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Introduction

What are some demographic and academic characteristics of USF students?

USF's student population is both large and diverse. Among the nearly 35,000 students who attend classes at USF, there are approximately 25,000 undergraduate students, 5,700 graduate students, 385 professional, and another 3,400 students who are enrolled as unclassified or non-degree seeking. Approximately 19,000 are full-time students enrolled in twelve or more hours, while 16,000 are classified as part-time students.

Over 90% (32,000) of the University's students are Florida residents. USF also enrolls approximately 2,000 non-Florida resident students and 940 non-US resident students.

Academically, USF undergraduates compare favorably with students at Florida's other state universities. The average SAT score for first-time in-college students is approximately 1,100 and a grade point average of 3.50.

USF serves students in a large metropolitan community. The vast majority of students live off-campus while approximately 2,600 students live in residence halls. A large percentage of students hold either on campus or off-campus jobs while attending classes. When planning course assignments, new instructors should anticipate that many students will experience scheduling difficulties if required to attend frequent out-of-class educational opportunities. Both anecdotal and research evidence suggests, however, that participation in such events, as well as in the nearly 200 student organizations on campus, provides valuable additions to students' total University experience. Sponsors of these activities and organizations greatly appreciate instructors' efforts to encourage student participation and involvement.

USF's commitment to inclusion is reflection in its student body. African Americans, Latin and Asian students comprise 26 percent of USF students. A growing contingent of international students, now representing over 100 countries, demonstrates the university's strong geographic influence and dedication to the principles of a global economy. Over 5,700 students, including 1,375 international students, are currently enrolled in the University's graduate programs. The median age of USF graduate students is 31. Approximately 2,500 graduate students are enrolled full time.

Why should instructors learn all they can about their students?

Benjamin Demott (1988), in a provocative essay entitled "Do We Teach Students or Subjects?" {Change, 20(1), 54}, asks faculty, "Is not knowing who you are talking to as bad as not knowing what you are talking about?" When teaching on a new campus, one of the most helpful first day-of-class activities instructors can employ is to collect introductory information regarding students' interests, prior educational background in the discipline, and/or level of prerequisite knowledge. Even after teaching on a campus for several years, faculty are better able to create a strong first impression and to teach at an optimum level of difficulty when they first gather information regarding students' expectations and abilities.

Some commonly employed methods of getting to know students include: