Academic Expectations at Willamette University
The College of Liberal Arts at Willamette University has rigorous academic expectations.
Two frameworks – Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives andGardner’s Multiple Intelligences – will help you understand what is expected of you.
Meeting Academic Expectations: Your Student Performance
The following are typical behaviors of successful students.
Attend class regularly. Show up on time and stay to the end. Stay awake.
Prepare for class. Read assignments before class. As you read, take notes.
Be ready to enter class discussion: to ask questions, contribute pertinentcomments,
and respond to others.
Participate in class discussions appropriately, neither talking too much nor too little.Stay on-topic.
Learn the language – the particular vocabulary and terminology – of the subject you are studying.
Invest time with the material you are trying to learn,
usually 2-3 hours outside of class for every hour in class.
Take notes during class.
Give the professor cues that you are paying attention. This could be eye contact and open/upright posture.
If you tend to be quiet in class,
meet outside of class with the professor so thatshe knows you are engaged and interested.
Schedule a visit with your professor in his office, especially if he has invited you to.
Address your professors respectfully. Ask how they prefer to be addressed.
Start with more formality rather than less. (“Professor” is better than “Hey.”)
Once class starts, shift your focus to the instructor.
Study with others.
If you can feel yourself getting overwhelmed by your classes, talk to someone about it!
Use technology in class only as directed by your professor. Different instructorshave different preferences.
Read, understand,and follow the syllabus.
Complete assignments perinstructions. Work with others in your class to figure out assignments.
Ask for clarification from the instructor if you need it.
On a semester-at-a-glance calendar, post both due dates and startdates for projects/papers.
If you see that you are likely to miss a deadline, communicate sooner rather than later.
Some deadlines are non-negotiable.
Student Performance and Self-Management
How you perform the role of “student” is greatly affected by how you manage your day-to-day life.
Consider the following.
Are you healthy enough – physically, mentally,
emotionally – to sustain effort over the length
of a 16-week semester? Do you have the
energy, stamina, and stability to engage with
difficult and challenging material (not to mention
difficult and challenging people)?
Can you create and sustain daily/weekly routines
so that your energy, time, and focus go toward
meeting your academic commitments?
Is academic success a priority for you? Can you delay
short-term gratification and makeyourself study? Can
you plan and structure yourefforts so that you start
projects in time to meetdeadlines? Can youself-correct
when you derail?
Can you follow instructions independently? Can you
figure out how to proceed when directions are
minimal or when you find them confusing? This will
impact not only classesand gradesbut also financial
aid, employment, studyabroad,and campus activities.
Can you persist when you don’t learn something
quickly and easily? Can you change your approach
when what you’re doing isn’t working? Can you seek
help when you need it?
Know that counselors in Bishop Wellness andthe
director of Academic Support are available to
help you find strategies that support your success
and growth at Willamette.
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