School of Public and Environmental Affairs Undergraduate Programs Office (UPO)

1. School of Public and Environmental AffairsUndergraduate Programs Office (UPO) Orientation: Professionalism

2. Professional School = Professionalism • SPEA is a professional school. Our goal is to produce young professionals who are prepared to enter the work force or be strong candidates for graduate school. • Employers of SPEA students expect behaviors that conform to organizational norms. • While norms differ among organizations, standard behaviors are often considered as “professional” or “not professional”. • Professionalism is culturally defined. Our definitions are Americentric. • Aspects of professionalism are often implicit cultural rules. Being explicit, as we are, about professionalism is not the normal way cultures communicate norms.

3. Professionalism • The following components of this module are areas that we believe are essential for you to understand as we work toward the goal previously listed. • Communication skills • Faculty/student rapport • First impressions

4. What is communication? com·mu·ni·ca·tion[kuh-myoo-ni-key-shuh n] the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs

5. Communication is… 7% what you say and 55% body language! 38% how you say it But remember…when you’re communicating by telephone, you lose body language and when you’re communicating by email you lose body language and tone of voice. Choosing your words carefully becomes even more important.

6. Put it in writing Don’t forget that when you send an email, the reader has only the words on the screen to interpret your meaning. • Choose your words carefully • Spell check! • Peer review • Use proper spelling and grammar • Keep a record

7. Communication with University Faculty and Staff • Assertiveness is appropriate when communicating with most, if not all, groups of people. • Be very careful not to cross the line into aggressiveness or demanding behavior, especially when communicating with University staff and faculty. • Professional behavior—more than standard behavior in American pop culture—recognizes hierarchy and deference to authority.  • Assertiveness in professional settings recognizes and defers more to accepted power structures.  Assertive behavior in a pop culture context may be considered aggressive and unprofessional in a professional context.

8. Faculty/Student Interaction DON’Ts • Ask personal questions during lecture • Expect them to respond immediately • Expect them to repeat content • Expect them to make exceptions or extend deadlines • Treat them as a peer DO’s • Use the right title for your instructor. • Ask questions when they give you the chance (especially in large lectures). • Talk to your instructor (they are human!) • Give advance notice when you need assistance. • Use office hours.

9. Classroom Decorum & Professor Pet Peeves 1. Continuously glancing at the clock. 2. Texting on your cell phone. Talking on your cell phone. Messing with your cell phone at all. 4. Coming to class late . 5. Doing the “10-minute rustle” –Class is over when your instructor dismisses you. 6. no capital letters in an email. FYI, IMO it is inappropriate for U 2 email YR professor using text shorthand.  BTW….it would B GR8 if U used punctuation 2....K? THX! :-) 7."Is this going to be on the exam?“, "do we have to know this?“, or the related “Did I miss anything important?” (if absent) Don’t ask it.  Everything is fair game.  Besides, we’re all here for the joy of learning, right?

10. Appropriate Dress Business Professional Business Casual

11. Inappropriate Dress for Business Professional or Even Business Casual Events

12. Appropriate Dress Resources • Get Your Interview Suit Ready! • Ladies – don’t take cues from TV • Work Dress Codes • Corporate Apparel Trends • From a Consultant

13. Professional Qualities Employers and Graduate Schools Are Looking For • Communication skills • Motivation • Initiative • Teamwork skills • Leadership skills • Academic achievement • Interpersonal skills • Flexibility • Accountability • Technical skills • Problem-solving skills • Work ethic • Honesty • Integrity

14. Professional Timeliness • To be on time means: Within one or two minutes (really, just seconds) of stated time according to standardized timekeeping devices. The old phrase “unless you are early, you are late” is still standard in many professional settings. • To be late means: More than one minute after stated time according to standardized timekeeping devices. • To be early means: More than five minutes before stated time. • To be “on time” most must plan and execute the plan to be “early.”