13 Things You Need To Know About College Professors
Gregory K. Moffatt, Ph.D.
I've been a college professor for more than twenty years. I've taught graduate and undergraduate, public and private, big colleges and little ones. The same issues with students exist in every one of them. Here are thirteen things your college student might want to know about college professors.
1. We have favorites. Don't believe any professor who says he doesn't, but we can still be fair.
2. We don't grade all papers the same. I spend more time on a
marginal student's paper and the papers of goof-offs because I
assume they didn't work at it and/or there will be more mistakes.
Be a good student and it works to your advantage.
3. Follow directions. You hang yourself if you don't read
the syllabus and follow simple directions that are given in class.
Saying, "I didn't know," when it is clearly written
on the syllabus or I said it in class only makes you look like
a crummy student. (See #2)
4. If you are not a great writer, don't expect an A when
you start your paper the night before it is due. When I have to
spend more time grading your paper than you took to write it,
I just get mad. That doesn't help your grade. (Again, see #2)
5. We know what you are reading, writing, or doing on your
computer in class. Don't think we can't tell you are disengaged.
We aren't as dumb as we look.
6. Don't goof off for 14 weeks, skip class, come in late,
leave early, sleep in class, and miss assignments and then ask
for extra credit. That just hacks us off and the answer will always
be "no."
7. Plagiarism screams at us. Don't think you won't be found
out. Even if we can't prove it and you seem to get away with it
doesn't mean we don't know. Who do you think you will be asking
to write references for jobs and graduate school when you finish
college?
8. I don't have time to compute grades five hundred times
during the semester - a job you could do on your own, and I don't
know your grade off the top of my head. I have several hundred
students in four classes. Keep up with your own grades and don't
ask me in the hall. Even if I knew it, I wouldn't tell you because
if I remember incorrectly, you'll just be mad. It isn't worth
the risk. Plus, we make mistakes. Keeping up with your own grade
might catch a mistake on my part.
9. When you miss a class or come in late, don't try to jump
into the conversation. Nothing makes you look sillier than saying
something we covered while you were gone.
10. Like a traffic cop, I've heard every possible excuse.
I would rather hear you say, "I screwed up," than to
hear about how the printer wouldn't work, your spouse has your
stuff in her car, or you lost your disk. If you wait until the
last minute, there is no time left for the unexpected. That is
your fault, not the printer's. Plan ahead.
11. Don't disrespect me. I have four degrees and two decades
of experience. Your opinion, unless it is based on something other
than "you think it," is not equal to mine.
12. When you miss a class, never, EVER, ask me if we "did
anything important" while you were gone. (See # 2)
13. If you need help, come see me. I love my discipline
and I want you to learn it. If you work hard, come to class, and
seek help from me during the semester, it can work to your advantage
when grade time comes along. I don't randomly give students grades,
but I have the latitude to throw out a low grade or give you bonus
credit for your extra effort. The better I know you, the better
I know whether or not you are getting it - even if your test grades
haven't shown it.