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Connect with your Professors!

Written by OAPA Peer Advisor, Jenika Brown

Are you stressed over your grade or that oh-so-important GPA? You know who’s excellent at alleviating that stress…your professors. It’s easy to forget that the person teaching in front of the class has been through some variation of what you’re going through right now as a college student. Your professors know better than anyone what it takes to do well in their class and are among the best relationships you could leave college with. Please get to know your professor and allow them to get to know you. All you have to do is connect. Want to know how? Keep reading!

How to Connect:

Set-up a Meeting

Utilize your Professor’s office hours! The sole purpose of these hours is to help you outside of class. Whether it be an assignment you’re confused about or a simple check-in on your progress in the class, you’d be surprised at the kind of insight you can gain from one-on-one sessions.

Note: It’s likely that right now, office hours or 1:1 meetings will be held virtually. Your Professor can provide information on setting up an appointment/access to their virtual space, whether through Webex or Blackboard Collaborate.

EMAIL EMAIL EMAIL!

Our busy schedules as students don’t always allow for a 1:1 meeting. Connecting through email is better than no correspondence at all. When you email your instructor:

  • be specific about the course with which you need assistance and your concern or information needed
  • include your full name and/or campus ID
  • allow at least 48 hours for a response
Helpful Tip: Many professors are willing to set-up meetings with you on days, and at times, outside of their listed hours to better accommodate you. Some professors with inflexible hours are willing to have meetings via phone call. Just take the initiative to ask.

When to Connect:
Don’t wait until your struggling in a course to set up a meeting. Connect early in the semester!

When emailing, try to stay within the frame of typical business hours or their office hours if possible—you may get a faster reply this way.

After You Connect:

Follow up with your Professor after your sessions. Whether it be an assurance that you are implementing their advice correctly—or to say thank you—following up with your Professor shows you care and makes the relationship one of reciprocity.

Network:

Attend departmental events or other campus events your professors promote in class to establish a relationship that surpasses the classroom and discover new interests.  

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Posted: September 27, 2020, 8:45 PM

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