Thesis Statement:
The culture of America and its set of values affect students’ expectations in American universities, particularly in Seattle.
Essay:
The mission and vision of every institution are created so that people are aware of the objectives. Each university has its own vision and mission designed to attract students and encourage them to become part of that university. In their book entitled American Cultural Patterns (134), Edward C. Stewart and Milton J. Bennett state that a person’s decision is greatly influenced by self-interest, career perspectives, and personal achievements. This means individuals have their own personal insights into what needs to be done and what they want to become in the future. The university they choose to enroll in is a reflection of their personal decisions, including the type of course they wish to take and the motivation needed to complete it. Ultimately, a person who is driven by their own decision-making process will be confident enough to graduate from a university that provided them with sufficient knowledge and helped them become the professional person they wanted to be.
Seattle University has a vision to educate individuals as a whole, ranging from professional formation to leadership empowerment in order to lead in a just and humane world. The university aims to be an independent and premier Northwest University that provides high-quality education and services to society using the Jesuit Catholic approach. Students at Seattle University are trained to excel academically while surrounded by a supportive environment.
The University also ensures that students are nurtured with proper values and ideals such as faith, justice, equality, and responsible leadership. Annual dialogues among students, faculty members, and university staff regarding the university’s mission are held to ensure that its goals are met. These dialogues also recognize achievements in accordance with American culture and demonstrate Seattle University’s practical accomplishments.
The University has active scholars as professors who emphasize academic excellence. This, in turn, produces competent students who carry out the University’s principles in the corporate world. The use of technology and publicity makes goals plausible and achievable. Marketing professor Carl Obermiller states that graduate students usually return to the University expressing gratitude and saying that the ideals and values instilled are quite effective in their work environment.
Thus, this phenomenon signifies that the University and its professors have done their job well. Moreover, the University’s pride is heightened by prominent students who epitomize the quality education it provides. Furthermore, outstanding students also boost the University’s status in the Northwestern region.
Meticulous assessment is another method utilized by the University to aid in achieving practical goals. The staff and faculty systematically assess student learning, providing insight into academic excellence and promotion of the University’s mission. To monitor excellence in all perspectives, the University divides its faculty and staff into numerous support and service units.
The ideologies of education and assessment are inspired by Jesuits, who draw their principles from the legacy of St. Ignatius of Loyola; the founder of the Society of Jesus. This gives emphasis to the way Jesuits educate and assess through continual reflection, discernment, and review. This method has been followed since 1891 when it was founded.
In 2000, Seattle University implemented systematic and collaborative assessments university-wide to plan for more strategic budgeting. The university continues to prioritize assessment as a means of improving teaching and learning. According to Seattle University, assessment is essential in supporting the institution’s growth and measuring achievement through excellence.
Individualism is a core American value that Seattle University embraces. Both students and administration prioritize individuality, and the university’s diverse learning environment allows students to both learn and enjoy their experience. As a racially and culturally diverse institution, Seattle University respects students from all backgrounds, making it the largest university in the Northwest capable of accommodating large numbers of students. The university considers each student’s individuality an asset to providing valuable services to society.
In American Cultural Patterns, Seattle University’s emphasis on American Individualism is also highlighted, providing ample opportunities for both students and the entire university community. This individualistic approach means that each student is encouraged to pursue their own interests (ACP 130). Every course at Seattle University emphasizes this aspect of individualism. Upon enrollment, each student must conform to the university’s policies and complete all required courses in their chosen curriculum.
Once a student is enrolled in a particular department, such as myself in the Albers Business School’s Marketing Department, they are required to complete all the requirements outlined in the Marketing Curriculum. As marketing students, we are involved in various business activities that further develop our skills and knowledge within this field. These activities align with the university’s mission statement by emphasizing strategy development based on consumer wants and needs, designing products and services to meet those wants and needs, and conducting assessments. As a result of these experiences, marketing students gain valuable skills and characteristics necessary for success as professionals in this field.
All subjects included in the curriculum are designed to aid students in understanding everything related to Business Marketing, including consumer behavior, product and service handling, and marketing strategies. The Marketing Curriculum at Albers Business School includes subjects with prerequisites, meaning that students must complete prerequisite subjects before taking major and complex ones. This is essential because basic concepts should be taught first before moving on to more advanced topics.
In connection with American values, pragmatism and null logic can be applied when taking prerequisite subjects. Null logic values mean that individuals should be taught in a sequential pattern, with lessons arranged from easiest to most difficult to help compose the student’s mind effectively. Although there are some arguments about this approach being effective for all classes since some classes can be taken independently of others.
Students should have the freedom to choose which subject they prefer to take up first since Americans value freedom so much. As one quotation from the book American Cultural Patterns states: The American value of fairness, indicated by their concern with procedures, is not confined to formal groups” (107).
Expectations from American universities, particularly Seattle University, are strongly influenced by American culture and values. Seattle University has values and ideals that attract students to enroll in this prestigious institution. It is a great opportunity for students to be admitted to an institution that guides and trains them to become the best professionals in the future.
Works Cited:
Seattle University’s Undergraduate Bulletin of Information for the academic year 2007-2008 can be accessed at http://www.seattleu.edu/home/learning_teaching/bulletins_of_information/undergraduate/. This bulletin was published by Seattle University in 2007 and was last accessed on May 9, 2008.
Bennett, Milton J. and Edward C. Stewart wrote a book titled American Cultural Patterns: A Cross-Cultural Perspective.” The book explores the cultural patterns that are unique to American society and how they compare to other cultures around the world.
Perspective.” Revised Edition. London, 1991.
