Context Matters

Words matter, of course. But they only tell part of the story. In fact, the same words in different CONTEXTS (settings or situations) can mean very different things. Words, by themselves, can easily be misunderstood. Think about texting and emailing. Have you ever misunderstood what someone was saying because you did not understand the context? For instance, you may have been asked to do something later. But what does later actually mean? For some, it means much later- like a day or week. For others, it could mean in a few minutes. And for some other people, saying later actually means never. How do you know? CONTEXT!

Contextual details tell the audience

• what is important
• where and what assumptions they should draw about the idea
• the meaning to what is being communicated

You add context to your communication by determining what the audience (the people who will read or hear your idea) already know about the topic, by determining what the audience could infer (conclude) from your idea, what they might not understand, and what could happen if they misunderstand, and if you have all the necessary information included. To add context, review your idea and make sure you view the idea or topic with empathy- meaning that you place yourself in your audience’s shoes.

You’ll use contextual details when learning and working with topics in college. Contextual details may be included in the writings you read. In college-level learning, you may need to seek out the detail you need (for example, you may have a dataset but need to look at other records to understand the time period and world events at the time the data was collected in order to understand the data more completely). In textbooks, the context will be clear; it is part of the writing. In authentic writings (those written for use by scholars and experts), you will need to work to add context, especially in unfamiliar areas of study.

Beyond the classroom, context shapes every interaction you have and your understanding of others and your environment. Your environment and the people around you are part of the context of your life and learning.

Without realizing it, you are paying attention to your environment (the setting), and your situation (what is happening around you). This constant analysis of context is important- it keeps you safe, and it allows you to understand what is happening. Context, in the physical world, relies on what you see, hear, and feel and what you have experienced in the past. It affects how you see objects, expressions, and emotions.

Paying attention to context is important- it matters for your personal life and relationships, your safety, and your studies. Using contextual information will help you understand the material in your classes and help you communicate your ideas in ways that will ensure your audience receives your message clearly.

-Dr. L

Higher education – and your college- is the CONTEXT for your studies and degree,
It has its own history, language, expectations, norms, and procedures.

Understanding the background and information about colleges and universities can help you thrive. If you do not know these things, you risk missing out on support and opportunities- and may not understand how things work, what is available to you, and how to manage challenges- and if you do not understand, it leads to the risk of missing out on opportunities

The term higher education includes any degree-granting program beyond high school. There are a huge variety of institutions, each with its own special details. These are colleges (typically smaller schools focused on undergraduates and may offer master’s degrees) and universities (typically larger schools that offer undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs). Many public institutions are part of larger systems that include multiple institutions.

Each college or university has a focus or type. For example, you may attend a liberal arts college or which focuses on knowledge related to the liberal arts. You could also attend a college focused on the arts or business. A university is often made up of multiple small colleges or schools focused on specific areas of study. The focus of a college will determine the type of degrees (for example, a BA or bachelor of arts degree focuses on the liberal arts, a BS or bachelor of sciences degree focuses more on math and science, or a BFA bachelor of fine arts focuses on artistic expression and methods). Some colleges or universities can offer both a BA and BS in the same discipline. For example, you may be able to choose between a BA and BS in biology or in management or business administration.

2-year vs. 4-year colleges

The type of college or university you are attending makes a difference in what classes you can take and the degrees you can earn. Your college may offer an associate’s degree in either the arts or sciences (there will be differences in your requirements for science, math, and humanities courses depending on your degree) or a bachelor’s degree in the arts and sciences. There are other bachelor’s degrees that you may see depending on where you attend. All are valid if your school is accredited (and if your school has a financial aid program, it should have met federal accreditation standards).

Did you know? A university is typically made up of colleges (it is a group of colleges under one name!)

Registrar

manages class details and grades

Advising

provides support on course selection and majors/minors

Financial Aid

assists students in dealing with loans and grants

Student Accounting

maintains student financial records

Student Affairs

assists students in taking full advantage of what college offers and supervises events and organizations

Career Services

provides career counseling, assists with internships, resumes, and interview preparation