To help you get what you need out of your years of study at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, we, your future faculty, have developed this pamphlet outlining our mutual expectations - what we can expect from you and what you can expect from us. Our overriding hope is that the high quality of your educational experiences, both in and out of the classroom, will inspire you to do your absolute best.

COLLEGE IS DIFFERENT

Your undergraduate years can be one of the most exciting periods of your life. However, you have chosen to be here; that is fundamentally important. The members of the educational community you are about to join assume that you will take the initiative in making the most of your opportunities and will take full responsibility for your performance and conduct.  Academic success in college requires a commitment to extended effort and a continual improvement of your existing study habits.

Penn State Behrend's faculty is first and foremost a community of teachers. But it is also a community of active researchers who devote much of their time to advancing the frontiers of their various disciplines. The research they conduct contributes to their skill as teachers and may provide you with opportunities to conduct original work of your own.  One-on-one faculty/student interaction, whether the object is collaborative research or academic assistance, is a cornerstone of our learning philosophy.  We as a faculty encourage you to take advantage of such out-of-classroom opportunities to learn.

EXPECTATIONS

There are several actions that you must take to help yourself derive the most from your academic experience. They include consistent preparation for class and active participation in the development of a plan for your own education.  You must assume full responsibility for your academic progress.

Many of our beginning students take a lot of their courses in the College's general education program. At a later period in their careers they choose majors and begin to specialize. The skills needed for success in a particular major will be different and perhaps more demanding than for a general education course. As an entering student, however, your immediate concern is to understand what will be expected from you in introductory courses.

1.      Students are required to know formal written English. This includes the use of accepted norms of grammar, punctuation, and spelling, and the avoidance of colloquial or inappropriate language. Students should make use of a dictionary, spell check, proofread all work, and employ correct methods of citation. The University's policy on academic integrity is clear, and plagiarism (copying the work of another author without citation) and other forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and may culminate in dismissal from the University.

2.      The extent and nature of your academic assignments will vary, depending on your choice of courses and major. Your general education program will survey many disciplines, and expectations for literary and computation skills will differ according to the subject matter.   You should spend at least two hours studying for every hour in class. We assume that you will put your academic schedule ahead of other activities such as employment, sports, or entertainment. Students should attend all classes having read the assigned material before class. If you must miss class, it is your responsibility to make up the material. Prompt arrival for class is required, and courteous conduct in class is assumed. In short, you should regard the pursuit of an education as a profession and a full-time job. In school, as in the work place, all commitments must be met and deadlines for the completion of work scrupulously observed.

3.      Entering students should have computer skills or quickly acquire them. You should be open to the use of new technology, regardless of your intended major. First-year students need not have extensive experience with computers, but they must become familiar with the hardware and software relevant for their fields of study. Since access to important University resources and class requirements require a basic level of computer literacy, numerous workshops are available each semester to assist students in developing necessary computer skills. 

LIFE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

Your experiences outside of the classroom are nearly as important as those inside the classroom.  Life outside the classroom provides you with many opportunities to explore your interests in our more than 80 clubs and organizations.  The variety of films, cultural events, and visiting speakers will challenge you to explore the diversity of opinions that make up a university.

If you should choose to be involved, you will have the opportunity to organize events and activities that benefit the campus population. Behrend's size allows you many chances to explore your interests as well as develop new ones.  Such opportunities can help you develop leadership skills as well as the opportunity to make a difference in the life of the College.  An added benefit is that involved students are more attractive to future employers who are looking for well-rounded students with strong communication and leadership skills. 

OUR GOAL

Whatever field of study or discipline you choose, we will help you to learn in new and exciting ways. You have the potential to become an educated and thoughtful person or you would not be here with us. The intellectual challenges of your college years are not only about gainful employment, though we know that is important. What we can prepare you for is a life well lived; the discernment you need to make difficult, crucial choices; the ability to understand the richly diversified world of the twenty-first century; and the critical and creative abilities required to enter upon the multitude of ventures you are beginning to imagine for your life. We're here to help you imagine, and begin to create that future.