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Office for Student Affairs encourages
learning outside the classroom
From the Winter 2005 Parent Newsletter
When students graduate from the University of Minnesota, their education is
accounted for only in part by what is printed on their transcripts. During
the college years, a student’s academic progress in his or her field
of study is complemented by experiences outside of the classroom.
The University encourages students to develop and demonstrate life skills that
will ensure their future success beyond college. The Office for Student Affairs
provides many opportunities and resources that facilitate this maturation.
“We want to make sure that every student who comes to the
University has the opportunity to develop his or her full potential,” says
Jerry Rinehart, associate vice provost for student affairs. “Also,
research shows that students who are connected to the University
through extracurricular and leadership activities are more likely
to graduate in four years than their peers who are less involved.”
The Office for Student Affairs has developed a list of traits the successful
University student will develop during his or her undergraduate career, along
with examples of how these traits may be demonstrated:
Programs in the Office for Student Affairs
Aurora Center for
Advocacy and Education offers crisis intervention
and advocacy against sexual violence.
Boynton Health Service offers
health education, urgent care, eye care, dental care, and massage
therapy.
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender
Program is dedicated to improving the campus climate for gay,
lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people at the University.
Leadership Program and Minor;
Summer Leadership Institute offer courses in leadership.
Office for Student Academic Integrity promotes
student scholastic responsibility and skill.
Orientation and First-year Programs helps
new students transition to University life.
Parent Program provides
resources for parents of University students.
Recreational Sports offers
open recreation, intramurals, aquatics, and fitness programs.
Student Activities Office;
Twin Cities Student Unions offer programs and activities that promote student
learning.
Student Judicial Affairs responds
to violations of the Student Conduct Code.
University Counseling and Consulting
Services offers academic, career, and personal counseling.
University Student Legal Service represents
and advises in legal matters.
Responsibility and Accountability
- Makes appropriate decisions regarding behavior
- Recognizes and accepts consequences of actions
- Accepts responsibility for personal errors
- Meets agreed-upon expectations and follows through on commitments
- Takes responsibility for his or her own learning
Independence and Interdependence
- Appropriately determines when to act alone and when to work
or consult with others
- Demonstrates ability to initiate action and effectively engage
others to achieve desired outcomes
- Works with minimum supervision alone or in a group
- Adapts behavior appropriately to team or organization needs
Goal Orientation
- Demonstrates effective planning and purposeful behavior
- Manages energy and behavior to accomplish specific outcomes
- Is motivated to achieve goals
- Understands how to use his or her talents and skills to best
accomplish tasks
- Doesn’t allow distractions to prevent completion of work
- Pushes self, when necessary, to accomplish goals
Self Confidence and Humility
- Maintains and projects optimistic perspective
- Expects the best from self and others
- Accurately assesses and articulates (when appropriate) personal
strengths and weaknesses
- Shows interest in learning about others and their accomplishments
- Demonstrates ability to help others adapt to new situations
Resilience
- Able to recover from and continue to work successfully following
disappointments
- Able to work through bad experiences by assessing what caused
them, what can be done to repair them, and how to avoid them
in the future
Appreciation of Differences
- Works effectively with others despite differences; can respectfully
discuss differences with others
- Recognizes advantages of moving outside existing “comfort
zone”
- Seeks out others with different backgrounds or perspectives
to improve decision making
- Appreciates diversity and conveys this value to others
- Understands and respects the values and beliefs of others
Tolerance of Ambiguity
- Can work under conditions of uncertainty
- Demonstrates intellectual and emotional ability to perform
in complicated environments and in the absence of standard operating
procedures
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 Gerald
Rinehart,
vice provost for
student affairs |
