On Being a Professional Student  or  Mr. Gurnow's Spiffy Little Introductory Guide to College

Alongside all of the items listed below, students are accountable and liable for knowing and strictly adhering to the Student Code of Conduct.

--Attitude and Approach--

Mental Approach.  However trite it may sound, exerting a positive mental attitude will help a student tremendously throughout college.  One's approach to the material, however genuine or no, has a vast effect on how difficult the work will be.  A student should not fear failure because any student exerting an honest attempt at the coursework will be granted ample attention and assistance in regards to completing the course.  Also, he or she should not approach a course that one does not favor with a negative attitude.  Rather, convince oneself that he or she should rise to the challenge (courses only last from 1-4 months).  By begrudging the instructor and not doing the work as a sign of protest, one is not hurting the instructor but only wasting one's time, money, energy, as well as damaging one's GPA.

Confidence.  It helps if one develops a sense of confidence as one continues to work hard, improve one's skills, and achieve excellence.  This is done by evaluating what one has learned/completed versus what one does not know/has yet to complete.  

Educational Economy.  One pays, not only money, but invests time and effort into the subject one is attempting to learn and master.  The semester allows for a priceless period of guidance through one's learning.  A student should not allow this opportunity to go by the wayside for, if nothing else, college is to be considered one's job training, which allows the individual¾upon the completion of one's degree¾to be able to successfully obtain, fulfill, and retain one's position in the professional world of business.

Learn.  Regardless of one's major, the end product of college is to teach the student how to teach him or herself.  A student should keep this in mind at all stages of cognitive development.

Think.  Many situations, scenarios, and the like are proposed to evaluate the student's ability to effectively think through various circumstances.  It helps if one places personal prejudices aside when assessing any subject (i.e.¾be as objective as possible) in order to evaluate and critique the given as effectively and as efficiently as possible.

--Before the Semester--

Take a Speech, Keyboarding, or Introductory Computer class.  These three skills are essential throughout one's college career because a student will give several speeches and type numerous papers throughout one's college career.  These courses teach one how to become familiar and comfortable with said tasks.  

Mix Classes.  A student should not take all the courses in one's major (and minor) in the first two years.  These are the courses that interest the student and will leave the student in the final two years facing general requirements that are not as interesting.  This most often causes the student to become disgruntled and frustrated because going to class is a labor for no part of the semester(s) seems interesting.  As such, mixing classes that one likes with those that are required is advisable.  

Reference and Research Facilities.  Most colleges and universities require a student to take an "Introduction to College"-type course during one's first semester on campus (i.e.¾UI100).  However, one's classes may not coincide with the learning of the introductory course.  As such, it is in the student's best interest to become familiar with all of the campus's research facilities (stacks, online catalogues, and interlibrary loan procedures) as quickly as possible.  Every library is staffed with employees, such as reference librarians, that specialize in teaching and assisting such skills.

--During the Semester--

Attendance.  If a student were able to gather all the needed information from the assigned readings, then time in the class would not be required (this is referred to as an independent study).  Also, by attending class, one is allowing that, perhaps, he or she is open to the idea that something might be voiced during the course of the class period which the student might not have considered.  Furthermore, one must be present in order to participate in class (usually a percentage of one's overall course grade).  

Truancy.  If a student is absent from class, it does not make the individual exempt from the materials discussed during that period.  It is the student's responsibility to obtain notes from another student who was present for that particular class.  Only place inquiries with the instructor about information missed that is not clear in the obtained notes of a peer.  (This is to be done only after requesting the peer to clarify the ambiguities in his or her notes and discovering that there still exists some uncertainty in the subject matter.)  Do not ask/email the instructor with the general question, "What did I miss."  If the instructor could have conducted class in a five-minute period (the time of a summary), then classes would only be slated for such a period.  

Class Preparation.  

1. A student should not only have the obvious¾the required materials (writing materials, syllabus, as well as all of the course texts)¾but also have completed whatever assignments are scheduled for that particular class period.  A student should always bring his or her syllabus in order to make corrections or amendments the instructor might mention.
2. A student should bring all course texts to class even if all of the texts are not required for that particular day's assignment.  (One never knows when the instructor might make an off-handed reference or when the student overlooked an assignment on the syllabus.  It is always better to be safe than sorry.)  The only exception to this rule is if the instructor explicitly directs the class not to bring a specific text to class.
3. When having to gather outside sources (those aside from the course texts, i.e.¾reserve materials, online materials, etc.), if the materials are not available/locatable, the student should not content him or herself that he or she is exempt from completing the assignment.  With the former, one should inquire with a reference librarian as to where alternate versions are available.  With the latter, the student should attempt using other computers (ones connected with a server other then the one that has failed) or ask a computer lab technician for assistance.  The student should print out all online materials and keep them for reference.  Making copies of reserve materials for reference is a good idea, for it allows the student to study the materials at his or her own leisure as opposed to being forced to read under the circulation desk's allotted time frame for the particular item.  

The Syllabus.  Upon the initial week of any course, a course syllabus will be issued with the objectives, standards, and requirements of the course.  The student should have a complete understanding of these before attempting to focus on the course.  To not understand the preliminaries of the course is the equivalent to signing a contract one has yet to read.  Also, a syllabus will list the course schedule throughout the semester.  This is given in order to allow a student to plan in accordance to the course requirements (daily assignments) without undo complications throughout the semester.

Read (a lot).  In order to assure success in college, a student must complete the required reading (including recommended/supplemental readings).  Reading unassigned materials and texts that relate to the subject matter gives one an alternate perspective not given by the primary text or the instructor.  It also helps to keep in mind that some assignments will be more difficult than others and may require more then one reading.  The instructor does not assign unnecessary materials (for, if no other reason, it creates more work for the instructor!) but assigns what is only needed in order to learn and understand the subject.  As such, all assigned readings are to be considered essential in order to garner a sufficient understanding of the material prior to the lecture or discussion.  Prepare to be accountable for 500-3,000 pages of reading per college course.

Questions.  It is the student's responsibility to ask what one does not know and it is not the instructor's job to guess at what one particular student is unclear about.  By completing the assignment for class, one eliminates asking questions one would otherwise know the answers which, in turn, would otherwise delay the pace of the lecture or discussion (and is otherwise disrespectful to one's peers in class who have done the work).  Furthermore, the student who has not completed the day's assignment does not know the materials and cannot be aware of what is vague or unclear to him or her.  Thus, while studying, a student should make note of any ambiguities, vague references, or other materials he or she is unsure about in order to know what to ask during the next class.  Yet, the student should first listen to the lecture or discussion in order to keep from asking superfluous questions which might be answered during the lecture or discussion.  However, do not abuse one's education by asking unnecessary questions, such as definitions of terms, which one can research outside of class.  

Time Management.  College is not solely a test of one's knowledge, but a test of time management (a skill that is essential in the professional world of business, i.e.¾the "real world").  Below is a table that gauges the amount of time an average (= "C") student should spend per course on studying.  This should especially be taken into consideration if the student is employed while attempting to attend college.  Notice, a full-time student should spend 1 1/2 times as much time on one's course work than a 40-hour a week job.

Hours Spent Per Week on Schoolwork
Based on Number of Units Attempted

Procrastination.  Procrastination is an unnecessary risk.  A student should not wait to the last minute to begin a paper, read an assignment, or start a project.  The night before the assignment is due does not allow for variables that will complicate the completion and quality of the work.  These include the following possible contingencies:

1. Not having enough (quality) sources
2. Computer complications
3. Unforeseen circumstances, i.e.¾flat tire, working overtime, illness, etc.
4. Personal/familial/other emergency
5. Little or no revision/editing time

A student should always start the assignment early in order to allot oneself ample time to complete the assignment to the best of one's ability.  Also, the idea that "I work well under pressure" or "I do my best work under pressure" does not account for the above-mentioned circumstances as well as presumes that college is not a challenge and can be completed with the utmost ease.  If this were the general rule, most¾if not all¾of the general populace would have graduated college with honors!  

Check Email Daily.  Most instructors maintain a group email list for each class and will email the class as a whole when notifying the students of a change, correction, or update involving the course.  It is a good habit to check one's email daily for class updates which the student is held liable.

Communicate with One's Instructor.  The student has paid for an education and is entitled to one as such.  All instructors allot a set time for office hours and make themselves available upon request if needed.  Furthermore, most instructors have email that can be utilized (thus alleviating having to wait until the next class period to have a question answered) as well as some issuing a phone number by which they can be contacted. 

--Classroom Decorum--

Tardiness.  

1. The class has been scheduled for a specific time.  By arriving late, one disrupts the class and the focus of the lecture or discussion.  In so doing, this is disrespectful, not only to the instructor, but also to the other students in class who are attempting to learn (and who made a concerted effort to arrive on time).  
2. The alibi that a student is perpetually unable to arrive to class at the beginning of the period due to work or a previous class is unprofessional in this manner and is a reflection of, not only one's time management skills, but also one's professionalism and attitude toward the classroom (as well as the value of his or her education).  In such cases, a student is highly recommended to reschedule the course at a time which will allow the student admittance into the classroom during its regularly scheduled time because, by missing, for example, five minutes of a course which meets three times a week, the student not only disrupts the course by entering late but also misses a total of four hours of class time (three-and-a-third classes) during the given semester (48 classes x 5 = 240 minutes/60 = 4 hours).  The same (numbers 1 and 2) applies in regard to leaving prior to class being dismissed.    
3. When a student arrives after attendance has been taken, it is the student's responsibility to inform the instructor of the student's presence in class during the given period (to be done at the secession of the class) in order to receive attendance credit.  Under no circumstances is the student to expect the instructor to remember what class periods the student was present for at the conclusion of the semester after class participation has been calculated.
4. The instructor's watch for this course has been synchronized with the official U.S. time (concurrent with the University clock), which now reads .

Participation.  The merit of student participation is measured by the quality, not the quantity, of the discussion.  A student should not talk off topic or disrupt the class itself.  One should be open to opinions that deviate from one's own ideals, question any given that one holds as a personal dogma, and engage in constructive criticism at all times.  Of course, the antithesis of participation is sleeping; this misnomer should go without comment.

Oral Skills.  Regardless of one's major, when a person goes to a job interview, one's oral skills and ability are what is representing the individual.  The capacity to express oneself concisely, effectively, and efficiently makes one a greatly desired commodity in the business world.  These skills are to be developed and ushered starting at the college level.

Cell Phones.  A cell phone ringing amid a discussion or lecture is an obvious distraction in an environment that demands concentration.  A student should respect the instructor and his or her peers and turn off cell phones before entering a classroom.

Notes.  

1. College exams do not gauge knowledge of the subject matter alone.  Rather, it is a test of psychology, time management, etc.  As such, recall is an essential element to success at the college test-taking level. With this in mind, it helps to write down what one knows as well as what one does not know during the lectures, discussions, etc. because by merely reading/reviewing the notes when studying, one's mind is refreshed in regards to all the materials during class.  This allows for one to easily recall the "easy questions" and permits more time to contemplate the more challenging questions on exams.  
2. When printing an electronic assignment from the internet, if there are hyperlinks on the pages which are to be utilized/accessed at a later date, a student should, if he or she does not have access to a color printer, highlight the hyperlinks for easy reference/as a reminder of future assignments which might otherwise be inadvertently overlooked.  
3. Having completed the reading assignment for a particular day's lecture, a student is able to determine what he or she can go back and find in the textbook versus new material that is only being spoken by the instructor.  
4. A student should keep notes from each individual course in its own separate binder or folder for easy reference and organization.
5. Notes for each lecture should begin on a new page. This makes for a greater legibility and allows for more freedom in organization.
6. For easy reference, one should date lecture notes and number all pages.

Record the Lecture.  Recording the lecture or discussion on audiotape allows the student to review the material a countless number of times.  Always ask permission prior to doing so.

--Written Assignments--

Guidelines and Formats.  A student must follow all guidelines including page length, writing conventions, and formats prescribed.  These are implemented in order to establish a standard (for fairness) as well as a litmus to gauge if the student is capable of following instructions.

Assignment Requirements.  A student should write not only to meet the requirements of the assignment but above those specified.  This is done as a safety because one cannot account for misreading/misunderstanding the requirements of future assignments, unforeseeable complications keeping one from attending class, etc.  In relation to written assignments, the best attitude is to write without concern in regard to length, assess the content of the overall work and eliminate the weaker aspects, and then revise to meet the requirements of the particular assignment.  For example, one of the most frequent mistakes students make in relation to written assignments is not meeting the paper length requirement.  If an assignment dictates that the page length should be a minimal of two pages, the student should not expect full credit for submitting a paper that is one-and-three-fourths pages.  

Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty.  Even though a student may (or may not) get away with plagiarizing (having someone else write his or her paper) or academic dishonesty ("cheating"), when an employer reviews one's credentials, he or she will be assessing someone else's (not the plagiarist's) qualifications.  As such, the "cheater" will not be qualified or able to fulfill one's job description.

Revision.  When revising a paper, a student should read the work aloud for the ear will hear what the mind believes is there.  

--Exams--

Repetition.  When studying for tests that depend upon spelling accuracy, a student should write the term or phrase several times consecutively.  This imprints the term or phrase in one's mind.

Eating Before an Exam.  This is simple biology for thinking is more difficult when blood is being diverted to the digestive system instead of going to the brain.  A good rule of thumb is not to eat at least an hour prior to the exam.  For slower metabolisms, do not eat within three hours prior.

Reading Comprehension.  College is a test of one's critical thinking skills and "trick questions" are not imposed upon the student due to the instructor's sadism but rather as a test of the student's reading comprehension.  The difference between a correct and incorrect answer may lie in the mere oversight of a negated word or phrase, i.e.¾"Which of the following is not . . ."

--Grades--

Extra Credit.  The curriculum for each course is designed to gauge one's knowledge of that given field or topic.  As such, the grade assessment is a scale upon which to judge one's acumen of the subject.  In this respect, extra credit undermines the evaluative merit of the curriculum.  However, if an instructor does allot such opportunities, students are not to expect the assignments to be "busy work" and can expect the assigned tasks to be worthwhile and, in most cases, more difficult than the coursework due to the fact that the student's grade cannot be damaged by not successfully completing the work.  Also, it is considered derogatory to request extra credit at the college level if it is not offered.

Instructor's Judgment/Grading Methods.  A student should not complain about the quality, difficulty, or quantity of the assignments, esp. readings.  In so doing, this presumes that the student knows more about the overall classroom environment then the instructor.  All instructors have taken education courses and have been students themselves (most have taken between 160-210 credit hours), thus are aware of the nature of education, its methods, processes, and philosophies.  Instead of insisting on rectification of one's grades, one is to ask how one can improve for the next assignment.  However, if there is an empirical error, i.e.¾mathematical error, recalculate the final score then politely ask the instructor to reevaluate the cumulative grade.

--Misc.--

Selection of Major.  When selecting one's major, one should consider the following:  There are 24 hours in a day.  On average, eight of those hours are spent sleeping.  Sixteen hours remain, of which, a typical workday consumes half (eight hours).  As such, when choosing a potential career focus (one's major), instead of electing a career solely based upon the one's potential earnings, one might consider that it is usually extremely coincidental for one to find an extremely high paying job which one finds equally enjoyable.  Therefore, since approximately half of one's waking adult life will be spent at the workplace, one should select a career which, though it might not pay as much as other possible positions, is enjoyable as well as financially rewarding.

Dropping a Course.  There are many reasons for resigning from a course.  However, the impetus of resigning due to the fact that one finds the instructor difficult (cf. the difference between "unfair," which is rare at the college level verses that of "challenging") is not pragmatic due to the fact that a) as cited above, such instructors typically train the student to be more prepared and able in the professional world of business after graduation as well as b) dropping does not allot the student the experience of contending with such circumstances which, in most cases (unlike in college), the person will not be able to readily flee or alter to one's liking once he or she has entered the professional world.

Asking to Be Added to a Closed Class.  See this link.

Wikipedia.  Wikipedia, though it may look reliable due to its encyclopedic format, is not a dependable source due to the fact that anyone and everyone, regardless of the individual's background and (lack of) expertise in a field, is permitted to write and edit information on this server.  In this respect, if it must be consulted, one should do so in order to garner and overview of the topic and generate research ideas.  It should not be used as a dependable, reliable source of information (i.e. do not cite Wikipedia in one's in-text or Works Cited pages).

Dictionaries and Encyclopedias.  Though easily utilized, the citation and use of a dictionary or encyclopedia is considered lethargic and unprofessional in formal writing.  Thus, do not incorporate either as a source.  In cases when a word must be defined, merely define or explicate the term, person, or subject.  A citation is not needed in such case because writers can assume anyone with a vested interest in reading (one's essay) has such reading references close at hand, thus can easily confer them when in doubt.