July 23, 2026
On one of the whiteboards in my lab, my lab manager started a tradition of putting a "Question of the Week" up for all the students (and me) to answer. Some of them are serious, some are fun (If Prof. Sobel was a vegetable, what would he be? - best answer, a Brussel Sprout). That lab manager has moved on to graduate school, so I have taken upon myself to put up a new question every week (well, every other week - I'm not great at this). But this week's question was the following: What is the unofficial halfway point of summer?
My answer: When students start to email me about the Fall semester. The first of those emails happened on Monday (which is what made me think of the question). The second and third happened on Tuesday. And the fourth happened today. The one today was special, because it mentioned that the student wanted to see me in office hours this week (over Zoom). And that email made me realize something, I've never written about office hours.
My daughter (17) was watching one of those GRWM videos, and the woman in the video was talking about the five things she regretted not going more in college. One of them (#3) was not going to office hours. Yup. I agree.
What are office hours? It's pretty simple: During the semester, professors usually set aside 1-2 hours a week to be in their office and work. Students can drop in and talk to them. They know that the faculty member is going to be there. There isn't an agenda. There often isn't a line (except the week before an exam). It's just a conversation. It can last 45 seconds. It can last 30 minutes (eventually, professors will kick you out). It doesn't matter how long it is. It's an opportunity for a professor to (a) learn who you are and (b) get the help you need. And even if you don't need any help, item (a) is much more important. Office hours are a great way to get to know a professor, and to get that professor to know you. If you want a job, a letter of recommendation, or just a better grade, familiarity is incredibly important. And there's no risk. We don't hold it against you if you show up. We are not that busy. Frankly, usually we are lonely and bored. We're just sitting there. (usually, I read during OH when I don't have students).
So, show the %!@$ up. This isn't high school where your friend will make fun of you if you talk with a teacher outside of class (and if your friends did this, then maybe think about your friendships). You don't have to be our friend (we don't want you as a friend). We are there to provide a service. Not taking advantage of that service, is a missed opportunity, particularly when there is lots of good research that says that familiarity breeds positive thoughts.
FWIW, here's what I write on my syllabi regarding office hours (and my translations in bold):
Office Hours. Please feel free to visit me or the TAs during our office hours (listed above). These are hours that we dedicate each week to being available to answer questions pertinent to the class. There are, however, some important guidelines for office hours:
1) Due to the size of the class, we cannot guarantee that you will have unlimited time. We try to see students one at a time, but if there is a long line, we will limit the length of your appointment. This is particularly applicable during exam preparation, where group office hours are common. (i.e., respect other students)
2) My office hours will start promptly at 3pm but not earlier. If I am working in my office with the door closed at 2:45pm, it is because I am working and am not available to meet. My office hours will usually end at 5:00pm because of family commitments. (Note, I normally hold office hours from 3-5pm on Tuesdays. At Brown, classes should not be scheduled Tuesdays at 4pm, so I know that this is a time when students will not have academic conflicts). (i.e., respect my time)
3) If you are unable to make office hours because of a regular conflict, we will try to provide you with an appointment at another time during the week. You will probably not have control over the time of this appointment. (i.e., I will respect your commitments, but you also have to respect mine)
4) Although we are happy to answer any question to clarify your understanding, we will not repeat information. We will not give lectures again because you did not attend a class meeting. The goal of office hours is to clarify and extend discussion, not rehash material already covered in class. If you are confused about material, we will ask questions to resolve your confusion. Your responsibility is to be prepared to answer these questions. If you miss class, that means completing the assigned readings, studying the lecture slides, watching the video capture, and/or obtaining notes from a peer. The general rule is to come to office hours with specific questions about the material, if you want help with the material. (i.e., you must take an active role in your education)
5) Office hours may be canceled or rescheduled without notice, usually because of a family emergency. If this does happen and you need an appointment during that time, I will make a point of finding an appointment for you on your schedule, particularly if the matter cannot wait until the following week. (Sometimes $%@$ happens. If you want me to accommodate you when $%@$ happens to you, you need to accommodate me in a similar circumstance, but I'll take the initial step).
BUT... there is one caveat to this, which appeared in the fourth paragraph of the post. Go back and reread it.
It starts with the phrase, "During the semester..."
I've written before about advising matters over the summer. But just as a reminder: Professors don't hold office hours during the summer. Remember, we are on nine-month contracts, so we aren't paid for June, July, and August unless we are teaching, and then our office hours is only for the students in our classes. There shouldn't be an expectation that students can reach us during that time. Nor should there be an expectation from students that we are engaged in service (like advising) on a timely schedule during that time. However, some faculty have roles that require summer contact with students - I was in one for years when I was Director of Undergraduate Studies. My new role as Honors Advisor (which I was officially named to on Wednesday, but one that requires some coordination, and will not officially start until the middle of August, but which I'll dedicate at least 1-2 new entries coming soon) has this responsibility as well (certainly one of the emails I got this week was about honors, and I will respond in a timely manner), but probably after I finish writing this entry,
And FWIW, I like Brussel sprouts.