1. Student Responsibilities
Stages of Life
Keep in mind that your personal values and interests can and will change as you get
older. This is evidenced in research conducted by a number of contemporary social
scientists, like Erik Erikson and Daniel Levinson. Their studies show how our values affect
our choices and how our choices can characterize the stage of life we’re in.
For example, college students, ages 18–26, tend to make choices that are tentative (more
short-range) and support a desire for autonomy.
Later, during ages 27–31, young adults may rethink decisions and lean toward more
permanent choices. In ages 32–42, adults tend to have a greater sense of commitment
and stability, as shown by their choices. In sum, our personal identity and values change
over time. They continue to affect our choices and can illuminate the stage of life.
Keeping in mind that there are many phases of life, you can expect to see changes in
your values and choices as you get older. You may experience a significant change in
perspective while you are in college! To better understand your relationship with your
values, you can continually reassess what is important to you. Make a commitment to
examining your thinking, actions, choices, and keep taking self-assessment tests. This
will put you in a stronger position to manage changes in your educational goals, your
career, living situation, hobbies, friends, and other aspects of your life. Changes are part
of normal life transitions.
StudentResponsibilities
Now that you have transitioned into college, you will have new responsibilities.
Research has shown that students who get involved in career-planning activities
stay in college longer, graduate on time, improve their academic performance, and
tend to be more goal-focused and motivated.
Overall these students have a more satisfying and fulfilling college experience.
This is why an important first step in college is examining your personal identity
and values.
By examining your values first, you begin the process of defining your educational
goals and ultimately planning your career.
Along with assessing your values is the importance of committing to your
responsibilities as a student. What are your new student responsibilities? Are they
financial? Course-specific? Social? Health-related? Ethical?
What exactly is expected of you?
2. Expectations for student behavior vary from campus to campus. A Web search for
“college student responsibilities” reveals the breadth of expectations deemed important
at any given institution.
Overall students are expected to at least act consistently with the values of the institution
and to obey local, state, and federal laws. It may also be expected that you actively
participate in your career decision-making process, respond to advising, and plan to
graduate. You may have even been required to take this course.
Institutions provide additional details about student responsibilities, and the details may
be formal or informal. They may fall under academic expectations or a code of conduct.
They may also include resources and recommendations. The University of South Carolina
site “What Every Student Needs to Know,” for example, outlines a formula of
responsibilities for student success.
Overall, you demonstrate that you are a responsible student when you do the following:
Uphold the values of honesty and academic integrity.
Arrive on time and prepared for all classes, meetings, academic activities, and
special events.
Give attention to quality and excellence in completing assignments.
Allot sufficient time to fulfill responsibilities outside of class.
Observe etiquette in all communications, giving respect to instructors, fellow
students, staff and the larger college community.
Take full advantage of college resources available to you.
Respect diversity in people, ideas, and opinions.
Achieve educational goals in an organized, committed, and proactive manner.
Take full responsibility for personal behavior.
Comply with all college policies.
