Collegian Weekly: Seize chance to chat with profs
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Opinion
Students who want to talk with their professors (before their parents do) have ample opportunity.
In past semesters, we've complained because parents' weekend lends itself to professors venting their complaints or concerns to parents before ever talking to the student.
Well, parents weekend begins March 7, but students have time to prepare, and new events make it easier for students to talk to their profs.
Students who complain about professors ratting them out to their parents must be equally responsible about communicating with professors. New events aimed at professor/student fellowship make this easier than ever.
Yesterday, the Cravats and Bluestockings Club began putting on a weekly professor/student tea.
Other professor meetings happen in group settings: For example, The Suites occasionally host desert with professors; the Greek system arranges professor visits; professors speak at Friday Forum; some meet professors at the Hunt Club, and others host a book club; the Honorama bowling event brings profs and students together to knock out a few pins.
This interaction makes life as a college student richer. We establish a better relationship with our instructors - one where they can hold us accountable for sleeping through class or sliding into a C, without talking to our parents first. But more than that, we learn from their wisdom and experience. We fortify our knowledge with their thoughts and, if we're lucky, we get a life-long mentor.
These events are a step in the right direction.
On many bigger campuses, students go out with professors for drinks. That works here, but a cup of coffee would be nice, too. Providing more outlets for professors and their students to commune on campus is a good idea.
And the professors who make the extra effort to connect with their students deserve praise.
Some invite their students over for dinner. Others simply make an effort to stop by the Saga table and say hello. Most have good office hours and welcome company and conversation.
They're not just filling their students' heads with facts; they're conditioning them for life.
Granted, everyone has a busy schedule. Students stay up all night writing papers and professors stay up all night grading them. But making time to build relationships is worth penciling in somewhere between Biology 101 and Western Heritage.
Hillsdale College Collegian 2008
In past semesters, we've complained because parents' weekend lends itself to professors venting their complaints or concerns to parents before ever talking to the student.
Well, parents weekend begins March 7, but students have time to prepare, and new events make it easier for students to talk to their profs.
Students who complain about professors ratting them out to their parents must be equally responsible about communicating with professors. New events aimed at professor/student fellowship make this easier than ever.
Yesterday, the Cravats and Bluestockings Club began putting on a weekly professor/student tea.
Other professor meetings happen in group settings: For example, The Suites occasionally host desert with professors; the Greek system arranges professor visits; professors speak at Friday Forum; some meet professors at the Hunt Club, and others host a book club; the Honorama bowling event brings profs and students together to knock out a few pins.
This interaction makes life as a college student richer. We establish a better relationship with our instructors - one where they can hold us accountable for sleeping through class or sliding into a C, without talking to our parents first. But more than that, we learn from their wisdom and experience. We fortify our knowledge with their thoughts and, if we're lucky, we get a life-long mentor.
These events are a step in the right direction.
On many bigger campuses, students go out with professors for drinks. That works here, but a cup of coffee would be nice, too. Providing more outlets for professors and their students to commune on campus is a good idea.
And the professors who make the extra effort to connect with their students deserve praise.
Some invite their students over for dinner. Others simply make an effort to stop by the Saga table and say hello. Most have good office hours and welcome company and conversation.
They're not just filling their students' heads with facts; they're conditioning them for life.
Granted, everyone has a busy schedule. Students stay up all night writing papers and professors stay up all night grading them. But making time to build relationships is worth penciling in somewhere between Biology 101 and Western Heritage.
Hillsdale College Collegian 2008
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