A Good Reputation

Why is it vital

Having a good reputation with your instructor is very much to your advantage. This is especially true with Dr. Bareiss. Grades should and are objective and don't rely on a good reputation. However, it can help you in a number of ways.

Advantages of a good reputation:

1. Trust: If you have a good reputation, your instructor is much more likely to take your word for something. If your alarm did not go off, it is easier to believe that story from a student with a good reputation that from one with a poor one. This applies in many different areas.
2. Exceptions: If there is a time when you need be granted an exception from the rules, it is much easier for the instructor to give one to someone with a good reputation.
3. References: You might want a reference from the instructor. For this you will need a good reputation.

Disadvantages of a bad reputation:

1. Lack of patience: As much as we would not like it to be so, patience tends to be a limited resource. But there tends to be more patience available to those who the instructor believes deserve it.
2. Matched effort: Professors tend to match the effort of the student when it comes to providing help. If you have a reputation of not trying, the professor will tend to not go out of his/her way to help.

Characteristics of a good reputation:

1. Reliable
2. Works hard
3. Follows through
4. On time
5. Listens to advice and applies it when appropriate

Guidelines on how to do it

A good reputation is not something that can be easily establish or fixed. However, with Dr. Bareiss you have a good head start. By default, everyone starts with a good reputation. Your actions determine if it is lost. However, once you lose it, you must work even harder to re-establish it.

Things to do (or not to do) to maintain good reputation:

1. Be to class on time consistently. Being late once in a great while is not a problem. By being on time you show that you care about the course and you value on class time.
2. Ask questions early on when you need help. This shows that you want to learn and are taking action yourself and not just hoping that things will get better.
3. Be ready for lab by preparing what you will need according to instructions given in class about the lab. This shows that you were paying attention and being proactive when it comes to your own work.
4. Do not just skip a meeting you set up with your instructor and not contact them about it beforehand. Doing so demonstrates a lack of respect for their time.
5. If you miss something (like an exam) because of a major unforeseeable event (i.e. major car failure for a commuter), contact the professor right away. This shows that you were trying to do so and you know that what you missed was important and that it matters to you. You are taking charge of fixing the problem and not being passive and waiting for the instructor to intervene. It also makes it easier for the instructor to find a way to deal with the issue.
6. Show that the feedback you receive is important by making corrections for the next assignment. This shows that you care about learning and are taking the lessons to heart.

The idea is to care about your learning and to be a very active participant in it. If you care about it and show that, your reputation follows.

Things to improve a poor reputation:

1. Do all of the above and be extremely diligent about it.
2. Talk with the professor with whom you may not have a great reputation. Admit to things you have done to contribute to it. Say what you are going to do to improve it. Be sure to follow through. As long as you follow through, this will work. However, you need to show that this is not just talk but that you mean it.

Requirements for credit

1. Describe your academic reputation in the past. What have your instructors thought about you and why? If this is not the start of your college career here at Bethel (i.e. you have been here at least 6 weeks), talk about that. If not, talk about your reputation at your previous academic institution. How have you benefitted from your reputation or been harmed by it?
2. If you think you have (or had) a good reputation, analyze the things that you did to establish it. Give specific examples. Be sure to include some things from the list above.
3. If you think you have (or had) a poor reputation, analyze the things you did that caused that. Give specific examples. Also, give three things that you believe you could do to improve your reputation. Be specific. Be sure to include some things from the list above for both areas.