Meet your
Professor [and your Academic Advisor]
by
Dr. Waggoner
Getting
to know your professors [and Advisor] is important. Giving your professor
[or Advisor] a chance to get to know you is equally important. Your
goal is to be able to comfortably communicate your concerns, questions,
and delights about the course. You are not trying to become teacher's
pet nor is your goal to be best friends. This is a professional relationship.
You want your professor to have a positive impression of you and to associate
your face and your contributions to the course with your name. There
are a few simple things that you can do to get know your professor.
-
Sit
near the front of the room. This tells your professor that you are interested
in the course and are there to learn. Sitting in front makes it easier
for the professor to see you. It also increases your probability
of being called upon when you raise your
hand.
-
Pay
attention and participate in class. Professors appreciate and remember
the students who participate in their classes. They also remember
students who sleep, read the paper, or talk in class. You do not
want to be remembered as a disruption.
-
Whenever
you speak with your professor [or
Advisor], introduce yourself by name (and course if it is outside class
time). Repeating your name helps the professor particularly in large
lecture sections. The more the professor hears your name the more
likely she is to remember you favorably while considering grades.
-
Go
to office hours and introduce yourself early in the semester. Ask
if there are any special tips for studying and succeeding in the course.
This tells your professor [and Advisor] that you are conscientious about
your work.
-
Go
to office hours throughout the semester. Be sure to take specific
questions about the material or assignments. "I was reading in the
book and wondered about..." or "In class you said... Could
you clarify this for me?". Questions such as "what is going to be
on the exam", or "tell me everything I missed while on my skiing trip"
do not get satisfactory answers and waste everyone's time. These
sorts of questions give the professor the impression that you really do
not care about the course.
-
Tell
your professor what you like about the course. Most students tell
professors what is wrong with their course. Few let them know when
they are doing things well. Set yourself apart from the rest.
Highlighting the positive not only gives you an opening for conversation,
but it also helps the professor prepare for future courses.
-
Telling
the professor what you like about the course is particularly useful if
you have a problem. Start with the positive comment and then request
help for your problem. (I really enjoyed your discussion of .... but I
could not read the red pen on the whiteboard.) Have a possible solution
handy. (Could you use the black pen all the time?) Listen to
what your professor is saying. There may be a reason for what the
professor is doing. (The red ink highlights key concepts) Be prepared
to negotiate. (Perhaps you could write with a black pen and underline
in red. Perhaps I could
sit
in the front row.) You will be more likely to solve the problem
than if you simply complain.
-
If
you make an appointment with a professor [or Advisor], keep it. If
you absolutely cannot make it, cancel the appointment promptly.
If you are caught in an emergency, call as soon as possible and explain
the situation. Remember, your goal is to have your professor [or
Advisor] get a positive impression of you. If you do not show up
you could be wasting a lot of time and appear not to take the course or
the professor seriously.
-
Whenever
you leave a message (voicemail, email, or written) be sure to include your
name, course and how and when your professor can contact you. Many
students wonder why they never get a return call. A professor cannot
call you if you do not leave a name and a working phone number. (You
should also remember that everyone hears your answering machine message,
not just your friends. You can seriously damage a positive impression
if your professor has to listen to tasteless language, music, or jokes
before the beep.)
-
Take
advantage of email. You may get more information if you ask a question
via email. Many professors find it easier to write a detailed response
at a time when there are fewer interruptions. When you see the professor
in person, remind him of your electronic communications. You can
do this by directly referring to it or indirectly by thanking him for a
rapid or helpful response.
-
In
general, be friendly and courteous. Your professors are people too.
They have good days and bad days. There are times when they are free
to talk. There are other times when they have students waiting, a
lecture to prepare, a meeting to attend, and a problem in the lab.
Because of this, you might not always get the time and attention you feel
you deserve. Make an appointment. Come back. Try again.
Patience and persistence are usually rewarded.
--
Charlene
M. Waggoner, Ph.D.
Department
of Biological Sciences
Bowling
Green, State University
Bowling
Green, OH 43403
cwaggon@bgnet.bgsu.edu
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