After a week of college fairs and hosting prospective students, it got me thinking about what I would be looking for if I had a child heading off to a university. My answer: watch how students interact with faculty and staff.
If students are engaged with individual members of the faculty or staff and it is evident that they are truly known as a person, I'd say it's fairly likely that the same will be true of your child. If students are kept in the background and spoken about instead of included in the conversation, I'd say that is a sign that the climate is more hierarchical and students aren't at the top of it.
Going to college is really the first step into the "real world." There students will learn not only knowledge in the classroom, but how to work as part of a team, how to be a professional, how to take risks and how to fail. Doing so in an environment where they can be supported and challenged by full-time faculty or staff mentors is -- for me -- the most valuable aspect of an in-person collegiate experience.
To be sure, you'll want a place that has your field of study, "feels right" and is affordable, but you'll maximize your investment if you attend a place where the employees -- from president, to endowed chair, to office assistant to dining services workers -- are actively involved in contributing to your success.
-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com
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