College Culture

It's the combination of language, behavior, values, and philosophy or outlook that are part of a college education. It's the "rules," usually unspoken, that college students learn to fit into a college. College cultures differ from campus to campus, but there are some similarities.

History of Higher Education A university is an institution of higher

education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education. The word university is derived from the Latin universitas magistrorum et scholarium, roughly meaning "community of teachers and scholars.

The University of Constantinople, founded as an institution of higher learning in the year 425 and reorganized as a corporation of students in 849 by the regent Bardas of emperor Michael III, is considered by some to be the earliest institution of higher learning with some of the characteristics we associate today with a university

The University of Al Karaouine in Fez, Morocco is thus recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest degree-granting university in the world with its founding in 859 by Fatima al-Fihri.

Back to College Culture

College culture is different from high school culture. •In high school, student behavior is often closely

controlled. In college, students are assumed to be

adults.

What happens if I choose not to attend class?

*In high school, the only way to get out of a class is to drop out of school or create a huge fuss. In college, students often sign up for extra classes to shop around, and they can drop well into the semester. But if they stop coming they will not necessarily be dropped; many college teachers let non-attending students deal with their own paperwork, or it doesn't get done. Many students who stop attending and neglect to drop get Fs.

*In high school, students are forced to stay in school and punished for cutting class. In college, students choose to come to class--or not. They are considered adults who take the responsibility for the consequences of their own actions (e.g. failing classes due to lack of attendance)

*In high school, teachers often end up being disciplinarians. Discipline problems are rare in college, and teachers can focus more on teaching. If discipline problems arise, disruptive students can quickly and easily be removed from class so the focus on learning is retained.

In high school, teachers are under pressure to teach to tests and to establish state standards. In college, there may be considerable variation between teachers within the same discipline; being exposed to many different styles of teaching is part of the experience, and there is wider latitude for teachers to express their views and opinions in the classroom. Colleges value academic freedom.

Helicopter Parents

Parents generally do not get involved in any dispute between a student and a faculty member or other employee. Faculty members cannot, by law, meet with parents; students are assumed to be adults responsible for solving their own problems, and faculty focus on resolving problems with students. Students are assumed to be adults if they are in college.

What are some "rules" of college culture?

If you need help or need a teacher to slow down or explain, it's up to you to assert yourself and ask. Some college classes move quickly, and you need to take the initiative to keep up.

If you are behind or miss class, it's up to you to visit a teacher during office hours or get assignments and notes from a friend.

Don’t Cheat Academic honesty is very important

because college attempts to develop the whole person: intellectual, ethical, cultural, social, and physical. Therefore successful college students value their good ethics, and refuse to attach their names to any work, including any individual or group homework assignments, research papers, or tests, that is not your honest own work. The consequences of dishonesty can be very severe.

Professor & Student

The professor-student relationship is primarily academic, though a professor may be friendly and welcoming to students. Gifts complicate this relationship in negative ways; they may make the teacher or other students believe that a student is trying to influence a grade. If a student must thank a teacher with a gift, rather than a simple note, that gift should be modest, impersonal, and should be given well after semester grades are completed.

Respect your classmates Places like the college library

really are for quiet work and study; other students get fed up with students who use the library for talking.

During class time students listen carefully to professors and raise their hands to ask questions at all times.

Every student is entitled to their opinion or to state a fact with out being ridiculed or harassed by other students.

Issues Freshmen Face

Major selection Students feel pressure to find a major

quickly and base their decision on career plans.

In most cases, there is not a direct connection between undergraduate major and future career opportunities.

With exception of Engineering and the sciences, students who take sufficient units each term have one to two years to explore possible majors and still graduate on time.

Issues Freshmen FaceAcademic Issues:

Pace of quarter system Time-management skills, motivation and distractions

Research focus Theory-based education = learning new research

methods

Study and writing skills Emphasis on critical thinking and analytical writing Drop in GPA during the first term Each hour in class requires two to three hours study

time

Issues Freshmen FaceSocial Issues: Living independently

Taking initiative on academic and personal issues Seeking help

Making friends and social involvement Freshmen who broaden their opportunities and

make friends in various settings tend to be the most successful socially.

Alcohol and drug choices

Exposure to diverse communities Knowing how to respectfully interact with people

from different backgrounds and views

Issues Freshmen FacePersonal Issues Stress management

Managing stress in healthy and productive manner

Asking for help

Mental/physical health Anxiety and depression Unhealthy eating habits Concerns for fellow students

Campus Support

Social Issues Student Life office Residence hall staff

Personal Issues Counseling office Student Health Center Residence hall staff

Some words you should Some words you should know know

Award Letter• Notification of the terms and requirements of the financial aid package offered by acollege.

Cost of Attendance (COA)• The annual cost of attending college that is used to determine a student's financialneed; includes tuition, books, fees, room and board, transportation and out-of-pocketexpenses; also referred to as the student expense budget.

Dependent Student• An unmarried student under the age of 24 who has no dependents and who has access to parental support

Estimated Family Contribution (EFC)• The total amount a student and his or her family are expected to pay toward collegecosts from their income and assets.

Federal Work-Study Program• A federally sponsored campus-based program that provides employmentopportunities for students with demonstrated need.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)• A form distributed by the federal government for use by students applying for federal financial aid programs; may be mailed or filed electronically using FAFSA on the Web.

Grant• A financial award that does not have to be repaid.

Scholarship• Monetary gifts based on need and/or merit that do not have to be repaid.

Accreditation

*Accreditation (or being accredited) means that an institution meets accepted standards and is fully sanctioned to offer academic degrees.

Blackboard*Blackboard allows instructors to place course materials online, and also contains multiple communication tools that allow instructors and students to communicate and

collaborate.

*This refers to the number of students enrolled in a particular class. Class sizes vary. The low ratio means that if you have questions, your instructors are

accessible to you.

Class Size Concentration *A major and minor in that they represent a primary subject of study (focus) which you study in depth.

Some more words you should know

Major Minor OrientationProgram of Study

The program of study in which you are enrolled and which will grant your degree is your "major."

A secondary course of study in which you earn a significant number of credits, but fewer than required for a degree, is a "minor." You must follow a course plan approved by your minor department. "Minoring"

in a subject is entirely optional,

Orientation is a one- to two-day program designed to introduce new students to every aspect of student life. Information will be sent to you after you accept offer

of admission.

Collectively, the undergraduate programs at the University. On your application, you must specify a first choice program. Second or third

choices are optional.