Chapter 5: Academic Professionalism

Academic Professionalism: What Instructors will Expect from You The way to start strong in college can be summed up in these two words: Academic Professionalism. Here's what the term means, and using a comparison may help explain it. Imagine this: You've just landed a new job, and it's one you really wanted. How do you know what to do and how to act? What will your boss expect from you? Should you just show up whenever it's convenient, take on this job on top of others you already have, and start firing off casual e-mails and texts about business? ("what up with the johnson report i thought max was gonna write that") Probably not—at least not if you want to be successful. You'll want to display workplace professionalism by noting how professionalism is defined in your new organization, and then start doing those things right away. The same thing is true in college: If you want to be successful, you must display academic professionalism. It's a set of behaviors you start now and carry with you into your career. Hiring experts in the workplace identify three areas in which they believe college graduates are not as well prepared as they should be. They expect college graduates to have oral and written communication skills, a positive attitude and strong work ethic, and the ability to work in groups and teams.11 You'll see that these three things, among others, are emphasized throughout FOCUS. You may be thinking, "But wait a minute...I just started college!" True, but considering how competitive the job market is these days, why not start preparing for it now? You'll gain a major advantage over other applicants—college graduates, or not. The academic professionalism you learn early in your college career can translate into career professionalism later. Or if you decide to continue for a bachelor's degree, all the academic strengths you begin building from your first year on will serve you well when further schooling requires even more of you. "Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness." James Thurber, American author (1894-1961) So how is academic professionalism defined, specifically, and what's required? If you asked college instructors across the country, they'd give you advice like this: Don't just pile on. Ever see the winning team "pile on" after a big football game? When one too many players jumps on top of the one unfortunate person at the bottom, the whole pile collapses. Some students hope they'll be able to just add college to an already-long list of obligations. But when they add one more thing, the entire stack crumbles. College isn't just "one more thing" to fit into the daily agenda of your life. Like many students, you may have to work to afford tuition, or you may want to keep up the demanding social life you had before college. But being successful in college may mean that you must give something up (like the temptation to OD on Netflix or Facebook) to give school the attention it needs. Something in your life will need adjusting to make room for college classes. You may have to cut back on your hours at work once you get a sense of your academic workload, or tell your sister who has to miss class because she has the flu that you can't stay and keep her company because you have class, too. Put college at the top of your list of obligations. Choose to go to class. Let's face it: life is complicated. It involves overlapping demands and minute-by-minute decisions. Your boss wants a piece of you, your friends want your attention while you try to study, your romantic partner wants to go to the movies the night before your midterm exam, the bills keep mounting—and on and on. Some students choose to miss class to pick up a relative at the airport or shop with a friend who's in town, for example. Sometimes true emergencies in your personal life will interfere with your academic life. If you're ill, for example, call or e-mail your instructor beforehand, if for no other reason than to be courteous. But your instructors will expect you to plan nonemergencies around your already scheduled (and paid-for!) classes. Many things in your life are important—it's true—but while you're in school, going to class and doing your coursework should be at the top of your to-do list. Don't be an ostrich! Some students develop "the Ostrich Syndrome." If reading or homework assignments seem too hard or feel like busywork, they just don't do them. Instead, they bury their heads in the sand and pretend like nothing's at stake. Somehow they may even think that they can't get a bad grade if they don't turn in an assignment for the instructor to grade. It goes without saying (but here it is, anyway) that "ostriching" is the opposite of academic professionalism, and your instructors will not be impressed. Always do your best work and submit it on time. If the assignment is due on October 1, it's due on October 1. Familiarize yourself with each syllabus since it will outline what's due and when for every one of your classes. Honest-to-goodness realism and continuous upkeep in your courses work wonders in college, just as they do in the workplace.

Show respect. One thing instructors dislike is getting a sense from students that school isn't a top priority. Dress like you're a serious student who's there to learn. Leave the muscle tanks and halter tops for truly informal occasions. You're not in college to score fashion points, draw attention to your tattoos, or define your personality with your baseball cap. That doesn't mean you can't be yourself, but it does mean that you should use good judgment. And when you breeze in late or sneak out early, you're communicating that you don't value school, your instructor, and your classmates, whether you realize it or not. If you criticize a classmate or your instructor in public—even if you think it's constructive—that's disrespectful, too. And when you whip out your cell phone to see how many "likes" you have in response to your latest Facebook post, or text your boyfriend about where to go for dinner, everyone knows where your head is. When you're in class, be in class. Know the rules. Your college and your professors have policies you need to know about up front. What constitutes cheating? How can you avoid plagiarism? Who should you talk to if you have a concern about your grade? Do instructors accept texts and calls on their cell phones? What kind of writing will they expect in e-mails? Even when it comes to everyday things—like weather cancellations—your college and instructors have policies and procedures to guide you. Don't leave yourself in the dark when it comes to important rules that affect you. Take charge. When it comes right down to it, who is responsible for your success? None other than you! Even though you may be afraid to speak up or not want to admit that you're fuzzy about something, your instructors will rely on you to let them know that. They aren't mind readers. Do what you need to do: get help, take advantage of instructors' office hours, or hire a tutor. Don't sit idly by while success drifts away. Life Hack #1 To maximize your productivity, get chummy with Siri. Use more voice commands for school reminders via your cell phone: "Siri, remind me to start my algebra homework at 7 p.m." She'll do it. Or you can use Google Now with Android. Invest enough time. In high school you may have done well without trying very hard. A teacher may have forgiven a late assignment, provided opportunities for extra credit, or graded on a curve so that everyone passed. But college is different. In college, it's important to get ready for class beforehand by reading and doing assignments, and then jump in once you're there. Bring your books, notebook, and pen, and sit up straight, too, just like mom always used to say. College isn't a place to just slide by or wing it. It's a place to put your best foot forward. That may mean rewriting a paper three times or rereading a textbook chapter more than once. Academic professionalism requires you to invest as much time as it takes.

Academic Integrity/Honor Code and Code of Conduct There are universally accepted standard rules against cheating and unprofessional behavior on campus; all students need to conduct themselves in a mature manner which respects the learning environment, classmates and faculty. Your college will publish statements governing specific behaviors and explaining consequences for infractions.

Advising and Degree Planning As mentioned in Chapter Three, advising is a critical process. Your college will present the process and important dates in the catalog and on the Academic Calendar; you should familiarize yourself with this information and avoid missing deadlines.

Learn to work in groups. Your instructors know the value of teamwork later in your career, so they'll expect you to work with your classmates in class, outside of class, or online. They may even think it's important enough to assign points for group projects in the course syllabus. Even though you may prefer to work alone, teamwork skills are highly valued in today's workplace, and you'll learn things from other students that you might not learn from your instructor. Check your e-mail regularly. Sure, you can talk to an instructor in person or on the phone, or text a classmate with a question about an assignment. But the primary means of communication in college is e-mail. Most colleges will send all "official correspondence" (like bills) this way, and many professors will use campus e-mail to communicate with you. If you never check your school e-mail account, but instead only use your personal account, you'll miss important information. ("What? The instructor's sick today? I broke my neck to get here!") Your campus IT department or an online helpsheet can tell you how to forward one e-mail account to the other so that you're always up to speed. Believe it or not, this one simple thing trips up more students than you would ever imagine!

Beyond College: Soft Skills and the Workplace A 2015 article in the Washington Post discusses, in part, the disconnect between how prepared college graduates believe they are for the workplace in contrast with how their employers view their skills (Selingo). While some of this discussion is due to the adjustment between taking courses and applying knowledge in the workplace, much of the concern revolves around soft skills. You may review the article here; pay close attention to the included bar graph: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2015/01/26/whyare-so-many-college-students-failing-to-gain-iob-skills-before-graduation/?utmterm=.8566e9bb19ae Many of the items noted on the bar graph, such as being able to work in teams, communication, and using good judgment, are not hard skills - the technical knowledge one needs in a field - but soft skills. What exactly are soft skills? This term refers to the ways in which you interact with others and prove that you are a trustworthy, dependable person. These are the skills and behaviors beyond the technical knowledge you have; they show you to be a leader who can conduct yourself appropriately in different settings. Soft skills are most often mentioned in connection with the workplace, but college is the best place to develop and practice these skills; they are essential during your educational journey as well as critical for finding employment and advancing professionally. Even if you are just beginning your college career and entering the workforce seems to be years away, the time to begin honing your soft skills is now. They will help you stand out among your classmates and may bring you opportunities you haven't yet considered exploring. They will help you achieve greater success in your college courses and build relationships with faculty and other students. Some of the main soft skills you should work to master while at the community college are shown below. As you read about them, pay attention to how you can practice each of these skills in college. What situations may arise in your college experience which will make having each skill helpful?

Staying Organized and Meeting Deadlines Good employees understand that deadlines are critical and work to meet them without having to be reminded. However, you have probably already noted that, in college, deadlines are important as well. Remember that you will need to manage your schedule well enough to meet deadlines in four or five classes. Create a system to track when assignments are due, whether electronic or on paper, and ensure that you review these deadlines daily to stay on track. In addition to class deadlines, you should also note critical dates for advising, registration, tuition payment and financial aid application, and, eventually, transfer application. As you can see, your college career will require you to create an effective system for organization and to adhere to all deadlines in order to be successful.

Making Eye Contact Students should not underestimate the importance of eye contact and active listening skills. We can see how listening is essential during class - for information, assignments, and deadlines - and this is a skill which is critical to the transition to the working world. How can you practice this skill on campus? One way is to avoid distractions by devices such as cell phones and tablets during class. Imagine for a moment what message it sends the instructor if your head is down throughout the class as you click away on your phone. You are missing information, and even if it's not your intention, you are sending a message that you don't care about the coursework. If you want the respect of your instructors, you can't just tell them you are committed to earning good grades; you have to follow up with actions to match that intention. Practice professional eye contact by never taking your phone out as you converse with someone. If you ask a question, listen carefully to the response; if you approach a staff member to submit paperwork or address a situation, do so with full concentration. Not only will you be more focused on the situation at hand, you'll send the message that you are making that person a priority, and that always leads to better information and working relationships.

Writing Response: Dealing with Difficult People Think back to a time when you had a frustrating interaction with a teacher, classmate, coworker or even a family member. Be sure you can recall some details about the cause of the situation. Using the steps listed above, pretend this situation is occurring in the present moment, and write a letter to the other individual attempting to resolve the issue in a professional way. Explain as much as possible for each step within your letter to bring this interaction to a smooth resolution. If you prefer, you may write the letter to yourself instead, explaining to your former self what you should have done differently to handle the conflict and why.

Professional Writing Skills Being able to express yourself clearly in writing is a critical skill. Many professions will not require the writing of essays like you write for college, but you will have to write in other forms such as emails, letters, reports, medical charts, legal documents, business proposals, etc. Writing clearly and professionally is different from writing for a class. When you must write a professional document such as a letter, email, or business report, consider the following general guidelines: Respond in a timely manner. There is nothing worse than waiting days for a response to an email when the information is needed immediately. Think of it this way; if you email a question to your instructor about an assignment due two days from now, how frustrating will it be if that teacher replies one hour before the deadline? If you receive a request for information and cannot immediately address it, it is professional to respond to the person, state you have received the request, and inform him or her that, while you cannot comply right away, you will do so by a given deadline. Then be sure to meet the deadline you provide! Be on the lookout for a reply. If you send an email requesting information, you should check routinely for the response and react accordingly. Consider how unprepared you look to your instructor when you send an email Monday evening to which she responds on Tuesday morning, and then you appear in class on Thursday never having read the answer. Don't waste a recipient's time with questions unless you plan to act in a timely manner on the answers. Be concise and specific. Unlike with academic writing, which often requires you to elaborate, adding details and extra examples, professionals want writing which is direct, which gets to the point, and which gives all of the needed information at once. Be careful with grammar and word choice. While you are in college, these errors will cost you points on a grade; when you make mistakes in professional correspondence, they may cost you an interview or professional respect. Consider the medical professional or law enforcement officer whose report is unclear or uses the wrong wording or information; in some situations, poor writing can even cause harm to others. Do not share information which may be confidential. If you receive an email, forwarding it to other people is not ethical without the sender's permission. You will only benefit yourself in college and beyond if you work hard at clarity in your writing from the start!

Requirements for Graduation In addition to completing all required classes, colleges have a procedure students must follow in order to formally graduate; you may need to file a formal request or complete paperwork which induces the Registrar's office to review your transcript.

Student Activities Remember that participating in activities is a great way to make friends and learn skills which contribute to your success. If the various activities are not listed in your catalog, they will be available on the college website. These are several basic areas presented in the catalog, but you will find much more information of note, including instructional information such as online learning policies and student services information such as placement testing and financial aid. While each college will have its own policies and will be organized differently, using the catalog as a starting place for information is always a good idea.

Identify Lecture Styles So You Can Modify Listening Styles Regardless of how challenging it is to listen with focus, being successful in college will require you to do just that—focus—no matter what class or which instructor. Sometimes your instructors are facilitators, who help you discover information on your own in new ways. Other times they are orators, who lecture as their primary means of delivering information. If you're not an aural learner, listening with focus to lectures will be a challenge for you. Chances are you won't be able to change your instructors' lecturing styles. And even if you could, different students react differently to different lecture styles. But what you can do is expand your own skills as a listener—no matter what class or which instructor. Take a look at the lecture styles coming up and see whether you recognize them. The Rapid-Fire Lecturer: You may have found yourself in a situation like Rachel's with an instructor who lectures so fast it makes your head spin. Listening and taking notes in a class like this are not easy. By the end of class, your hand aches from gripping your pen and writing furiously. Because there'll be no time to relax, you'll need to make certain you're ready for this class by taking all the suggestions in this chapter to heart. Read ahead so that you recognize points the instructor makes. Also take advantage of whatever supplementary materials this teacher provides in the way of audio support, online lecture notes, or Power-Point handouts.

The Content-Intensive Lecturer: This lecturer, determined to cover a certain amount of material in a particular amount of time, is hardly aware that anyone else is in the room. This teacher may use specific language related to the subject, which you will need to learn rapidly to keep up. Prepare yourself for a potentially rich learning environment, but be sure to ask questions right away if you find yourself confused. The Review-the-Text Lecturer: This lecturer will follow the textbook closely, summarizing and highlighting important points. You may assume it's not important to attend class, but watch out for this trap! Receiving the same information in more than one format (reading and listening) can be a great way to learn. The Active-Learning Lecturer: This lecturer may choose not to lecture at all or to alternate between short lectures and activities, exercises, and role plays. Although you may find it easier to get engaged in this type of class, and you'll most

Listen Hard! Listening is hard, and although professors now vary their teaching techniques, lecturing is still a common teaching style in colleges and universities everywhere. However, capturing the information as it goes by is a challenge: "One study found that if a professor speaks 150 words a minute, students hear about 50 of them; another study determined that students are tuned out of a fifty-minute lecture around 40 percent of the time."7 Instructors can speak 2,500-5,000 words during a fifty-minute lecture. That's a lot of words flying by at breakneck speed, so it's important to listen correctly. But what does that mean?

Think about the various situations in which you find yourself listening. You often listen to empty chit-chat on your way to class. "Hey, how's it going?" when you spot your best friend in the hallway is an example, right? Listening in this type of situation doesn't require a lot of brainpower. Although you wouldn't want to spend too much time on chit-chat, if you refused to engage in any at all, you'd probably be seen by others as odd, withdrawn, shy, or stuck up. You also listen in challenging situations, some that are emotionally charged; for example, a friend needs to vent, relieve stress, or verbalize her anxieties. Most people who are blowing off steam aren't looking for you to fix their problems. They just want to be heard and hear you say something like "I understand" or "That's too bad." Listening to chit-chat and listening in emotionally charged situations require what are called soft listening skills. You must be accepting, sensitive, and nonjudgmental. You don't have to assess, analyze, or conclude. You just have to be there for someone else. But soft listening isn't the only kind of listening you need to do. When you're listening to new information, as you do in your college classes, or when you're listening to someone trying to persuade you of something, you have to pay close attention, think critically, and ultimately make decisions about what you're hearing. Is something true or false? Right or wrong? How do you know? When you're listening to a person trying to inform you or to persuade you, you need hard listening skills. In situations like these, you must evaluate, analyze, and decide. One mistake many students make in class is listening the wrong way. They should be using their hard listening skills, rather than sitting back and letting information float over them. Soft listening skills don't help you in class. You must listen intently, think critically, and analyze carefully what you're hearing. It's important to note that <90> neither listening mode is better than the other. They are each simply better suited to different situations. But soft listening won't get you the results you want in your classes. You don't need to be there for your instructor; you need to be there for yourself.9

In addition to the policies created by your individual community college, your catalog should also include information about federal laws in place to protect students. Two major laws with which you should be familiar are FERPA and Title IX. What is FERPA? FERPA is the acronym for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal law which governs your privacy rights and regulates the ways in which colleges can use and disclose your information. Once you are 18 years old OR enrolled in a college or university at any age, you are granted the right to control dissemination of your information. This law also prohibits your parents from accessing your information unless you are their dependent for tax purposes. If one or both of your parents claims you as a dependent on a federal tax form, the college may discuss your records and grades with that person. In most cases, college personnel, including your instructors, cannot disclose your information to anyone but you without your written consent. However, there are exceptions provided under the law which colleges may disclose, including: Directory information, typically defined as a student's name, address, date and place of birth, and dates of attendance at that institution. Class performance information with a high school that the student is also attending. Information regarding financial aid with any organizations providing aid to the student or being solicited to do so. Information about possession or use of illegal substances to the student's parent IF the student is under 21 years of age. The college will release information upon your request to other entities; for instance, when you request a transcript be sent to a university, you'll likely have to do so in writing to give that permission. You may give written permission to the Office of the Registrar at your college for others to have access to your records, but you should be careful to protect your privacy. You should also avoid sharing your login information - to email, learning platforms, grades - with anyone. FERPA also grants students the right to examine their own records within 45 days of a request. Should you ever locate an error with one of your educational records, FERPA requires that the correction be made by the college.

Title IX and Rights Granted to Students Title IX, another federal law, governs equality and forbids sexual discrimination by any federally funded educational program. Title IX governs everything from college admittance and financial aid to entry into special programs and participation in college athletics and activities. All students at every college are protected by Title IX. Your college has a staff member appointed to be the Title IX coordinator; this person is often housed in the Student Services area. You should immediately bring any related situations to this person's attention so the college can act to rectify any problems if needed. Sexual Violence, Harassment and Misconduct All students have the inherent right to feel safe on and off campus. While everyone hopes that no such incidents occur, sadly, they do. You should familiarize yourself with your rights while on campus or interacting with other students or employees of the college. If you are ever a victim of sexual harassment or sexual violence by someone related to the college (whether an employee or a student, on or off campus), you should report the incident to the Title IX Coordinator. If you are more comfortable discussing the issue first with a trusted faculty member, you may do so as long as you are aware that he or she will need to then contact the Title IX Coordinator by law. The college must act to protect the rights of victims of sexual violence and investigate the incident in addition to involving law enforcement. The college will, as much as possible, protect your privacy and confidentiality, only informing personnel who are essential to the process. Please note that any sexual conduct which makes a student uncomfortable is covered under Title IX. Many such incidents go unreported, and it is understandable that students would find the reporting conversation uncomfortable. However, filing a report initiates the process the college employs to protect the student involved and can therefore keep that student much safer than his or her own efforts to avoid the situation. Additionally, filing a report starts the investigation which may result in the arrest and removal of the offender from campus, therefore keeping other students safe. Finally, reporting the incident, while upsetting at first, brings a feeling of empowerment which can help the student's healing process. You may read the relevant Title IX policy on the North Carolina Community College System's website using the following link: http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/student-services/title-ix Beyond the federal laws and college policies which govern your behavior, there are also acceptable standards of professionalism which you should be sure to follow in college.

Your College Catalog and Handbook Your catalog and student handbook, available on your college's website, contains information about your rights and responsibilities as a student as well as references to important college policies. Some of this information may also be contained on course syllabi or referenced by instructors, but it is important that you review these policies in depth in the catalog. The time to familiarize yourself with this information, and your rights and responsibilities, is before you need to refer to them in a specific situation. In addition, when you enrolled at the community college, you were likely assigned to what is commonly called a "catalog of record." In other words, you will be held responsible for completing all of the requirements for your chosen degree which are in place during the academic year in which you begin taking courses. As long as you remain continuously enrolled, you will be "grandfathered in" under those requirements. However, it may be useful to review any changes to your program in the new catalog released each year; if there is a change you can easily make, this may benefit you as you transfer. The catalog contains course descriptions and prerequisite information for every course offered at your college. As you register for classes, you should read the descriptions of courses you're interested in to ensure they will meet your needs. Some other areas to review, in addition to your course and degree requirements, are discussed below.

Academic Calendar The important dates for the academic year are usually published in the catalog as well as posted on the college's website. You will find everything from semester start dates, to the last day to withdraw from a course, to the holidays you can plan for on this calendar. Note that vacations such as spring break may not coincide with that of the public schools in your area.

Teamwork In the workplace, depending on the profession you choose, you may face various levels of collaboration, but there will certainly be times when you are required to successfully operate as part of a team. In college, you will practice for these situations with small class situations, such as working on a task together for a single class meeting, and larger assignments such as the dreaded group project. Remember as you collaborate that each person in the group has strengths and weaknesses; ideal collaboration plays off the strengths each brings and fosters growth. Remember also that your grade may be based not only on the final project but on how well you work together. While these classroom projects can be uncomfortable, the "real world" is going to require you to work with people of all personality types, and embracing the learning process now will only benefit you later. As you collaborate with other students in your classes, take note of the role you are most comfortable playing in these interactions. Are you the person who takes charge, creating the vision for the assignment and guiding others to follow it? If so, be certain that you consciously allow input from others and compromise to incorporate those ideas, too. Do you wait for peers to make the decisions? If so, make a conscious effort to contribute an idea or two next time. Are you the person who looks for flaws in the project and brings them to others' attention? Be sure you approach the discussion tactfully so as not to insult your classmates.

Dealing with Difficult People and Situations It's a reality that we come into contact with people we don't get along with; people have different ideas and approaches to topics, and personalities may clash at times. The soft skill of knowing how to get along with people in these situations is essential to current and future success. We all know someone who takes disagreements very personally, who immediately informs everyone about the argument, including taking to social media to find supporters. In short, they create "drama." This may feel good in the short term; it takes the frustration from the disagreement and turns it into a feeling of vindication when friends stand up for us. This is not the way to deal with educational or professional disagreements, and people who do so will not be as successful as those who make a different choice. If you are physically uncomfortable or feel threatened by a person, stay away and involve the proper authorities on campus. However, if you are just frustrated by working with a difficult person - a teacher, another student, or coworker - consider the following process to work out disagreements: Determine what responsibility you have for the conflict. The old phrase "it takes two to tango" is still true, and, whether we enjoy acknowledging it or not, we often are contributing to an issue. Have you been unwilling to compromise on an idea? Have you expected the other person to react as you would to a situation without acknowledging that there are different personalities and perspectives? Have you allowed frustration to build up without addressing it, therefore creating extra tension? To effectively iron out a conflict with someone, it's best to begin by acknowledging our own flaws. Determine any common ground you can use as a starting place for change. Do you have a common goal or project? You can sometimes say something like, "I know we are both committed to doing well on this project, and I think we can - why don't we focus on what we need to do next?" Remember, you do not need to become best friends with this person; you simply need to be cordial and work together to complete the task at hand. Discuss your concerns with the person directly; do not involve third parties in a disagreement without first addressing the person. You will gain much more respect if you show you can be trusted to act as a professional. During your discussion, use "I" statements to explain how you feel and what you hope to accomplish. You might say "I feel like creating the Powerpoint for our presentation is a lot for me to handle on my own; can we divide it up so we can make sure we get the best possible grade?" If you cannot resolve an issue this way, you may need to involve a faculty member or supervisor. If you do, be sure you present the situation and what you have already done about it in a factual way without overdramatizing; then ask for advice or assistance. Remember that conflict or disagreements will naturally happen during collaboration; it is how we deal with them which distinguishes us as mature professionals and sets us apart.

Get Engaged in Class No, this chapter isn't about buying a ring and getting down on one knee. It's about your willingness to focus, listen, discuss, ask questions, take notes, and generally dive into your classes. It's about being a full participant in your learning, not just a spectator sitting on the sidelines. It's about not just memorizing information for exams and then forgetting it. You see, the secret to college success hinges on this one word: engagement. Think about this analogy. How did you learn to swim? Did you watch swimming on TV? Did you get advice from your friends about swimming? Did you just Google it? No, you probably jumped in and got wet, right? The same thing is true with your college classes. The more willing you are to jump in and get wet, the more engaged you'll be in the learning process.

Follow the Rules of Engagement Just as is the case with most places you can think of, college classrooms have rules about how to behave. You don't find people yelling in church or staring at other people in elevators or telling jokes at funerals. There are rules about how to behave in a variety of contexts, and college classrooms are no exception. In fact, the rules of engagement described here are a part of what this text calls academic professionalism, and preparing for class beforehand is at the top of the list. Despite their best intentions, some community college students "shoot themselves in the foot" without meaning to. They believe they're ready for college and motivated to achieve, but within the first few weeks of the term, they miss class (25%), turn in an assignment late (33%), or don't turn in an assignment at all (24%).1 Although not all students see the value of academic professionalism and preparation, do more than your classmates—dare to prepare! If you follow these rules of engagement, your classes will be much more enjoyable, enriching learning experiences. Look ahead. By checking your course syllabus before class, you'll be prepared for the upcoming topic. You'll also avoid the "oops" factor of sitting down, looking around, and noticing that everyone else knows something you don't about what's supposed to happen today. Do the assigned reading. If you have a reading assignment due for class, do it, and take notes as you read. Write in the margins of your textbook or on sticky notes. Or take notes using one of many convenient online note-taking tools while you read. Question what you're reading, and enter into a mental conversation with the author. Having some background on the topic will allow you to listen more actively and participate more intelligently during any discussion: Yes, I remember the chapter covering that topic, you'll think when the instructor begins talking about something you recognize. Instead of hearing it for the first time, you'll strengthen what you've already read. According to research, as few as 20 to 30 percent of your classmates will have done the assigned reading prior to class.2 That little-known fact isn't a reason to excuse yourself from reading; instead it gives you insider information on how you can shine in class by comparison. Show up physically. Not only is attending class important for your overall understanding of the material, but it may move your grade up a few notches. Even if attendance isn't required by your instructor, require it of yourself. Research says that missing classes is definitely related to your academic performance. And once you give yourself permission to skip one single class, it becomes easier to do it the next time, and the time after that. Studies indicate that on any given day, approximately one-third of your classmates will miss class, and that most students think that several absences during a term is "the standard."3 Exercise good judgment, even if your classmates don't! Studies show that how often you attend class is the biggest predictor of how well you'll do.4 Besides the importance of being there, it's essential to be on time and stay for the full class session. Students who arrive late and leave early are annoying not only to the instructor but also to their classmates. To everyone else, it looks like they don't value the other students or the class content. How would you like dinner guests to arrive an hour late, after you'd slaved over a hot stove all day? Your instructors have prepared for class, and they feel the same way. Build in time to find a parking place, hike to the building where class is held, or stop for a coffee. Do everything you can to avoid coming late and leaving early. Show up mentally. Showing up means more than just occupying a seat in the classroom. It means thinking about what you bring to the class as a learner on any particular day. Do a mental readiness check when you arrive in class. If you're not ready, what can you do to rally for the cause? Choose your seat strategically. Imagine paying $150 for a concert ticket, just like everyone else, and then electing to sit in the nosebleed section as high up and far away from the action as you could get. Sitting in the back means you're more likely to let your mind wander and less likely to hear clearly. Sitting in the front means you'll keep yourself accountable by being in full view of the instructor and the rest of the class. What's the best spot for great concentration? Front and center, literally—the "T zone"! In one study, students who sat at the back of a large auditorium were six times more likely to fail the course, even though the instructor had assigned seats randomly!5 Bring your tools. Bring a writing utensil and notebook with you to every class. Your instructor may also ask you to bring your textbook, calculator, a blue book or scantron form for an exam, or other necessary items. If so, do it. Question: How seriously would you take a carpenter who showed up to work without a hammer, nails, and screwdriver? Get the point? Be aware that gab is not a gift. In class, talking while others are speaking is inappropriate. And it's certainly not a gift—especially to your instructor. In fact, side conversations while your instructor is lecturing or your classmates are contributing to the discussion are downright rude. If you're seated next to a gabber, don't get sucked in. Use body language to communicate that you're there to learn, not to gab. If that's not enough, politely say something like "I really need to pay attention right now. Let's talk more later, okay?" Don't let other students cheat you out of learning. Choose to engage. Engagement isn't something that just happens to you while you're not looking. It's a choice you make, and sometimes it's a difficult choice because the material isn't naturally appealing to you, or the course is a required one you didn't choose, or you're just in a bad mood. Choose to engage anyway. Instead of actively choosing to disengage in class by sleeping through lectures, surfing the internet, or texting friends, choose to engage by leaning forward, listening, finding your own ways to connect to the material, and thinking of questions to ask. For many students, texting during class is particularly tempting. There's a reason why people are asked to turn off their cell phones before concerts, athletic events, or movies. Imagine being in a jam-packed theater trying to follow the film's plot, with cell phones going off every few seconds. You've paid good money to see a film. The same thing goes for your college classes. Focus. After sitting down in class each day, take a moment to clear your head of all daydreams, to-do's, and worries. Take a deep breath and remind yourself of the opportunity to learn that lies ahead. Think of yourself as a reporter at a press conference, listening carefully because you'll be writing a story about what's going on. You will be writing a "story"—often in response to an essay question on an exam! Maintain your health. Being sick can take its toll on your ability to concentrate, listen well, and participate. Prevent that from happening by getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising. Remember, energy management is key to your ability to focus.

Life Hack #1. Consider downloading "Meep," a phone app that lets you listen to e-mails and news stories when reading isn't possible. You can create your own listening channels based on your interests. You may find many of your classes to be naturally fascinating learning experiences. But for others, you will need to be convinced. Even if you don't find Intro to Whatever to be the most engaging subject in the world, you may find yourself fascinated by your instructor. Most people are interested in other people. What makes him tick? Why was she drawn to this field? If you find it hard to get interested in the material, trick yourself by paying attention to the person delivering the message. Sometimes focusing on something about the speaker can help you focus on the subject matter, too. And you may just find out that you actually do find this class to be valuable. Although tricking yourself isn't always a good idea, it can work if you know what you're doing and why.

Get Wired for Sound Increasingly instructors are providing podcasts and videocasts of their lectures so that you can preview the lecture in advance or review it after class. Some textbooks (like this one) offer chapter summaries you can listen to on the subway, in the gym, at home during a blizzard, or in bed while recovering from the flu, via your computer or digital-audio player. Regardless of your learning style, recorded lectures allow you to re-listen to difficult concepts as many times as needed. You can take part in the live action in class and take notes later while re-listening to the podcast. In one study, students who re-listened to a lecture one, two, or three times increased their lecture notes substantially each time.10 Of course, recorded lectures aren't meant to excuse you from attending class, and in order to take advantage of them, you actually have to find time to listen to them. They're supplemental tools to reinforce learning for busy students on the go, which is virtually everyone these days.11

Attendance Policy Some colleges have a standard attendance policy which applies in all classes, while others allow instructors to create their own. Ensure you are familiar with any policy in the catalog about required class attendance. Grading and Appeal Process Colleges present the process students must follow when they feel grades have been unfairly assigned. It is essential that you follow this process exactly as written and within the given time frame to protect your rights in a grade conflict. Please note that this policy is for grievous situations with a true impact on the final grade.

Grading Scale Colleges publish their standard grading scale in the catalog. One option is a 10 point scale (meaning each letter grade ranges for ten points, with an A being 90-100, a B at 80-89, etc.). Colleges may also use an 8 point scale (with an A at 92-100, a B ranging from 84-91, and so forth). You should also note whether instructors have the right to use a different grading scale. Note that the grading scale in college may not equate to that in high school.

Listening with Focus Listening with focus is more than just physically hearing words as they stream by. It's actually a complicated process that's hard work. You can't listen well when your energy is zapped, when you've stayed up all night, or when your stomach is growling fiercely. Focused listening means that you are concentrating fully on what's going on in class. "Easy Listening" Is for Elevators—Focused Listening Is For Classrooms Stores, restaurants, and elevators are known for their programmed, background easy listening music. Chances are you hardly notice it's there. Listening in class, however, requires actual skill, and you'll be doing a great deal of it as a college student. Depending on what your college classes are about and your instructors' preferences, you will spend much of your time listening to lectures in class.6 If you're taking classes online, you will be listening to lectures your instructor has uploaded, as well. Many of us think that listening is easy. If you happen to be around when there's something to listen to, you can't help but listen. Not so! Did you know that when you're listening at your best, your breathing rate, heartbeat, and body temperature all increase? Just as with physical exercise, your body works harder when you're engaged in focused listening. When all is said and done, listening is really about energy management.

Here are some techniques for improving your listening skills in the classroom. Read through the list, then go back and check off the ones you're willing to try harder to do in class this week. Calm yourself. Take a few deep breaths with your eyes closed to help you put all those nagging distractions out of your mind during class time. Be open. Keep an open mind and view your class as yet another opportunity to strengthen your intellect and learn something new. Wisdom comes from a broad understanding of many things, rather than from a consistently limited focus what's going on in your own world. Don't make snap judgments. Remember, you don't have to like your instructor's wardrobe to respect his knowledge. Focus on the content he's offering you, even if you don't agree with it. You may change your mind later when you learn more. Don't jump to conclusions about content or style. Assume responsibility. Speak up! Ask questions! Even if you have an instructor with an accent who's difficult to understand, the burden of understanding course content rests with you. You will interact with people with all sorts of accents, voices, and speech patterns throughout your life. It's up to you to improve the situation. Watch for gestures that communicate "Here comes something important!" Some typical examples include raising an index finger, turning to face the class, leaning forward from behind the lectern, walking up the aisle, or using specific facial expressions or gestures. Listen for speech patterns that subtly communicate "Make sure you include this in your notes!" For example, listen for changes in the rate, volume, or tone of speech, longer than usual pauses, or repeated information. Uncover general themes or roadmaps for each lecture. See whether you can figure out where your instructor is taking you while he's taking you there. Always ask yourself, "Where's he going with this? What's he getting at? How does this relate to what was already said?" Appreciate your instructor's prep time. For every hour of lecture time, your teacher has worked for hours to prepare. Although she may make it look easy, her lecture has involved researching, organizing, creating a PowerPoint presentation, and preparing notes and handouts.

Listening—really listening—may be the most difficult challenge we face as human beings. Many of us "speak" into cyberspace constantly every day, but is anyone listening? How can we know for sure? Is a quick "like" all we can hope for? According to a study of first-year students, the ability to fully listen is the most important quality of a good communicator.8 Perhaps what we all need is more focused practice. StoryCorps is a website that features people's fascinating two-minute stories about memorable moments in their lives. Go to StoryCorps.com and listen to the story that interests you most. Then answer the following questions: Who was or were the story-tellers? What was the story's primary point? Was there any wording or idea that particularly impressed you? What aspect of the story could you most relate to? Do you think listening—and practicing more—would make you a better listener in situations that call for soft listening skills?

Practice Your Hard Listening Skills Hard listening skills—analyzing, evaluating, and deciding—are required for in-class or online learning. Listen to Julian Treasure's TED Talk on "Five Ways to Become a Better Listener," and use one of the note-taking skills described later in this chapter. In particular, use a note-taking style that wouldn't necessarily be chosen by someone with your VARK preferences. Students with Visual preferences might naturally gravitate to mind mapping, for example, and students with Read/Write preferences might gravitate toward the Cornell method. If your preferences are not strong in any one of the VARK learning style types, just choose a note-taking style that seems challenging to you. Listen to the TED Talk, take notes, and then afterwards, write a short summary statement about using a note-taking style that was out of your comfort zone. In retrospect, which note-taking system would have helped you take better notes? After working on your soft versus your hard listening skills, do you see the difference? Do you understand why hard listening skills are needed during in-class or online learning?

Other Professional Habits In addition to the skills above, do not overlook these seemingly obvious traits which many people do not cultivate: Be punctual! Being late sends a message that the class or appointment isn't important to you, and perception matters. Follow through. If you commit to a project or an assignment, whether others are impacted by your work or not, finish the project. Do not make commitments you cannot or will not honor as this reflects very poorly on your work ethic. Practice common courtesy. Smile, greet people, and say thank you. Simply acknowledging someone makes a difference in his or her day. Sadly, these behaviors are becoming less common, and it is greatly beneficial to be known as that person who is always positive and outgoing. Leave personal issues at home. Don't take out a bad day on your instructor, classmate, coworker, or strangers who try to help you. Admit mistakes. In spite of our best planning, we all miss deadlines or make mistakes. No one expects perfection, but mature professionals must never shift blame to others or become defensive. Simply state your error, apologize for the inconvenience to others, and inform those affected of how you will correct the mistake. You may be thinking, it'll be years before I begin my professional career. In the meantime, I'm taking classes and working a "regular" job; do I really need to think about all of this now? The answer is absolutely! Greater competition for employment means that those with excellent soft skills are more likely to be hired, promoted, and respected. People cannot develop soft skills overnight; they come with constant practice, and putting these practices into play now will mean they come naturally when needed. Don't forget there are also immediate benefits: better relationships with faculty at the college which can lead to great recommendations and networking, access to opportunities such as scholarships, internships, and work-study which can open many doors, and perhaps even advancement in a current work situation which leads to higher pay and more leadership development. Writing Assignment Now that you know some of the main soft skills which will assist you throughout your college and professional careers, consider your own readiness. What soft skills would you say you possess? Which ones do you want to work on? What strategies can you use to develop these skills?

SOFT SKILLMY STRATEGY OR PLAN TO PRACTICE NOWOrganization Active Listening Teamwork Dealing with Conflict Writing Professionally Other Soft Skills