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 SCHOOL
Your time is structured by
others.
COLLEGE
YOU manage your own time.
FOLLOWING RULES
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE
You must balance your
You can count on parents and
responsibilities and set
Your time is structured by others.
teachers to remind you of
priorities. You will face moral
your responsibilities and to
and ethical decisions you have
guide you in setting priorities.
never faced before.
FOLLOWING RULES
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE
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 SCHOOL
You are not responsible
for knowing what it takes
to graduate.
COLLEGE
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 SCHOOL
Your counselor ensures
that you take enough
classes to graduate in
four years.
COLLEGE
You control how many credits
you take each semester.
Remember “15 to Finish”: 15
credits each semester for 8
semesters.
FOLLOWING RULES
HIGH SCHOOL
Classes normally have
common grading scales,
policies, and procedures.
COLLEGE
Courses and professors have
different requirements and
these are described in the
syllabi.
FOLLOWING RULES
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE
Guiding principle: You are
Guiding principle: Typically,
expected to take responsibility
you are told what to do
for what you do and don't do,
and corrected if your
as well as for the consequences
behavior is out of line.
of your decisions.
CLASSES
HIGH SCHOOL
Attendance is
required.
COLLEGE
Attendance is not
required but imperative.
CLASSES
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE
Classes generally have Classes may have 100
35 or fewer students. students or more.
CLASSES
HIGH SCHOOL
You may study
outside class as little
as 0 to 2 hours a
week, and this may
be mostly lastminute test
preparation.
COLLEGE
Treat your student status
like a full-time job,
devoting about 40 hours
per week on study,
homework, and class.
CLASSES
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE
Just listening in class
is often enough
You need to review and
instead of taking
rework class notes and
notes, and you seldom
text material regularly.
take notes on what
you read.
CLASSES
HIGH SCHOOL
All classes take place
in real time and in a
face-to-face
environment.
COLLEGE
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 SCHOOL
You are expected to
read short
assignments that are
then discussed and
often re-taught.
COLLEGE
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 SCHOOL
COLLEGE
Material covered
Material covered quickly
slowly and reinforced and many assignments
by required homework aren’t collected
CLASSES
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE
Guiding principle: It's up
Guiding principle: You to you to read and
will usually be told in understand the assigned
class what you need to material; lectures and
learn from assigned
assignments proceed
readings.
from the assumption that
you've already done so.
CLASSROOM DECORUM
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE
No actual bells in the
classroom. Get to your seat
Bells ring signaling the
with your notebook/
beginning and ending
calculator/etc. out before
of class
class begins. Do not pack
up early before class ends.
CLASSROOM DECORUM
HIGH SCHOOL
No cell phones
allowed.
COLLEGE
It’s your responsibility to
keep your phone off. Avoid
using technology for nonclass purposes which
include texting, surfing the
net, posting to Twitter or
Facebook, or listening to
your music.
CLASSROOM DECORUM
HIGH SCHOOL
There was a mix of
lecture, labs, and
activities structured by
the teaching. At times
the teacher called upon
you by name in class.
COLLEGE
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 SCHOOL
COLLEGE
Guiding Principle: Show
respect to the professor
and fellow students. Focus
Guiding Principle:
on the class and engage in
Follow the rules of
class activities. You are
your high school. It’s paying for the opportunity
a free education!
to learn, you need to
engage to make the most
of it!
TEACHERS
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE
Professors may not check
completed homework, but
Teachers check your
they’ll assume you can
completed homework
perform the same tasks on
and remind you about
tests. They usually won’t
incomplete work.
remind you of incomplete
work.
TEACHERS
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE
Professors are usually
open and helpful, but most
expect you to initiate
contact if you need
Teachers approach you
assistance. They also
if they believe you
expect you to receive
need assistance.
constructive criticism,
evaluate it, and use it to
improve your academic
work.
TEACHERS
HIGH SCHOOL
Teachers are often
available for
conversation before,
during, or after class.
COLLEGE
Professors expect and
want you to attend
their scheduled office
hours.
TEACHERS
HIGH SCHOOL
Teachers have been
trained in teaching
methods to impart
knowledge to
students.
COLLEGE
Professors have been
trained as experts in
their particular areas of
research.
TEACHERS
HIGH SCHOOL
Teachers provide
you with information
you missed when
you were absent.
COLLEGE
Professors expect you to
get from classmates any
notes from classes you
missed.
TEACHERS
HIGH SCHOOL
Guiding principle 1:
You can rely on
teachers and parents
to keep you on track.
COLLEGE
Guiding principle 1: You
are expected to be
responsible. You have to
set priorities and manage
your time wisely.
TEACHERS
HIGH SCHOOL
Teachers present
material to help you
understand the
material in the
textbook.
COLLEGE
Professors may not follow
the textbook, and they
expect you to relate the
classes to textbook
readings.
TEACHERS
HIGH SCHOOL
Teachers impart
knowledge and
facts, sometimes
drawing direct
connections and
leading you through
the thinking process.
COLLEGE
Professors expect you to
think about and
synthesize seemingly
unrelated topics.
TEACHERS
HIGH SCHOOL
Teachers often take
time to remind you
of assignments and
due dates.
COLLEGE
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 SCHOOL
Guiding principle 2:
High school is a
teaching environment
in which you acquire
facts and skills.
COLLEGE
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 SCHOOL
Tests emphasize
rote learning
(memorization).
COLLEGE
Tests emphasize
application, analysis, and
evaluation of material.
TESTS & GRADES
HIGH SCHOOL
Testing is frequent
and covers small
amounts of material.
COLLEGE
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 SCHOOL
Teachers frequently
rearrange test dates
to avoid conflict with
school events.
COLLEGE
Professors in different
courses usually schedule
tests without regard to
the demands of other
courses or outside
activities.
TESTS & GRADES
HIGH SCHOOL
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.
COLLEGE
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 SCHOOL
Grades are given for
most assigned work.
COLLEGE
Grades may not be
provided for all assigned
work.
TESTS & GRADES
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE
Consistently good
Grades on tests and major
homework grades
papers usually provide
may raise your overall most of the course grade.
grade when test
grades are low.
TESTS & GRADES
HIGH SCHOOL
Initial test grades,
especially when they
are low, may not
have an adverse
effect on your final
grade.
COLLEGE
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 SCHOOL
Extra credit projects
are often available to
help you raise your
grade.
COLLEGE
Usually no extra credit
available. If offered, extra
credit generally cannot
raise a grade in a college
course.
TESTS & GRADES
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE
Guiding principle 2:
Guiding principle 2:
"Effort counts."
"Performance counts."
Courses are usually
Though good-faith effort is
structured to reward a important, it will not
"good-faith effort."
substitute for results in the
grading process.
COMMUNICATION
HIGH SCHOOL
Parents act as the
liaison between the
school and the
student, and filter
important
information for the
student.
COLLEGE
The University
communicates directly
with the students, and
students decide what is
and is not important.
COMMUNICATION
HIGH SCHOOL
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.
COLLEGE
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 SCHOOL
COLLEGE
College has multiple points of
independent contacts.
High school is very top
Instructors, departments, and
down organized. You can
colleges have differing sets of
rely on your parents, a
rules and procedures. While
teacher, the principal, or
your advisor and the Dean of
guidance counselor to
Students are first points of
assist in solving problems
contact when a problem
that arise in other parts
arises, they do not
of the school.
automatically supersede the
authority of instructors.
COMMUNICATION
HIGH SCHOOL
Guiding principle:
Students are able to rely
on parents and others to
keep them on track and
help resolve problems.
COLLEGE
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.