Transcript US Academic Culture - University at Albany

ACADEMIC CULTURE
FULBRIGHT GATEWAY ORIENTATION
PROGRAM
SUMMER 2011
SUE FAERMAN
VICE PROVOST FOR UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION
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Fulbright Gateway Orientation Program
Academic Culture
 In the Classroom
 In Your Interactions with Faculty
Advisors and Mentors
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Fulbright Gateway Orientation Program
Culture Defined
5 a: the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior
that depends upon the capacity for learning and transmitting
knowledge to succeeding generations b: the customary beliefs,
social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group
… c: the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that
characterizes an institution or organization …
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
A pattern of shared basic assumptions that the group learned as it
solved its problems of external adaptation and internal integration,
that has worked well enough to be considered valid and, therefore,
to be taught to new members as the correct way you perceive, think,
and feel in relation to those problems.
Schein, E.H. Organizational Culture and Leadership, 4th ed.
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Fulbright Gateway Orientation Program
Dimensions of Societal Culture
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Power Distance Index
Uncertainty Avoidance Index
Individualism – Collectivism
Masculinity – Femininity
Long- vs. Short-term Orientation
Hofstede, Geert (2001) Culture's Consequences:
Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions and
Organizations Across Nations
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Impact of Societal Culture on
Organizational Culture
 Behavior and Artifacts
 Values
 Assumptions and Beliefs
Schein, Edgar (2010) Organizational Culture and
Leadership
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Fulbright Gateway Orientation Program
Academic Culture in Your Classes
 Learn from the Syllabus
 Class Participation
 Use of Electronic Devices
Laptops
Cell phones and PDAs
 Other policies, e.g., study groups and
collaborative learning
 Use Your Professors’ Office Hours
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Academic Culture outside
Your Classes
 Understanding Departmental
Expectations (“learning the ropes”)
 Identifying and Communicating with
Advisors and Mentors (not all
relationships are created equally)
 Making Decisions about Your Career
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Establishing an Effective
Relationship with a Mentor
 Find someone with same/similar
academic interests
 Discuss expectations regarding your
academic career
 Clarify appropriate times and means
of communication
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Fulbright Gateway Orientation Program
Resources
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Departmental Degree Manuals
Graduate Student Offices
University-level Writing Centers
University-level Ombudspeople
http://www.gradresources.org/articles/prof_
grad.shtml
o http://www.rackham.umich.edu/downloads/
publications/mentoring.pdf