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When to Use Office Hours

Clarify course requirements: Carefully read your syllabus and assignment prompts. If you are still uncertain about important dates or other information, ask your professor for help in clarifying.

Clarify course content: If you are confused about class material, ask your professor. Prepare questions ahead of time about your assigned readings or what was been covered in lectures.

Seek advice before starting a research paper or project: Writing research papers in college will require you to practice new and developing skills. You can use office hours to discuss your ideas or approach with your professor to ensure you are meeting the assignment requirements.

Get study ideas: If you are having difficulties studying, your professor may have tips to help your improve your study strategy. Prepare your study materials and notes to show your professor your current study method.

Seek feedback for an exam, a research paper, or project: If you are unsure about why you did not do as well as you expected on an exam, a research paper, or project, visiting with your professor during their office hours is an appropriate time to talk about what you did wrong, what went well, and how to improve.

Discuss grades: If you have questions about why your grade is what it is, visiting with your professor during their office hours is an appropriate setting to discuss your grade(s).

Discuss challenges: If you know you are failing or are thinking about dropping a course, you should immediately contact your professor and ask to meet during their office hours. Your professor may be able to help you find resources and provide advice.

Learn about opportunities: If you are interested in pursuing an internship or participating in a faculty-led research project, your professors will have information about major-specific opportunities. Meeting with your professors, will allow them to get to know you and your interests, which may help them identify future opportunities for you.

Ask for career advice: Your professors are knowledgeable of employment options in their field or industry. If you are seeking a career in their field, seek your professors’ recommendations on experiences that can help you further determine your career path and enhance your resume.

What to Expect

If you have any uncertainties about your course content or requirements or are simply looking for opportunities to become engaged on-campus, visiting your professors during office hours will be key to your success.

Here are a few things to expect when you visit your professors:

Let them know you are coming: While your professors list their office hours in their syllabi, it is a good idea to give them a heads up via email to let them know you will be coming. This will give them time to pull up your work to be able to provide you feedback.

Plan to meet for 20-30 minutes: Depending on how many students will be visiting your professor, you may have less time to talk to them and you will need to be prepared to get to the point of your visit. It is helpful to have your questions jotted down to make sure you do not forget to ask something important.

Office hours schedule conflict: If the standard office hours do not work with your schedule, email your professor to request an appointment. Additionally, if you are unable to meet in person, your professor may be able to provide a virtual meeting option.

Conversation Starters

Career-related questions:

• What type of work can I get with my major?
• What type of experiences or opportunities do you recommend I get involved in to help me prepare for my career/graduate school?
• I would like to apply for this opportunity, would you consider writing a letter of recommendation for me?

Getting to know your professor:

• How did you know you wanted to be a professor?
• How did you balance college, work, and life?
• What is your favorite class to teach?

Course-related questions:

• I am having trouble understanding the material. Could you help me better understand?
• What can I do to improve my grades in this class?
• Currently, I do this to study for my exams, but I am concerned that my grades are not where I need them to be. Do you have any recommendations for how I may modify my study techniques to study more effectively and efficiently?
• What kind of tutoring/assistance is available within this department?
• These are the topics I have selected for my paper/project (provide your ideas), but I am having trouble narrowing them down. Can you please offer some guidance?

Questions about your academic program:

• Does this program require a capstone project or an internship?
• Does this program offer any study abroad or study away opportunities?
• Does this program offer any study abroad, study away opportunities?

Other Ways to Communicate

A professor’s daily routine may include teaching, research, and community outreach all of which require them to be away from their office. To help you determine how to communicate with your professors, refer back to your syllabi to remember your professors’ preferred channel of communication. If you are not able to attend office hours or if you have a minor question, other ways to communicate with your professors.

Blackboard Collaborate: Your professors may provide communication options through Blackboard Collaborate such as instant messaging or video conferencing for virtual office hours.

E-mail: For general questions, course-related clarifications, or to follow-up on a previous conversation, emailing is useful communication tool. It also allows for record keeping in case you need to refer back to old emails to revisit a conversation. However, if you a personal problem you need to discuss or if you need more hands-on assisting, office hours may be more appropriate. Remember, your professors are not connected to their email at all times of the day, so it will take the time before they respond. Here are a few tips on how to write an effective email to your professor:

1. Include a descriptive email title such as “Question regarding the paper that is due next week”.
2. Always start out your email with a salutation “Dear” or “Hello” followed by your professor’s name/title (Dr. Last Name, Professor Last Name, Instructor Last Name, etc.). If you are not sure what their proper title is, check your syllabus.
3. Introduce yourself by including your name as well as the course title, number, and section that you are enrolled in with reference to the message.
4. Use complete sentences and proofread your email for proper grammar and spelling. The more clear your email, the better the professor will understand how to assist you.
5. Conclude your email with a closing such as “Sincerely” or “Thank you” followed by your name.