University Culture

Although individual academic cultures may exist within each school and even within academic departments especially at an institution as large as Pitt, there are shared values among the Pitt professors and instructors, similar to that of most American university environments. These cultural values may vary significantly from universities outside of the US, so it is important for incoming international exchange or guest students to be aware of what may be expected of them to succeed academically.

 

  • Individualism.  

    One of the founding values of the United States is that each person controls his or her own destiny, that each person has the freedom to make choices for him or herself, and that success or failure depends very much on an individual’s effort. Individuals are recognized for their effort and achievement, and it is considered dishonest to take credit for work you haven’t done yourself.

  • Critical Thinking.  

    Americans are not expected to memorize information they are studying or to believe that all people in authority are correct. They are taught to ask questions, to analyze strengths and weaknesses, to look at things from many perspectives, to challenge previous understandings, to find flaws, and to be creative in their interpretations. 

  • Directness.  

    Americans communicate very directly, believing it is the speaker’s responsibility to be perfectly clear. They value honesty and openness, even when the information is unpleasant. They can be confused by the indirect communication style of other cultures. They generally see indirectness as a sign of dishonesty.

  • Time Sensitivity.  

    Americans are very conscious of time! They believe that time should be monitored carefully, managed effectively, and used efficiently. They can become impatient when things do not run according to schedule.

For more details on the definitions and suggested strategies, download the handout produced by the Writing Center at UNC-Chapel Hill.