IATP training 16.11.2004 Brest Higher education in the USA: structure, values, problems

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IATP training16.11.2004BrestHigher education
in the USA structure, values, problems

• Presenter Alena Budzko
• (Eurasian Undergraduate Alumni 2003/2004)

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Overview of the training

• Origin and development of US system of higher
  education
• Characteristics of US system of higher education
  
• Enrollment practical tasks
• Credit system practical tasks
• Grading procedure
• Types of higher education institutions
• Problems of US system of higher education
  practical tasks
• Student life Fraternities and sororities
• Quiz

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Some notes

• The training employs a number of types of
  activities
• Front questioning and discussion in purple font
  type
• Work with graphic visual materials in dark blue
  font type
• Explaining some practical knowledge material on
  the board in brown font type
• Practical tasks and activities through the
  computer network or internet in red font type
• Small group discussions with moderators (teachers
  from university invited) in orange font type

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Front questioning and warm-upsay one word about
US education(2-3 minutes)
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Origin and development I

• Protestantism
• State financial support
• Population number
• Financial well-being of society
• Intellect. immigration 19th20th c.
• Charity tradition

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Origin and development II

• Competition for professors, students, grants,
  prestige, etc.
• Uni as a source of local pride ? businesses and
  companies interest
• Technology development
• Globalization

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Some major characteristics

• Decentralization
• Academic freedom and democracy
• Individualism
• Pragmatic and practical dimensions
• Accessibility of resources
• Real student government

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Objectives of universities

• Example
• The objective of the educational
• program at Kansas State University is
• to develop individuals capable of
• applying enlightened judgment in their
• professional, personal, and social
• lives.

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Credit system

• 1 credit one lecture/seminar
• Standard course 3 credits 3 lectures/seminars
  per week
• Total 15 weeks
• Transfer and taking a year off
• Changing major double major

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• 000099 UN no credit is granted
• 100299 UN lower-division, freshman/sophomore
• 300499 UN upper-division, a junior or senior
• 500699 UN upper-division may be taken for
  graduate credit only in a minor field.
• 600699 UN may be taken for credit in a graduate
  students major field.
• 700799 primarily graduate-level course.
• 800899 GR, masters-level or a
  professional-level
• 900999 GR, primarily for doctoral-level course.

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How to enroll

• SPCH 480. Intercultural Communication. (3) I. A
  study of the relationship between language and
  culture and its impact on human communication.
  Examines how language and culture differ among
  people and how differences are handled through
  the process of communication. Pr. SPCH 105 or
  106

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How to enroll

• PHILO 150. Introduction to philosophy of
  Feminism. (3) I, II. Philosophical examination of
  issues such as femininity and masculinity, the
  social conditions of gender equality,
  multiculturalism and gender, affirmative action,
  sexual harassment, and welfare policy.

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Enrollment schedule(online)
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Types of HE institutions (gt 4000)

• 2-year colleges (1700)
• Narrow specialization
• Can transfer to the 3rd year in uni
• 4-year colleges
• Specialized colleges (765) - technical
• Bachelor colleges (607)
• Universities
• Research (261)
• Classical (610)

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Degrees

• Associate degree
• Bachelors degree
• Masters degree
• Ph.D. degree
• Postgraduate level

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Academic year

• 9 months
• Structure
• Semesters 69
• 3 terms
• 4 terms

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Any problems that you think exist in the
system?? small group discussion and presentation
(with moderators)
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Problems

• Lack of state funding
• Monolinguism
• Diversity (ethnic, international)
• No national standards
• Not enough social support mechanisms

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Survey What is the biggest problem in US
education? (2000)
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Grading

• Class discussions
• Midterm exam
• Research
• Laboratory and practical assignments
• Surprise quizzes
• Final exam

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Grading

• A 90-100
• B 80-89
• C 70-79
• D 60-69
• F 0-59

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GPA

• A 4, B 3. C 2, D 1
• 2 x 3 6
• 4 x 4 16
• 3 x 2 6
• 28 9 3.1

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International students

• 514 723 (1999/2000)
• Asia 54
• Europe 15
• Canada, Mexico, Brazil 8

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Race question
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Front questioningMost famous universities in
the USA are
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Ivy League

• Harvard University,
• Princeton-Yale University,
• Columbia University,
• Brown University,
• Cornell University,
• Pennsylvania University
• Dartmouth University.

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Student life

• Dont live with parents
• Student loans
• Parties and bars, drinking, drugs
• Club activities(diversity,homosexual)

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Fraternities and sororities

• Greek letters
• Friends
• Leadership
• Academics
• Volunteer service
• Sportsmanship
• Clothes
• Pride -- Rivalry

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Textbooks and homework

• Not at the library ? paid
• All comprehensive
• Updated every year or two ? editions
• Homework - A LOT!
• Mainly reading
• Essays
• personal input

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Final discussion in small groups followed by a
group presentationGeneral impressions,
comparison with Belarus(with moderators)
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Quiz true or false in groups with moderators

• Women got 53 of all degrees (1993)
• Day off Sunday
• 40 of all unis have lt 1000 students
• Can graduate with honors
• Informality with professors (first names)
• 10 of students work
• Audit option