On a campus of roughly 30,000 students, it’s easy to feel lost among the vast number of people seeking higher education. This is especially true when many of us are non-traditional students with jobs, families and other commitments off-campus. Because of this, it’s important to know how to navigate through the crowds and make the most of the college experience.
One of the most important skills that we can master is the ability to stay in contact with our professors. Whenever questions arise about coursework or assignments, it is in our best interest to get those questions answered thoroughly and in a satisfactory manner.
Professors are and should be the first go-to person in case of confusion over course content or a lecture topic. While forming study groups and having contact information for fellow classmates is important, knowing when and how to get in contact with your professor is vital.
Using email is one of the best ways to get questions answered. Assuming that an urgent, immediate reply to a query isn’t necessary, a quick email will likely produce good results. However, there a few rules that must be followed to ensure a speedy response.
Remember that professors receive dozens, perhaps hundreds of emails every day. Be very clear in your subject line so that your email will stand out. Keep your email short, professional and to the point. If a professor doesn’t answer your email within two or three days, send a polite follow-up.
If all this fails to generate an adequate response, or you need an answer quickly, visiting the professor during their office hours is the logical next step.
The Oregonian recently reported that Portland State ranks near the bottom in professor accessibility. This was based on an unscientific poll conducted by the Princeton Review, in which college students were asked a single question relating to professor accessibility. PSU was ranked seventh worst.
I must say that in my short time at PSU, I don’t share that opinion. All my professors are easily accessible and keep their office hours as promised.
My philosophy professor has been extremely accessible, staying after class to answer questions and direct students to further readings that might assist in understanding the course material. She keeps office hours as promised.
My computer science instructor has taken the time to sit with students to answer questions on programming and other lecture subjects, and he has been more than willing to help students overcome stumbling blocks in the homework. His office hours are kept, and he welcomes all comers who have questions or concerns.
Likewise, my math instructor has stayed after class, answering questions and providing extra examples. She also keeps her office hours and is happy to answer questions during that time.
Of course, some professors have a preferred method of contact. For instance, I had a calculus instructor who carried a cell phone that was just for student questions. We were to email him only after an attempt to call him failed. So, keep that in mind.
We have a responsibility to get the most out of our college education. PSU is a wonderful institution and makes learning easy and accessible. As long as we, the students, know how to access the vast amount of information at our disposal here on campus, our time will be well worth it.
