Academic Rigor
What "rigorous" really means.
Robert Cundiff
Issue date: 5/3/04 Section: On Campus
The term "academic rigor" is often thought to mean the difficulty of a class. The harder a class is, the more rigorous it is. On survey day, one of the questions in the survey is "Is the course rigorous?" "Is the course rigorous?" does not mean "Is the class hard?"
According to Dr. Mary Draper, CCC Vice President for Academic Affairs, academic rigor means the "consistent expectation of excellence and the aspiration to significant achievement. Excellence has been described as product and content, while rigor is the process."
A course is rigorous, according to Dr. Draper, when it contains high expectations and sets high personal standards for its students. A rigorous professor is one who has high expectations of himself. He or she comes to class prepared, treats students fairly, conducts class professionally, and always exemplifies honest and integrity.
Rigor should be applied not only to a course or to the professor, but also to the student. Rigorous learning goes hand in hand with rigorous teaching.
Dr. Draper said that "In order to experience rigorous learning, students must do the following:
* Set high expectations and personal standards, develop a strong sense of purpose, come to class well-prepared, and complete assignments on time.
* Develop an effective relationship with the instructor, in and outside of class, and make the most of advising and other services.
* Treat fellow students, equipment, and the classroom with respect. Give each class full attention and participation. Do not miss class, arrive late, or leave early.
* Accept continuing responsibility for learning and for the grades earned.
* Approach each class in a professional manner, as if the class were real employment. Treat a full time course load as full-time work and spend no less time on it. Determine early exactly what is expected. Plan for three hours preparation out of class for every one hour attendance in class.
* Participate with complete honesty and integrity."
Consider the term "academic rigor" the next time the classroom doors are opened or on the next survey day. Rigor is not something to be feared, but rather a quality to be desired in courses, professors, and students.
According to Dr. Mary Draper, CCC Vice President for Academic Affairs, academic rigor means the "consistent expectation of excellence and the aspiration to significant achievement. Excellence has been described as product and content, while rigor is the process."
A course is rigorous, according to Dr. Draper, when it contains high expectations and sets high personal standards for its students. A rigorous professor is one who has high expectations of himself. He or she comes to class prepared, treats students fairly, conducts class professionally, and always exemplifies honest and integrity.
Rigor should be applied not only to a course or to the professor, but also to the student. Rigorous learning goes hand in hand with rigorous teaching.
Dr. Draper said that "In order to experience rigorous learning, students must do the following:
* Set high expectations and personal standards, develop a strong sense of purpose, come to class well-prepared, and complete assignments on time.
* Develop an effective relationship with the instructor, in and outside of class, and make the most of advising and other services.
* Treat fellow students, equipment, and the classroom with respect. Give each class full attention and participation. Do not miss class, arrive late, or leave early.
* Accept continuing responsibility for learning and for the grades earned.
* Approach each class in a professional manner, as if the class were real employment. Treat a full time course load as full-time work and spend no less time on it. Determine early exactly what is expected. Plan for three hours preparation out of class for every one hour attendance in class.
* Participate with complete honesty and integrity."
Consider the term "academic rigor" the next time the classroom doors are opened or on the next survey day. Rigor is not something to be feared, but rather a quality to be desired in courses, professors, and students.