New Student Orientation

 Much of a person’s success depends on professionalism skills and less on the person’s job description  You could be the most awesome behavior analyst but, if you are not professional, it is unlikely you will be successful  You don’t always know:  how important these professional skills are  what they are  or how well you are doing in this crucial area

 In this program, we will attempt to correct this problem.  We are going to tell you some of the subtle things that will help you to:  Be a successful graduate student  Be an active student member of this program  Get the professors to give you strong letters of recommendation for field sites, assistantships, and jobs.  Remember, these skills will also help you be a successful professional in this field.

 Give corrective feedback in appropriate situations and in a non-punitive manner  Speak to your professor and classmates in private and specify the appropriate desired behavior  E.g., assume you are wrong, smile and ask for help. Try to sway people into viewing the situation from your point of view. If they don’t, decide how important it is---you may or may not want to pursue the issue.  Always end discussions with a smile and a sincere thank you.  Respond in a socially appropriate manner  Rational not emotional  Be pleasant and respectful in interactions  Be the kind of person your professor and classmates want to be around  Actively listen when spoken to in person or in class  E.g., Good eye contact, head nodding  Do not dominate discussion at meetings and in class  Pick up on subtle cues from your professor and classmates

 Speak often enough in class to share in a discussion  You will get more out of class when you are actively engaged  Appear appropriately receptive to the values and viewpoints of others  You may hear some things in this program that you disagree with. Be open minded and think about all aspects of the issue  Always hand in quality assignments  Less than quality assignments could make a bad impression on your professor and classmates  Never ask for an extension of an assignment  This could give your classmates and professor the impression that you are unprepared and have poor time-management skills.  Be present at every class (except in an emergency) and be prompt  Remember your professor and classmates are always forming an opinion of you

 If you want to speak with your professors, make an appointment when possible  If it is not possible to make an appointment, always ask your professor if they have time to talk to you  You will find your professor to be extremely accommodating in sharing their time with you, try to be respectful of this.

 etiquette  It is very reasonable to wait 2 business days for a reply  Do not send another within 2 business days  Include a salutation, use correct grammar, and always sign your whole name  Be respectful of your professor’s time  Seek information prior to asking a question of your professor.  This may entail thoroughly reading the syllabus, talking to other classmates/colleagues or other activities

 Use effective speaking skills in class and at other times  Grammar, clear description, loudness  Use effective writing skills  Grammar, spelling, organization  Use good systems-analysis skills Effectively detect, analyze and clearly specify problems within a particular area and implement good solutions E.g., when summarizing a journal article, writing a lit review, making a presentation  Use high-quality behavior-analytic skills  As you learn what these are, immediately apply them to every aspect of this program

 Effectively manage your time  There are substantial writing and speaking requirements in just about every class  Don’t wait until the last minute to get your assignments done because  You are cheating yourself out of an effective learning experience  It might make a bad impression on others  You may be putting undo stress on yourself and, in return, putting out bad karma, vibes and feelings (and who wants to be around that???)

 Grad Coordinator – Sharon A. Reeve, Ph.D., BCBA-D  Can advise you on courses  You should track your progress on your program checklist that includes a course rotation.  This is found on the graduate student resource page in addition to other helpful information regarding your program   Department Chair - Pat Progar, Ph.D, BCBA-D  Oversees the Psychology Department and teaches in the ABA program  Other Faculty  Kenneth F. Reeve, Ph.D., BCBA-D  –Also co-coordinates the ABA programs & is responsible for all its publications  Tina Sidener, Ph.D., BCBA-D  Ruth DeBar, Ph.D., BCBA-D  Graduate Office –  Bette-Jo HoAire -Graduate register  All registration issues should go to her  (973)  Falynn Bleiberg  All administrative issues –contact her and she can direct you to the right person  (973)

 The faculty members will do their best to always model these behaviors for you  We are open to feedback and welcome it (when delivered professionally!)  Remember that feedback should be presented in a private, respectful way  We will also provide feedback to you, in return  Know that we take our jobs seriously as your professors and mentors  We will try to shape all aspects of your academic and professional behavior so you can be the most successful professional possible  We take pride in you!