next Generation”

Expectations We must ask the question: What are the Expectations of the Next Generation? And, where they “clash”: We must resolve the conflict!

Expectations What is the “Next Generation”? They are the kids, primarily of Generation X, born since 1980, and who currently are infusing colleges. “Millennials” “Generation Y” “Echo Boomers” “Generation Dot Com”

Baby Boomers (40s-50s) Generation X (60-70s) MillennialsMillennialsMillennialsMillennials Millennials (80s+)

Expectations Let’s Characterize the “Millennials” from Neil Howe & William Strauss, Millennials Rising – The Next Generation Neil Howe & William Strauss, Millennials Rising – The Next Generation Dr. Mel Levine, UNC, Pediatrician Dr. Mel Levine, UNC, Pediatrician 60 Minutes, December 26, Minutes, December 26, 2004

Expectations What are the characteristics of the Millennials? most watched over generation most watched over generation most protected generation most protected generation came along at a time when we started re-valuing kids came along at a time when we started re-valuing kids came along at a time when parents made time to spend with their kids came along at a time when parents made time to spend with their kids

Expectations What are their experiences? heavily programmed by parents, teachers, etc. heavily programmed by parents, teachers, etc. extensive organized activity extensive organized activity accustomed to teamwork and group activities accustomed to teamwork and group activities  participation and team stressed  don’t keep score  “we” wanted them to feel good about themselves  accustomed to being “rewarded for participation not achievement”  everyone receives a trophy or star at the end of the year or performance

Expectations

Expectations What are the results of these experiences? consider themselves collectively special consider themselves collectively special want to fit in want to fit in want to please parents, friends, teachers, etc. want to please parents, friends, teachers, etc. may not know what to do if left by themselves may not know what to do if left by themselves easily bored because there is “nothing to do” easily bored because there is “nothing to do” do not know how to “go out and play” do not know how to “go out and play” accustomed to immediate feedback and may not think long range accustomed to immediate feedback and may not think long range

Expectations What are their “Expectations”? expect instant gratification expect instant gratification expect immediate feedback expect immediate feedback expect to be rewarded for participation not accomplishment expect to be rewarded for participation not accomplishment expect a trophy or star for everything they do expect a trophy or star for everything they do expect to rise to the top quickly expect to rise to the top quickly

Expectations Hence, the “Generation Clash” Millennials Expect: expect a grade based on how hard they worked, hence expect grade inflation expect a grade based on how hard they worked, hence expect grade inflation expect “teamwork” & “organized activities”, and do not consider “helping each other” as wrong, hence do not understand our definition of scholastic dishonesty expect “teamwork” & “organized activities”, and do not consider “helping each other” as wrong, hence do not understand our definition of scholastic dishonesty

Expectations However, our Generation’s definition of cheating is unclear “In circa-2000 America, you can look everywhere from politics to business to sports and you’ll find adult cheaters being excused, even celebrated, so long as they can prove themselves winners.” Howe and Strauss, Millennials Rising

Expectations However, our Generation’s definition of cheating is unclear “… adults, in charge of schools, often don’t enforce anticheating rules and emphasize collaborative learning, practice testing, and web research in ways that make it unclear just what it now means to “cheat” at school.” Howe and Strauss, Millennials Rising

Expectations Let’s not end on negatives about this new generation of “Millennials”

Expectations Positives about these “Millennials” violent crime is down violent crime is down tobacco and alcohol use are down tobacco and alcohol use are down teen pregnancy is down teen pregnancy is down aptitude test scores are up aptitude test scores are up optimism about the future is up optimism about the future is up trust of mom & dad, authority and government are up trust of mom & dad, authority and government are up they are the best well educated, technologically advanced and technologically comfortable generation this world has ever seen! they are the best well educated, technologically advanced and technologically comfortable generation this world has ever seen! Some feel they may be the Next Great Generation

Expectations And, it’s our job to help them achieve this potential! “We” must “learn” how to “teach” them without sacrificing “our academic integrity”!