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UNIV 100:End of semester debrief

Wayne Smith, Ph.D.Department of Management

CSU Northridgewayne.smith@csun.edu

Updated: Fall, 2011

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What is a Student-Professional?

• Privileges preparation and readiness• Is persistently ahead within any given project• Sweats the details• Embraces theory, eschews ideology• Can hold opposing viewpoints and understand

differing perspectives• Espouses values, eschews ego-status• Evades less, focuses more• Learns rapidly in teams• Takes (and gives) leadership role• Gives (and receives) constructive feedback• Can identify strengths of others, weaknesses in

self

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Progress and Development

• “Matriculation”– “to enroll as a member of a body especially in

a college or university”

• “Accretion”– “the process of growth or enlargement by

gradual buildup”

• Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary

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Matriculation and AccretionMore

learning

Lesslearning

MatriculationLowerdivision

Upperdivision

Accretion

Intrinsic KnowledgeAnd

Extrinsic Value Proposition

Depth ofProfessionalSkills

Breadth ofFoundationalSkills

Integrate Subject Matterand

Synthesize Processes

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Complementing “specialist” skills with “generalist” skills

• It’s naïve to think that you’ll only (or mostly) work with individuals with same skills, knowledge, or abilities

• You really learn a topic when you have to teach it to someone else

• The honest truth is that nobody (including you) knows what you’ll be doing in the half-life of your career, much less near the end of it

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Student Portfolio

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Analogies from “athlete” to “student”Concept as an “Athlete” Concept as a “Student”

“Conditioning” “Preparation/GE classes”

“Practice” “Studying/Applying”

“After-game/meet review” “Feedback/Learning”

“Position/Event” “Major/Career Focus”

“Injury” “Contingency”

“Measures” “Scores/Grades”

“Kinesthetic excellence” “Cognitive excellence”

But these are these accurate and complete?(for example, do measures define your identity?)

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Post-UNIV 100 Portfolio

• The “hard” stuff– Portfolio as a Professional– Beyond a Résumé

• From learned capability to demonstrated ability• You tell the story of performance

• The “soft” stuff– Portfolio as a Student– Beyond a Grade

• Again, from learned capability to demonstrated ability

• Again, you tell the story of performance

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Ethical Considerations• Consequentialism (“evaluated by the results”)

– Utilitarianism– What is the greatest good for the greatest number?– Benefits ÷ Costs → “Best Ethical Decision”

• Deontology (“inherent duty”)– Categorical Imperative, Reciprocity– What is right, fair, and just for another individual?– Endowments ÷ Burdens → “Best Ethical Decision”

• Nicomachean (“moral virtues”)– Courage, Temperance, Liberality, Generosity, Magnamity,

Immoderation, Gentleness, Friendliness, Wittiness, Truthfulness/Integrity, “Sense of Shame”, …

– What descriptive attributes can be ascribed to me?– Good Virtues - Bad Virtues → “Best Ethical Decision”

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Nicomachean Ethics

• Nicomachean (“moral virtues”)– Courage, Temperance, Liberality, Generosity, Magnamity,

Immoderation, Gentleness, Friendliness, Wittiness, Truthfulness/Integrity, “Sense of Shame”, …

– What descriptive attributes can be ascribed to me?– Good virtues - bad virtues → “Best Ethical Decision”

• In addition to doing the right thing…you need to1. Know it’s the right thing to do2. Know why it’s the right thing to do3. Do it in the way other ethical individuals would do it4. Always do that same thing in all future, similar situations5. Enjoy doing that thing

• Whew!...But that’s what the faculty require of students and what employers require of professionals (and you are both!)

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Key Differences between UNIV 100 and other classes

• From: Small Class (N ~ 20) To: Large-lecture Hall (N ~ 150)– You’ll need to stand out and distinguish yourself– Learn to ask for feedback--early and often– Leverage the Instructor Office Hours

• From: Breadth of UNIV 100 To: Depth of your Major– You’ll need to do everything in UNIV 100 without being asked,

including:• Excel at both quantitative tools and qualitative tools• Strong written communicator• Effective oral presenter• Strategic thinker• Ethical decision-maker

• From: Face-to-Face To: (occasionally) Online– Requires extreme self-discipline and focus

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December Delights;January Jubilee

• Prepare for Spring semester success during late December and early January.

• Design a Strategy– Obtain course syllabi, outline, books– Understand how success is defined in each course– Understand how to think about that course (remember

paradigmatic v. pre-paradigmatic and pure v. applied?)– Understand what pre-requisite course material is needed

• Execute your Strategy (E.g., going to Tournament of Roses parade?)– Bring noise-cancelling headphones– Re-read key prior material as needed– Read each first chapter for each new course

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Extra-curricular activities matter…deeply

• Join a University-wide organization or club aligned with your student interests.

• Join the student organization for your major– http://www.csun.edu/getinvolved/clublisting/directory.php

• Take a leadership role if you can– This helps distinguish you—especially for your

first professional job

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Key Leadership Skills from “Good to Great”

What drives youreconomic engine?

What canyou be

the best in theworld at?

What areyou deeply

passionate about?

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Fall in love…(yes, this needs some explanation…)

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(explain final gradesand

associated timelines)