DECODING YOUR PROFESSORS Educational Development Centre University of Windsor

Presentation Overview  Professor expectations  How to properly address your professor  etiquette  Importance of communicating with your professor  Professor pet peeves

Professor Expectations Each professor will have their own specific expectations and guidelines for: - attendance policies - citation styles - the use of laptops - assignment submission - assignment requirements and format Find out what each professor expects, and find this out early!

Professor Expectations continued… Professors want you to apply your knowledge and take chances Professors expect you to meet the basic requirements, but they hope you will go beyond that and learn how to present an argument, think critically, and solve problems. –Repeating back exactly what was said in class shows you understand the information, but may not demonstrate your ability to apply it

Course Syllabus Each course will have a syllabus Use this tool to find out what the professor expects from his or her students The syllabus should become your new best friend as it contains important information like: –Course outline –Schedule of due dates –Responsibilities and requirements (readings, textbooks) –Procedures (in case of illness, absence, etc.) –Grading policies

How do I Address My Professor? Always address your professor formally, as Dr. X or Professor Y, unless they invite you to address them by their first name If unsure, just use “professor” or check the course syllabus to see what their title may be You should always properly address your professor in written communication ( s) and face-to-face interactions

When sending s to your professor, be sure to use good etiquette Use a salutation, like “Hello Dr. X” Identify yourself – give your full name, the name of the course or course code, the section number you are in etc. Be professional and cordial – do not use text message slang or short forms and fully explain your question or issue with detail Do not be hostile or aggressive with your communication – explain your concern or situation rationally to get the best results in a positive manner Etiquette

Avoid making spelling or grammatical errors – proofread your to make a better impression Write in the subject line - include the topic, your name, or course number in the so the professor knows what the pertains to Always use your UWindsor address -other accounts will be sent to the professor’s junk mail and they may not respond Allow your professor time to respond -if you send an at 12:30am about an assignment due the next day, do not expect an immediate response. - Professors need to sleep too and they are not available 24-7 to answer s Etiquette continued…

Can you spot which s follow the Etiquette tips? Hey prof! why did i get a D on that paper? Hello Dr. Banner, I would like to make an appointment with you to discuss some problems I am having writing my paper on Teen Eating Disorders for your course Please let me know a time that is convenient for you. Thank-you, -Sandra Hadler Hello Dr. Banner, I would like to make an appointment with you to discuss some problems I am having writing my paper on Teen Eating Disorders for your course Please let me know a time that is convenient for you. Thank-you, -Sandra Hadler I cannot believe the mark you gave me on assignement! It was amazing paper and I deserve at least and A! this is unaccepteable and you need to change my grade right now! OMG! -Greg Good afternoon Professor, When I got my assignment back for the course section 1, I was a bit disappointed with my grade. I worked really hard on this paper and did not get the results I was hoping for. Can I come see you during your office hours to discuss my work? Perhaps you would be able to give me some suggestions on how to improve for the next assignment. Regards, -Ken Raymond Good afternoon Professor, When I got my assignment back for the course section 1, I was a bit disappointed with my grade. I worked really hard on this paper and did not get the results I was hoping for. Can I come see you during your office hours to discuss my work? Perhaps you would be able to give me some suggestions on how to improve for the next assignment. Regards, -Ken Raymond

Talk to Your Professors! Get to know your university professors Approach them after class, visit them during their office hours, send them an Why? What’s in it for me?

Talk to Your Professors continued… Professors know lots of people in your chosen discipline. A lot of professors are well-connected (e.g. people at other universities, government and private sector) Summer internships, post-college jobs, and events where you can network Professors have lots of students and you’re one name among many. Making personal contact outside of class can help in terms of evaluation, feedback on assignments, and the inside track on research projects

Talk to Your Professors continued… Professors know the literature in your field. –Directing you to books, articles, films, and other valuable resources Professors know the various career paths in their field. –Some students approach graduation every year with no idea of what they should, could, or want to do next –A professor can help you understand the potential of your degree

Talk to Your Professors continued… Professors can help straighten out administrative issues. –they know how things work on campus or can refer you to a person who can help –It’s always worth a shot! Professors write letters of recommendation. Whether you’re applying for a scholarship, heading to graduate school, or trying to get your dream job, having a reference letter from a professor who knows you well can be a huge benefit

Why Ask Questions? Why not! You have nothing to lose but an opportunity to learn! Ask questions about things you do not understand or want to know more about – they are the experts! It can be intimidating to ask questions, especially in a large class, so save your questions for their office hours, or send an . Professors are impressed by students who take the time to ask insightful questions, or any questions at all. It shows that you are engaged in your learning and want to succeed.

Be Aware of Your Professor’s Pet Peeves Whining –Students who whine about the workload give the impression that they are lazy –If you have a complaint or a conflict, approach the situation as respectfully as possible Text messaging your friends in class –Yes, this is a creative and technology savvy way to pass the time. However, when you send a text message, it says to the professor, “You’re boring and I don’t want to pay attention to you.”

Professor’s Pet Peeves continued… Chatting –This isn’t high school. Chatting during class will also annoy your fellow classmates. Turning in papers without staples –Nothing says, “I don’t care about my work” more than a paper with crinkled corners –The way your work is presented gives the first impression. Make it a good one! Chronic lateness/ leaving class early –This is distracting to the professor and other students. If there’s a good reason as to why you are going to be late or leaving class early, let your professor know.

Professor’s Pet Peeves continued… Calling professors at home –Unless your professor invites you to do so, this is an invasion of privacy Failure to turn off cell phones –Put your cell phone on vibrate or turn it off. Practice good cell phone etiquette on campus. Your professor doesn’t want to hear your new cool ring tone. When students ask “will this be on the exam?” –It tells the professor that you only care about your marks rather than actually learning the course material

Poor etiquette –Don’t send s to your professors with spelling and grammatical errors. Use spell check before clicking the send button. Blowing off appointments –If you make an appointment with your professor, do not blow them off! Your professor is a very busy person Professor’s Pet Peeves continued…

References Rockler-Gladen, N. (2006). How to annoy your professors. Retrieved from ssor Stepcase Lifehack. (2009). Back to school: Talk to your professors. Retrieve from your-professor.html