BGR 2015 ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS Material developed by Tim Delworth, Ben Wiles, and Dr. Marcy Towns

What are the differences between high school and college? What do professors expect of you?

TOPICS Following the Rules Classes Classroom Decorum (Behavior) Teachers Tests & Grades Communication

FOLLOWING RULES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Your time is structured by others. YOU manage your own time.

FOLLOWING RULES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE You can count on parents and teachers to remind you of your responsibilities and to guide you in setting priorities. You must balance your responsibilities and set priorities. You will face moral and ethical decisions you have never faced before. Your time is structured by others.

FOLLOWING RULES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Each day you proceed from one class directly to another, spending 6-8 hours each day in class. You often have hours between classes; class times vary throughout the day and evening; and you spend only 12 to 16 hours each week in class.

FOLLOWING RULES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE You are not responsible for knowing what it takes to graduate. Graduation requirements are complex and differ from year to year. You’re expected to know those that apply to you. Visit regularly with your academic advisor.

FOLLOWING RULES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Your counselor ensures that you take enough classes to graduate in four years. You control how many credits you take each semester. Remember “15 to Finish”: 15 credits each semester for 8 semesters.

FOLLOWING RULES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Classes normally have common grading scales, policies, and procedures. Courses and professors have different requirements and these are described in the syllabi.

FOLLOWING RULES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Guiding principle: Typically, you are told what to do and corrected if your behavior is out of line. Guiding principle: You are expected to take responsibility for what you do and don't do, as well as for the consequences of your decisions.

CLASSES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Attendance is required. Attendance is not required but imperative.

CLASSES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Classes generally have 35 or fewer students. Classes may have 100 students or more.

CLASSES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE You may study outside class as little as 0 to 2 hours a week, and this may be mostly last- minute test preparation. Treat your student status like a full-time job, devoting about 40 hours per week on study, homework, and class.

CLASSES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Just listening in class is often enough instead of taking notes, and you seldom take notes on what you read. You need to review and rework class notes and text material regularly.

CLASSES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE All classes take place in real time and in a face-to-face environment. Some course interactions may be partially or totally online. You still are responsible for the content and maintaining the pace outlined in the syllabus.

CLASSES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE You are expected to read short assignments that are then discussed and often re-taught. You are assigned substantial amounts of reading and writing which may not be directly addressed in class. You’re expected to complete and comprehend readings.

CLASSES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Material covered slowly and reinforced by required homework Material covered quickly and many assignments aren’t collected

CLASSES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Guiding principle: You will usually be told in class what you need to learn from assigned readings. Guiding principle: It's up to you to read and understand the assigned material; lectures and assignments proceed from the assumption that you've already done so.

CLASSROOM DECORUM HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Bells ring signaling the beginning and ending of class No actual bells in the classroom. Get to your seat with your notebook/ calculator/etc. out before class begins. Do not pack up early before class ends.

CLASSROOM DECORUM HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE No cell phones allowed. It’s your responsibility to keep your phone off. Avoid using technology for non- class purposes which include texting, surfing the net, posting to Twitter or Facebook, or listening to your music.

CLASSROOM DECORUM HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE There was a mix of lecture, labs, and activities structured by the teaching. At times the teacher called upon you by name in class. You may be asked to work in teams during class, discuss questions, or solve problems. Engage in class activities by listening attentively, not being distracted by technology, other homework, etc., respect other students who are there to learn and be successful.

CLASSROOM DECORUM HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Guiding Principle: Follow the rules of your high school. It’s a free education! Guiding Principle: Show respect to the professor and fellow students. Focus on the class and engage in class activities. You are paying for the opportunity to learn, you need to engage to make the most of it!

TEACHERS HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Teachers check your completed homework and remind you about incomplete work. Professors may not check completed homework, but they’ll assume you can perform the same tasks on tests. They usually won’t remind you of incomplete work.

TEACHERS HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Teachers approach you if they believe you need assistance. Professors are usually open and helpful, but most expect you to initiate contact if you need assistance. They also expect you to receive constructive criticism, evaluate it, and use it to improve your academic work.

TEACHERS HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Teachers are often available for conversation before, during, or after class. Professors expect and want you to attend their scheduled office hours.

TEACHERS HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Teachers have been trained in teaching methods to impart knowledge to students. Professors have been trained as experts in their particular areas of research.

TEACHERS HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Teachers provide you with information you missed when you were absent. Professors expect you to get from classmates any notes from classes you missed.

TEACHERS HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Guiding principle 1: You can rely on teachers and parents to keep you on track. Guiding principle 1: You are expected to be responsible. You have to set priorities and manage your time wisely.

TEACHERS HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Teachers present material to help you understand the material in the textbook. Professors may not follow the textbook, and they expect you to relate the classes to textbook readings.

TEACHERS HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Teachers impart knowledge and facts, sometimes drawing direct connections and leading you through the thinking process. Professors expect you to think about and synthesize seemingly unrelated topics.

TEACHERS HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Teachers often take time to remind you of assignments and due dates. Professors expect you to read, save, and consult course syllabus; the syllabus spells out exactly what is expected of you, when it is due, and how you will be graded.

TEACHERS HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Guiding principle 2: High school is a teaching environment in which you acquire facts and skills. Guiding principle 2: College is a learning environment in which you take responsibility for thinking through and applying what you have learned.

TESTS & GRADES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Tests emphasize rote learning (memorization). Tests emphasize application, analysis, and evaluation of material.

TESTS & GRADES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Testing is frequent and covers small amounts of material. Testing is usually infrequent and may be cumulative, covering large amounts of material. You, not the professor, need to organize the material to prepare for the test. A particular course may have only 2 or 3 tests in a semester.

TESTS & GRADES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Teachers frequently rearrange test dates to avoid conflict with school events. Professors in different courses usually schedule tests without regard to the demands of other courses or outside activities.

TESTS & GRADES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Guiding principle 1: Mastery is usually seen as the ability to reproduce what you were taught in the form in which it was presented to you. Guiding principle 1: Mastery is often seen as the ability to apply what you've learned to new situations or to solve new kinds of problems.

TESTS & GRADES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Grades are given for most assigned work. Grades may not be provided for all assigned work.

TESTS & GRADES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Consistently good homework grades may raise your overall grade when test grades are low. Grades on tests and major papers usually provide most of the course grade.

TESTS & GRADES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Initial test grades, especially when they are low, may not have an adverse effect on your final grade. Watch out for your first exams. These are usually "wake- up calls" to let you know what is expected, but they also may account for a substantial part of your course grade.

TESTS & GRADES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Extra credit projects are often available to help you raise your grade. Usually no extra credit available. If offered, extra credit generally cannot raise a grade in a college course.

TESTS & GRADES HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Guiding principle 2: "Effort counts." Courses are usually structured to reward a "good-faith effort." Guiding principle 2: "Performance counts." Though good-faith effort is important, it will not substitute for results in the grading process.

COMMUNICATION HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Parents act as the liaison between the school and the student, and filter important information for the student. The University communicates directly with the students, and students decide what is and is not important.

COMMUNICATION HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Students see their teachers face-to-face on a daily basis and must communicate with them in a professional and courteous manner or suffer immediate consequences. Students only see their instructors a few times a week and mostly rely on electronic forms of communication. This environment sometimes leads to unprofessional behavior. Communications with instructors and staff must be professional and courteous.

COMMUNICATION HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE High school is very top down organized. You can rely on your parents, a teacher, the principal, or guidance counselor to assist in solving problems that arise in other parts of the school. College has multiple points of independent contacts. Instructors, departments, and colleges have differing sets of rules and procedures. While your advisor and the Dean of Students are first points of contact when a problem arises, they do not automatically supersede the authority of instructors.

COMMUNICATION HIGH SCHOOLCOLLEGE Guiding principle: Students are able to rely on parents and others to keep them on track and help resolve problems. Guiding principle: Students must take responsibility to direct, coordinate, and advocate for themselves. Students must communicate professionally with a complex network of units and individuals at the University.

REFRESH Following the Rules Classes Classroom Decorum (Behavior) Teachers Tests & Grades Communication

GUIDING PRINCIPLES You are responsible for your own time management and scheduling. You are responsible for your own learning and studying. You are responsible for creating a respectful learning environment. You are responsible