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Mission of the UIC College of Engineering. Our core belief is that the most significant impact we have on society is educating our students.
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Mission of the UIC College of Engineering • Our core belief is that the most significant impact we have on society is educating our students. • Our mission is to offer students a world class education in engineering to prepare them for a successful and fulfilling professional career, one important, but not the only, component of a full life. • To carry out this mission, we strive to create a positive learning environment in our college.
Creating a Positive Learning Environment at UIC • Now: Build a strong, thriving, positive learning community. • After: Maintain life-long connection with colleagues and alma mater; expand networks; enrich professionally and socially; give back.
Goals of the UIC College of Engineering • Improve learning environment to raise the quality of experience for students and faculty alike. • Provide coaching tips to improve each student's effectiveness, professional/social skills and success.
Necessary Elements for a Positive Learning Environment • Students respecting Students • Professors respecting Students • Students respecting Professors
Students Respecting Students • UIC's diversity offers an extraordinary opportunity to learn in an intense research environment reflective of today’s global market place. • Ability to work well with others and good teamwork skills are greatly valued and sought by employers. • Fellow students offer an important support network (and sometimes lifelong friendships), now and after you leave UIC.
Students Respecting Students (Cont.) • Work hard, take advantage of the world-class resources made available to you. • Take time to get to know and appreciate those around you. Students who build positive working relationships with peers can reap rich benefits for a lifetime. • Remember your early days at UIC. Extend a helping hand to your junior colleagues. • Respect begets respect.
Students Respecting Students (cont.) • As engineers we have professional AND ethical responsibilities. • Be aware of biases, e.g., unconscious gender, ethnic, or race-based assumptions and stereotypes embedded in the patterns of thinking of many people.
Students Respecting Professors • The classroom is a microcosm of the work place. • Students who build a positive working relationship with their professors set the groundwork for successful working relationships with supervisors and mentors in the real world.
Classroom Etiquette • Etiquette = Courtesy Guidelines • Classroom is a professional, formal setting. • The rules of “Common Courtesy” guide discussion and all interactions. • When students demonstrate respectful regard for everyone present, this sets a positive classroom tone which promotes learning.
Effective Communication with Your Professor • Today, the professoriate is as diverse as the student body; your professor brings a unique perspective to enrich your learning. • Maintain a respectful tone in the classroom: arrive on time, turn-off cell phone, be attentive, participate in a positive learning exchange. • Listen to others’ point of view, take your turn to express your question or idea, agree to disagree, if needed.
Communication: Office Hours • Pre-schedule an appointment with your professor. Be mindful that emergencies come unannounced. • During the meeting with your professor: arrive on time, state your questions clearly, and keep the appointment time provided. • The code of conduct applies to office meetings and lays the groundwork for a productive meeting.
Communication: E-mail • Write concise emails that clearly indicate your questions and requests/concerns. • Indicate when you need a reply, if a deadline looms. • Use language that mirrors a professional setting. • Do not send an e-mail when you are upset. Wait a while, if you can.
Professors Respecting Students • Professors are responsible not only for teaching the technical contents of the course, but also for preparing the students for their future careers, whether in industry, academia or government. • Engineering today requires social skills and ethical judgment that must also be learned in school. • Professors have different styles of teaching, just as coaches have different styles of coaching.
Professors Respecting Students (Cont.) • Professors evaluate and issue grades based on many factors, including class participation, performance in homeworks and exams, classroom conduct, attendance, etc. • Primary factor when assigning a grade is fairness. • Professors value students’ input and constructive criticism on any element of a course.
Classroom Etiquette • Professors demonstrate respect through their teaching. • Professors set the tone in the classroom. Creating and maintaining a respectful, yet comfortable, learning environment facilitates effective two-way communication. • Professors should be fully attentive to their students’ educational needs.
Professors Communicating with Students • Professors make an honest effort to get to know their students; students come from different backgrounds and have different needs and expectations. • Set a respectful tone in the classroom: arrive on time, be prepared, use effective means of communication, allow for feedback from the students.
What to Expect from Your Professors • Professors must make clear what is required from the students: discuss the syllabus clearly, explain grading policy, be available outside the classroom during office hours. • If problems arise, the Director of Undergraduate Studies and the Department Head are available to discuss any concerns that students may have about their professors/instructors/teaching assistants.
Continuing Dialog for Improvement Let's work together to make the most of your education!
