5.6 Working with Instructors¹

Of all the teachers you’ve had in your life, which one do you remember most fondly? If you’re lucky, you’ve got someone in mind—a teacher who encouraged and inspired you and perhaps played a role in shaping the person you are today. That same teacher could well be thinking similar thoughts about you! For every favorite teacher, there is also a favorite student. The satisfaction often goes both ways.

In this section, we look at ways in which you can cultivate rich and rewarding relationships with your instructors, and also resolve conflicts, should any arise. Solid student-faculty relationships are foundational to a successful college experience.

The following video, from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, looks at the value teachers and students place on connecting with one another.

Benefits of Communicating with Instructors

College students are sometimes surprised to discover that instructors enjoy getting to know students. The human dimension of college really matters, and as a student you are an important part of your instructor’s world. Most instructors are happy to work with you during their office hours, talk for a few minutes after class, respond to emails, or engage in online discussion boards. Instructors want to see you succeed in the course they teach and beyond.

The following video, from the University of British Columbia, shares faculty perspectives on some of the many reasons why students might want to talk to their faculty or to teaching assistants (TAs).

Communicating with your instructors can be among your most meaningful experiences in college. One of the many benefits is that it can help you feel more comfortable in the course they are teaching. When you and your instructor know one another, it is easier to ask questions and inform them of difficulties you are facing in and out of the classroom. There will also be a few instructors that teach multiple of the courses you are required to take for your degree.

Communicating with instructors is also a valuable way to learn about an academic field or a career you are interested in. Maybe you don’t know for sure what you want to major in, or what people with a degree in your chosen major actually do after college. Most instructors will share information and insights with you. Because instructors are often well connected within their field, they may know of a job, internship, or research opportunity that you wouldn’t otherwise know about. You may also need a reference or a letter of recommendation for a job or internship application one day. Getting to know some of your instructors puts you in an ideal position to ask for a letter of recommendation or a reference later on.

An instructor who knows you is a valuable part of your network. Developing a trusting relationship with them early in your college career will help you for years to come.

Guidelines for Communicating with Instructors

Getting along with instructors and communicating well begins with attitude. Remember that a college education is a collaborative process that works best when students and instructors communicate freely in an exchange of ideas, information, and perspectives. There is no need to fear them. As you get to know them better, you’ll learn their personalities and find appropriate ways to talk to them.

It’s good practice to communicate early and often. Introduce yourself on the first day of class. Ask questions about an assignment at least 48 hours before the due date to give them time to respond. Let them know when you will miss class or if you have extenuating circumstances that require an extension on an assignment. Students regularly assume this type of communication is unnecessary or bothersome to an instructor, but it actually shows that you are invested in your learning, which your instructor will appreciate.

When communicating verbally or through writing, always be professional and respectful. Being overly formal may feel unnatural at first, but it can demonstrate respect to your instructor when you are first getting to know them. Unless the instructor has already asked you to address them as “Dr. ____,” “Ms. _____,” or Mr. _______,” or their first name, it’s appropriate to say “Professor _______.” Once an instructor informs you how they’d like to be addressed, address them as such moving forward. Your interactions with your instructor may become more informal as the semester progresses and you develop a relationship with them, but it’s always good to play it safe and communicate in a formal, professional manner.

Remember to respect your instructor’s time, as well. In addition to teaching, college instructors participate in committees, conduct research and other professional work, and have personal lives. It’s not appropriate to arrive a couple minutes before the end of office hours and expect the instructor to stay late to talk with you. Understand that the instructor will recognize you from class. If you spent a lecture hour not paying attention or if you skip class, they will most likely remember that.

Prepare before meeting with your instructor. Go over your notes on readings and lectures and write down your specific questions. You’ll feel more comfortable, and the instructor will appreciate you being organized. It will also decrease the chance that you leave your professor’s office without getting the answer to an important question. Be prepared to accept constructive criticism in a professional way, without taking it personally or complaining.

Don’t try to fool an instructor. Insincere praise or making excuses for not doing an assignment will rarely play in your favor (they’ve heard it all before!). Nor is it a good idea to act like you’re “too cool” to take your classwork seriously—another attitude that’s sure to put off an instructor. To earn your instructor’s respect, come to class prepared, do the work, genuinely participate in class, and show respect—and the instructor will be happy to reciprocate that respect and courtesy to you.

Effective Email Communication with Instructors

Just as digital messaging has become a primary form of communication in business and society, it has a growing role in education. Email has become an important and valuable means of communicating with instructors.

Most college students are familiar with digital messaging, such as email, texting, and messages via the online-course learning-management systems like Blackboard. Using digital messaging respects other people’s time, allowing them to answer at a time of their choosing. However, digital communication with instructors is a written form of communication that differs from communicating with friends.

Your instructors expect you to use a professional, respectful tone and fairly formal style. Writing emails to professors should follow the same format and styling as if you were writing a letter. The language you use should be similar to that for a course paper, avoiding sarcasm, criticism, or negative language. Abbreviating words, slang, ignoring capitalization and punctuation, and not focusing on grammar or using full words or sentences is common in texting. This is not an appropriate style for communicating with instructors. Be concise in your writing. If your email is multiple paragraphs, it may be best to meet in person instead of emailing.

It’s recommended to use your university email address instead of a personal email address if possible. This will make it easier for the instructor to identify you or look up information if necessary. Include something in the subject line that readily communicates the purpose of your email. “ACAD 102 Questions” says something that “No Subject” does not. Address digital messages as you do a letter, beginning with “Hello  ____,” and ending with a “Thank you” or something similar, along with your name and student ID number Don’t forget to proofread your message before sending it. If you need to send multiple emails back and forth with your instructor use the  “Reply” function instead of starting a new email. This will keep your conversation in one thread, making it easier to refer to at a later date. Following these technical steps will help eliminate confusion and increase the likelihood of getting your message answered.

Another recommendation for written communication that applies in many settings is to be cautious about sending emails when you are angry. It’s easy to fire off an email when you are in a heightened emotional state that can come across as rude or threatening. If you are upset about a grade, written feedback, or an experience with a classmate or instructor, give yourself a few hours before sending an email. A good night’s sleep may even help. After some time to calm down and collect your thoughts, you will most likely write a better message that still expresses your feelings, but in a more constructive way.

Below you will find an example of an email that does an excellent job of communicating with a professor, as well as an example of an email that would need some edits before sending.

Example of an A+ Email

Example of a D- Email

Conflict-Resolution Strategies

The most common “conflict” that students experience with instructors is feeling that they’ve received a lower grade than they deserve. It can be disappointing to get a low grade, but try not to be too hard on yourself or your instructor. Take a good look at what happened on the test or paper and make sure you take the time to gain clarity from the instructor so you can do better next time.

If you genuinely believe you should have a higher grade, you can talk with your instructor. How you communicate in that conversation, however, is very important. Instructors are used to hearing students complain about grades, and they will likely patiently explain their standards for grading. In general, instructors seldom change grades, but having the conversation can still be a  worthwhile experience.

Before you meet with your instructor, go over the requirements for the paper or test, as well as any comments they provided. Be sure you actually have a reason to evaluate the grade—not just that you want the grade to be higher. This is a situation where setting up a one on one meeting with your instructor is most appropriate. For face-to-face classes, don’t try to talk about your concern before or after class. You will most likely want ample time to state your case and fewer people around while you do so. You should also be prepared with specific talking points to explain why you believe your assignment should have earned a higher grade.

Begin your time together by stating that you thought you did better on the assignment or test (not simply that you think you deserve a better grade) and that you’d like to go over it to better understand the result. Allow the instructor to explain their comments on the assignment or grading of the test. Raise any specific questions, or make comments at this time. For example, you might say, “I really thought I was being clear here when I wrote . . .” Use good listening skills while your instructor provides feedback. It can be hard to not take it as criticism of you personally, but try to remain positive and see their notes as ways to improve your performance and skills in the future.

Ask what you can do to improve the grade, if possible. Can you rewrite the paper or do any extra-credit work to help make up for a test score? While you are showing that you would like to earn a higher grade in the course, also make it clear that you’re willing to put in the effort and that you want to learn more, not just get the higher grade. If there is no opportunity to improve on this specific project, ask the instructor for advice on what you might do on the next assignment or when preparing for the next test. You may be offered some individual help or receive good study advice, and your instructor will respect your willingness to make the effort—as long as it’s clear that you’re just as interested in learning as you are getting a good grade.

When it comes to communicating with instructors, practice makes perfect. It can be scary to connect with an instructor for the first time, but it will get easier over time. If you don’t click with one instructor, don’t let it affect your perception of all instructors. Limiting communication with an instructor rarely benefits you. Regular, professional interactions with your instructors will help you develop rapport, enhance your learning, and may even benefit you long term in getting into your preferred career field.

Citations

1. College Success. Authored by: Linda Bruce. Provided by: Lumen Learning. License: CC BY: Attribution. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/lumencollegesuccessxtraining2/chapter/working-with-instructors/#return-footnote-1170-1