Accountability
Gen Y students seem to think they are "owed" a job upon graduation (not to be confused with job placement). Lack of punctuality, prompt submission of work, poor attendance, all factor in to their chosen career paths. Some students do not realize that the patterns they set for them selves in college will follow them in their careers and fail to realize that such behavior and/or conduct will lead to job loss.
Thomas,
there are some concerns here for me as well. I've not had a stranger ask for a reference, but I've had students I didn't know real well & then often they are very insistent if I don't oblige or get it done right away. I try to use these opportunities to teach them a little about professional etiquette. I don't know if it works, but it makes me feel like I'm doing something.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I completely agree. I've had a complete stranger ask me for a reference letter. She felt since she was a student and I was an instructor that it was my duty to write her one even though I knew nothing about her. Needless to say I did not oblige. The severe lack of respect and sense of entitlement is what erks me the most. I can only assume that instead of spending time with them, their parents put them in front of a television and gave them what ever they wanted when ever they wanted it. The fact that these people are our future is most concerning.
I don't know if my generation is "lazy" we are just more used to instant gratification through technology. I think the best benefit I had as a student is having teachers from other cohorts that forced me outside my comfort zone, introducing me to new ways (for me lol) to learn. Remember we are basically the same type of students compared to other generations, except we have more tools at our disposal and relying on those tools is part of the problem. Also I have noticed amongst younger students I teach that they have become more used to hand holding which I think is mistake....accountability is essential.
Nicole,
I agree that we need to be emphasizing the area of accountability with these students like with any other generation.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I agree, Tracy. I sometimes wonder where the fine line is between encouraging and bringing out the best in our students, and "hand holding". It sometimes seems that student retention is the goal over a quality product student. If we can emphasize accountability and ownership in our students, are we truly preparing them for the workforce? Not many employers, including my own, are interested in the excuses for not getting the job done, they simply want the job done by a reliable employee. This to me is as valuable a lesson as any.
Kelly,
this is true & that is part of our job. To a certain extent we are acting the part of the employer in the classroom to help prepare them for that environment.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I think that as instructors we really need to hold students to the same expectations that they will be faced with when they are working in their field. Otherwise they may be in for a shock down the road!
Tracy,
great point. I recently read an article about the things that anyone over 20 should stop doing & one of them was calling in sick, even when I don't want to go to work. I've used this in my classes to illustrate that this won't be tolerated in the working world, so don't start the habit now.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I constantly through out our program remind students that if they can't even make it to class what makes them think they can make it to a job everyday.They are lazy & have no attention to detail and its sad to think that this is what there generation brings to the job market.
So true with gen y students and bottom line they will learn the hard way when reality sets in or when they get fired from the job. My job as a culinary instructor is to teach them the proper tools of survival in the real world kitchen scenarios. Either you sink or swim. This goes back to some of my other posts is that one must know the rules before you can break the rules. What sucks is that when a graduate works at a restaurant and gets fired due to lack of knowledge and a great student applies for the job, they get turned down because of the lack of I don't care attitude and it ruins the reputation of the school they graduated from......IMO
Jennifer ,
I too have seen this problem & often it manifests itself with not wanting to take ownership of their own projects, assignments, etc. I have had some students try to have me read entire papers or review entire projects before the due date so I can give them thorough feedback. I tell them I only grade once & I often get frustration from them on this.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
This is definitely a characteristic of the Y Gen. They are more concerned with their personal lives than following through with responsibility. They feel they should always be given a second chance when they do not perform up to standard the first time. It then becomes a trend that follows them through life. At some point, they have to be taught that if you are not responsible in the small things, you will never achieve the positions you want in life.
Deffinitely! I find this a lot! Or maybe it's lazy and spoiled. As an instructor you must provide structure - studentsneed and thrive on this. Teach to the most and find alternative ways to teach to the least who are serious and try and the "other" least who play wi hopefully get on board.
I do have that problem with them too. They seem to be more rapt up with what is going on in their personal life then what they need to do in class. I just remind them that they will be missing information for their labs and test
It also concerns me that Gen Y would rather be on thier cell phone. It is sad this bad habit IS going to transfer to the work place. Gen Y need to get a handle on thier technology usage.
Tim,
this is a great quote & a great thing to be emphasizing with our students.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I tell my students that the way they work right now will become the standards they will hold others to in the future. I share with them this famous quote from Aristole: "we are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit". If you execute excellence everytime you do your work it will become a habit. By the same tolken if you cut corners or otherwise slack on your work that too will become a habit and you will only go so far before your superiors call you out.
Vincent,
this is so true & it's interesting to me how some of these students will do so poorly in my classes, show no interest or respect, & then ask me for a reference letter for a job.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
