Unit 6. Higher Education in the us

Task 1. Listen to the lecture about higher education in the USA and do the following tasks.

1. Tick off the subtopics covered in the extract you have heard:

a) forms of higher education

b) criteria of selection

c) public and private institutions

d) colleges and universities

e) competitive skills

f) personal resources for correct choice

2. Use the text to enumerate the degrees offered by a

a) two-year college

b) four-year college

c) university

3. Is the education provided by private institutions superior to that provided by public ones?

a) yes

b) no

c) not stated

4. Indicate the major financial sources in:

a) public institutions

b) private institutions

5. Indicate, who determines the educational systems of a college / university:

a) federal government

b) state government

c) legislature

d) state legislature

e) federal legislature

f) Congress

g) federal government and legislature

h) state government and state legislature

i) federal government, state government, and Congress

6. Give the full wording of the following acronyms:

a) GPA; b) TOEFL; c) B.A.; d) B.S.; e) M.A.; f) M.S.; g) Ph.D.

7. What is, according to the text, a well-rounded personality profile?

8. Enumerate all the criteria mentioned in the text to be kept in mind in choosing a college or a university.

9. Name (one word) the major condition for transference from one institution to another.

Task 2. Fill in the blanks with the words from the boxes.

University organization

funds loans taxes scholarships student fees federal funds

a. Funding. All universities and colleges receive (1) _____________________ from a variety of sources. Private colleges depend primarily on (2) _____________________ and on endowments and gifts. Public institutions also have these recourses, but depend mainly on state and local (3) _____________________ for operating funds. Both public and private institutions may receive (4) _____________________ for research activities. The federal government distributes aid among colleges and universities according to various formulas based on the number of students who receive (5) _____________________ and (6) _____________________, and on the enrolment of graduate students and veterans.

board of regents chancellor academic dean president board of trustees

b. Management. In most cases, a (7) _____________________ or (8) _____________________ is the chief administrator of a university or college. Other officials handle educational programs, registration, management of funds, and collection of tuition. Each college or separate school of a university generally has an (9) _____________________ or director. He or she leads the faculty in preparing the course of study for the college or school, and takes part in university planning. Most universities and colleges are controlled by a (10) _____________________or a (11) _____________________, which approve educational policies. They also appoint the chief administrative officer of the institution.

assistant professors scientists chairman (x2) teachers

research fellows departments teaching fellows

c. Faculty includes (12) _____________________ of a college or university. A college’s faculty is divided into (13) _____________________, each of which deals with one general course of study, such as English, mathematics, or physics. Its head is a (14), who is usually a professor. Under the (15) _____________________ are other professors, associate professors, (16) _____________________, and instructors. Some departments also have (17) _____________________ or (18) _____________________. These are graduate students who teach or do research part-time. Some faculties include (19) _____________________ or other workers whose main activity is research, not teaching.

freshman coeducational graduates (x) junior sophomore senior undergraduate (x2)

d. The student body of a university or college is divided into (20) _____________________ and (21) _____________________. (22) _____________________ have already received their bachelor’s degree and are working more or less independently for a master’s or doctor’s degree. (23) _____________________ are studying for their bachelor’s degree. The undergraduates belong to one of four classes – (24) _____________________, (25) _____________________, (26) _____________________, and (27) _____________________– according to year of study. Most schools also admit special students. These students take a number of courses, but do not work toward a degree. Most institutions are (28) _____________________, with both men and women students. Others admit students of only one sex.

Task 3. Listen to the text about tuition fees and fill in the gaps with the information that is missing.