Connecting with Your Professors

Secrets for Success in College - Part 1

Communicating with your professors

Professors generally like connecting with students who are interested in their subjects and want to learn.

Many professors believe that students who perform better are ones who ask for extra help.

Like communication in general, sometimes it can be problematic to get the specific information you need.

This section will help you get what you need from your professor.

Connecting with your professor in person

How Not to Talk to Your Professor

This is a picture of where to click on the video to get close captioning (cc) and to make the picture larger (rectangle) or smaller (4 arrows in rectangle pointing to the center)

Pierpont's How Not to Talk to Your Professor Video

Below are PDF options of transcripts of the video above How Not to Talk to Your Professors

Table Version

How Not to Talk to Your Professor Video Transcript Table.pdf

Story Version

How Not to Talk to Your Professor Video Transcript Story Form.pdf

The student and the professor were frustrated.

The student didn't know what the professor wanted, and the professor didn't know how to ask in such a way that provided the student with answers.

Talking to Your Professor – Who to Contact 1. Is your professor the right person to contact? • General school questions like how you check your class grades or how to add or drop classes should be asked to Student Services (304) 367-4907. 2. Double-check your syllabus • Before contacting your professor, make sure the information is not in the syllabus, on an assignment spreadsheet, or online. • Check with another student (who does well in the class) about questions like assignment dates and times.

Talking to Your Professor – How to Contact 1. Types of Questions • Questions with short answers should be asked through email or after class. Things like, "Is this assignment due next week?" or "What books are required for this course?" Double-check your syllabus • Questions with long answers should be asked in person. Things like, "Why did I receive this grade?" 2. Determine the type of contact • Check your syllabus to see how the professor wants to be contacted. • If your professor has office hours and you are free at those times, go then. If you are not free, ask for an appointment. o It is a good idea to let the professor know in advance that you will attend and what topic you need to talk about. • If your professor wants students to make appointments to meet, do that. o Be specific when you request a meeting. "Do you have time this Wednesday morning or Thursday afternoon?" • If your professor wants to be contacted by email, do that. o Your emails should be as brief and specific as possible.

Talking to Your Professor – How to Communicate 1. Prepare before you meet • Have the attitude that your professor wants to help you. • Write down questions you need to have answered and take them with you. • Have specific things to discuss like: o Questions about course content o Needing additional help o Appealing a poor grade o Asking for an incomplete • If you have questions about an assignment or exam, bring it with you. • If you have questions about course materials, bring your textbooks or copies of PowerPoints with you to reference. • If you want your professor to review a paper or assignment, send it to her/him in advance and give them a week or so before meeting with them to discuss it. o When you send it, specifically ask what you need. For example, "Could you give me feedback on my thesis and how the paper is organized?" 2. Show up on time for an appointment • Enough said. 3. How to talk with them • Call them by their correct title (e.g., Dr., Ms.). If you are unsure, use Professor. • Tell the truth. They all have heard about the dog who ate the homework. • Alert them before things happen so you can put plans in place. • Be clear and concise about your questions or needs. • When asking for a favor, be respectful. Use phrases like, "Would you mind..." or "Would it be alright..." • Be ready to do any work that you missed. • When you don't understand what is presented in class, politely ask for clarification. "I'm sorry, I'm not sure I understood that" or "Let me make sure I understand, you are saying..." • For in-class questions, if the professor thinks it would be better to answer the question individually, she/he will let you know. See them after class. • When you have the information or help you need or if your professor begins to focus on something else (e.g., shuffling papers, looking at the computer), it is probably time to leave. o Say "Thank you," pick up your things, politely say goodbye, and leave.

If you would like to print a paper copy,

click below to access a PDF version.

Talking to Your Professor - Who to Talk to.pdf

Talking to Your Professor - How to Contact.pdf

Talking to Your Professor - How to Communicate.pdf

How to Talk to Your Professor

Pierpont's How to Talk to Your Professor Video

Below are PDF options of transcripts of the video above How to Talk to Your Professors

Table Version

How To Talk With Your Professor Video Transcript Table.pdf

Story Version

How To Talk With Your Professor Video Transcript Story Form.pdf

Connecting with your Professor by email

NOTE: Check the class syllabus to see how your professor wants you to contact her or him and use that.

Contact your professor using your Pierpont email only.

This is a picture of the top of an Outlook email showing from, to, Cc, Bcc, Subject, and Send.

Put identifying information in the Subject Line

Include a brief description of what you need (ex., Question about exam time; Problems with the discussion board; Missing Class Wednesday 4/3/23)
Put the class name (ex., ENGL 1108 - 004)
- Since there are many ENGL 1108 classes, the CRN number of the class (004) is included. All classes have CRNs (Course Reference Number). The CRN is the unique number for each course. You can find your CRN number on ROAR under your student schedule.

The content of the email

Appropriately address your professor

Use the professor's preferred title, like Dr. Morgan or Ms. Clark. If you are unsure, use Professor with the instructor's last name (ex., Professor Smith).

This is a "business" conversation

Don't begin with "Hey" or use text symbols like 'U' for you or 'BTW' for By the way.

Briefly state exactly what you need.

Keep your paragraphs short so people will be more likely to read them.

Be direct and to the point

Avoid statements that add little value to the point you are trying to make.

Use Spell Check and re-read your message

Correct any errors before you send the email.

Include complete contact information

Make sure to include your full name and your Pierpont ID number.

Example of an Email to a Professor

This is a picture of the top of an Outlook email with jdoe4@student.pierpont.edu in the "from" section and tmartin@pierpont.edu in the "to" section. The subject is Question about Assignment 6 - ENGL 1108 004

Dear Professor Martin,

My name is Jane Doe, and I am in your online English class. I read through the instructions for Assignment 6 (Autobiography) in Blackboard, which is due this Friday. I am unsure about the timeframe you mentioned. Can you please clarify if the essay should include events during a certain age range (ex., elementary school) or if it is to cover events over my lifespan (ex., birth to today).

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards,

Jane

Student ID: R00762354

How long should it take for an instructor to respond?

1 Business day

Ex. If you send an email on Friday, you should expect a response on Monday. If you don't receive it on Monday, send a follow-up email on Tuesday.

If the instructor does not respond, contact,

Support Services: 304-534-7878 or access@pierpont.edu

Student Success & Completion: mdobbs@pierpont.edu

Information provided by Academic Affairs

Don't wait till the last minute!

If you wait to take a test, submit an assignment, or work on something on Friday evening that is due Friday night, you might have a problem if you need information from your instructor.

If you have questions that come up that will affect your performance or your ability to submit the assignment or take the test, you might not hear from the instructor in time to complete your work, and you might lose the grade.