It can be very stressful when you feel you and one of your professors aren't seeing eye to eye. It is also understandable that the power dynamic of "this person assigns my grade" can leave you feeling intimidated and hesitant to talk to your professor. However, learning in college is not only about academics, but also important life skills. It is an essential skill to be able to appropriately communicate concerns and seek resolutions directly with the person you are having an issue with, even when there is a power differential, as the same will be true in many workplace dynamics in your career. That is why if you're having trouble with a professor, the first thing you want to do is talk directly to that professor.
Tips for Talking With Your Professor
Communication will be most effective if you enter into the conversation thinking of this person as someone you want to work together with to solve a problem, rather than an adversary. Let that mentality inform how you approach the conversation, including your demeanor, tone, and the words you choose.
Be clear: let the professor know how you are feeling and what resolution you would like to work toward.
Come to the conversation prepared with ideas of how to address the problem. It's not fair to dump a problem on someone, whereas coming with ideas shows you are willing to put in effort and to work collaboratively.
At the same time, understand that your ideas are not the only way to resolve the problem. Just as you would like your contributions to be respectfully heard and considered, be willing to show the same consideration for the ideas your professor has. This is also where acknowledging the reality of the power dynamic is important: your professor does have the sole ability to decide whether they will grant exceptions to plans as laid out in the syllabus; you do not have a say in that. However, you can present your best case, and take heart in knowing that your work will speak for itself and will be the basis for the grade you earn.
If you are feeling nervous to have this conversation, it can help to write down everything you want to say in advance. You can even bring what you wrote with you when you speak with your professor, or email it to them. If you choose to communicate only by email instead of having a conversation, read over what you wrote before sending to ensure that your tone and word choice come across as collaborative.
If you have already tried communicating directly with your professor and are not satisfied with the resolution, you can reach out to the Department Chair for the department that professor works in. The same tips listed above will help you in communicating the issue most effectively to the Department Chair as well.
Center for Academic Success
The Center for Academic Success is a free resource for students located in in suite 124 in Christopher Newport Hall. They can talk through your concerns with you and brainstorm ways to address them, including identifying additional strategies for how to communicate effectively with your professor. They are available for appointments during business hours M-F. Just call 757-594-7684 or walk in and they will set up an appointment for you. You can learn more about the Center for Academic Success here.