What Faculty Want... (and what they don't want)

This Fall (2012) I was part of several panel discussions for new college freshmen. The panelists were college faculty, and they were discussing the topic “What Faculty Want (and what they don’t want)”. Basically, the professors shared suggestions and advice as to how to be successful in college.

I’ve been doing these panels for 3 years now, and every year attendance increases. While increased student interest is gratifying, I think the most valuable part of the discussions is the opportunity for students to see faculty in a different role from often authoritarian role they appear to take on when in their own classes. In these discussions, they are just one of four or five people volunteering their time to share ideas and suggestions aimed simply at helping students succeed. I think the students who attended (hundreds of them), view faculty a little differently now, than those not in attendance. And I am always surprised at the degree to which the faculty are eager to give up their time and advice. Although it may sometimes not seem like it, I guess college faculty really are regular, every-day people!

Here are pieces of advice picked up from one professor or another (in no particular order) during the course of these panel discussions.

Under the topic of “What Faculty Want” from you:

Your attendance (at class) and attention (in class)
Get to know your professors (first week of class)
Ask questions (in class and afterwards)
Be prepared
Study at least a little every night (or day)
Re-write your class notes later the same day
Exercise and eat healthy
Take ownership in your education
Work hard in the classroom like weightlifters do in the gym. Build the mental muscle now that you’ll use throughout your life.
Respond when a question is asked
Be responsible
Be engaged
Be present
Be alert
Be on time
Be respectful
Be persistent
Be helpful
Be seen
Be heard
Be disciplined
Have a balanced life
Quickly learn to manage your time
Treat school like a job
Use the daytime hours and the time between classes to study (few students do)
Make your world smaller by getting out and meeting people – your professors and other students
Read the syllabus
Participate in class (ask questions, give your opinion when appropriate, etc.)
Spend time in college with people who are different from you
Look for useful information in every class – something you can use in the rest of your life
Get acquainted with those who sit around you in class
Communicate with your faculty – get to know them and give them the opportunity to get to know you
Be careful of social media (because employers will take a look at it when you graduate)
Get involved in service learning
Be wary of the rumor mill
Put learning first
Keep up with the reading for classes
Watch the piercings
Remember that faculty will have additional duties outside of teaching your class (i.e. teaching other classes, advising, research, service, administrative duties, their life, etc.)
Have fun and explore the world (both literally and figuratively)
Time management and discipline are critical to success in college

Under the topic of “what they don’t want”:

No hats or pajamas in class
Attending class, but not paying attention
Students who do not communicate with faculty
Don’t post anything on social media that you wouldn’t want your grandmother to read
Don’t let your pride prevent you from getting help if/when you need it
Don’t record lectures or use a laptop/tablet in class without asking first
If you use a laptop/tablet in class, don’t surf, Facebook, or e-mail
Don’t wait til the last minute to study or ask for help
Don’t ask any of the following:

Is this going to be on the test?
I missed class the other day. Did I miss anything important?
Do I need to buy the book?

Great quotes from faculty:

“In a family, you are loved just for showing up. In college, it’s a meritocracy. You are expected to work, and those who work harder get ahead”
“General Education classes are intended to help you to understand the greater world”
“You need to know a lot outside your major to be successful in life”

Special thanks to Professors Angle, Bays, Jordan, Lancaster, Lucas, Miller, Parsons, Rhinehart, Self, Senat, Sharda, Shaw, and Vanoverbeke at Oklahoma State University for sharing their time and wisdom.

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