Talking to Your Professors

In college, faculty hold the academic fate of students in their hands – they create the course content, decide how it will be presented, and design the methods to assess whether or not students have met learning goals. (Roberts, Park, Brown, & Cook, 2011). Faculty are also directly responsible for providing many of the accommodations needed and used by students with learning disabilities and ADHD.

Positive interaction with your professors has been identified as one of the keys to student success. Micari & Pazos found that the student–faculty relationship may be even more important in courses that are "highly challenging and anxiety-provoking" (2012). Research shows that having a constructive student-faculty relationship can result in better course grades and course confidence (Micari & Pazos, 2012) and can have a positive influence on academic motivation (Trolian, Hanson, Jach, & Pascarella, 2016).

Professors Are People Too!

Don’t be intimidated! Your professors are regular people. Some are outgoing and approachable, others not so much. Regardless, you want to get to know your professors, and let them get to know you. Communicating with students is part of a faculty member’s job. That’s why professors’ contact information and office hours are listed on the course syllabus! Most faculty enjoy talking to their students, appreciate when they ask questions, and want to help them succeed. When you talk to your professors, they can share additional knowledge and opportunities with you. If they know you fairly well, it is easier for you to ask for a recommendation later, and easier for them to write it.

Things to Talk About

There are lots of reasons why you may need to speak to your professor. You may want to discuss your academic accommodations. You may have a question about something discussed in class or on the course syllabus. You may have concerns over an upcoming exam or want to ask for help on an upcoming assignment. Maybe you need an extension on a due date. Perhaps you want to know more about the professor’s field of expertise and the kind of internship and job opportunities that are available.

What’s the Best Way to Communicate?

It depends on the professor! Most professors list their communication preference on the course syllabus and/or mention it during the first few classes. If possible, try and use their favorite mode of communication - but any way you can get in touch is better than not talking to them at all.

No matter how you choose to communicate, be sure to address them appropriately! If your professor has a doctoral degree (PhD, EdD, etc.) they may want to be called “Dr. (last name)”. Whatever their academic rank (Full or Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Lecturer) it is generally acceptable to call them “Professor (last name)”. Some may ask you to call them “Mr.” or “Ms.” or even by their first name. Again, check the syllabus, and listen for their preference on the first day of class. You don’t want to use only their first name if they except to be called something more formal. Here are some additional dos and don’ts for how to communicate in various situations.

In ALL Situations

Whether you pop in for office hours, see the professor in the cafeteria, or send an email, introduce yourself, especially if it is early in the semester. Something like “Hi, I’m Ali from your Tuesday/Thursday Biology 101 class” will help the professor align you to a class so your question will make more sense. It takes a while for faculty to learn the names of all their students especially when they may be teaching multiple courses each semester. It might also be impossible if they have classes with over a hundred students.

Before/After Class

 Professors may be really busy at the start of class, setting up technology, getting their notes arranged, and preparing activities. If they look busy, it may be better to wait until after class. If another class will be using the same room right after your class, they may also need to turn things off, grab their stuff, and hurry out so the next class can start on time. Just be aware that they may not have time to talk until you all leave the class. If you try and talk to a professor before or after class, you should introduce yourself unless you are sure they know who you are. Don’t assume they know you and stroll up and ask, “Did you get my email?” Better to say, “Hi, I’m so-and-so, did you get my email this morning?” Then at least they can check their email for your name and won’t be embarrassed if they don’t know it yet. DO NOT ask when their office hours are – they are listed in the syllabus.

Via E-mail

If you send your professor an email, check that the email address is correct. Include the course name and number in the subject line - something like “IT 101 002 Quick Question”. Address the professor in email the same way you would address them in person. If they want to be called Doctor, a formal salutation like “Dear Dr. Patel” or a more casual “Hi Dr. Smith” will suffice. It’s always safe to use Professor, like “Good Morning Prof. Jones”. In the body of the email include your name and request but don’t be demanding. Being polite will help you build a more positive student/faculty relationship! Remember to use proper grammar and to not be too casual – it’s not a text message to a friend. Thank them and sign your name. Here’s an example:

Hi Professor Avery,
I am in your M/W/F English Lit class at 10:30am. I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about the upcoming project. I have another class during your office hours, but I was wondering if there is another time we could meet. I am available Tuesday and Friday mornings if either of those work for you.
Thank you,
Millie Duncan

Proofread your email before you send it! Be aware that you will probably not get an immediate response. The syllabus may tell you how long it will take for the professor to get back to you.

In Office Hours

All faculty have regular weekly office hours which are listed on the syllabus. You do not need an appointment to attend office hours, but you may want to let the professor know you will be stopping by if there is a particular topic you want to discuss. Faculty expect students to drop by to ask questions, get help, or just talk. When you go to office hours, bring your computer, your question(s), and something to take notes. Introduce yourself when you come in unless you are sure that the professor knows who you are. If there is already someone talking to the professor, wait your turn unless your professor invites you in.

About Personal Issues

If life events are affecting your ability to do course work – PLEASE NOTIFY YOUR PROFESSOR. It is far better to alert them so they can help develop solutions for you. You do not want to appear negligent. Be clear and honest about the situation. Your professor can work with you to grant an assignment extension or schedule an exam retake if appropriate, or at least take your circumstances into consideration when grading.

About Bad Grades

If you are disappointed or surprised by a grade, communicate with your professor as soon as possible, but wait until you are calm and rational. Review the instructions or rubric and prepare questions before you meet. Be respectful, truthful, and non-defensive. Accept responsibility for things you could have done differently, and let the professor know you care about the class and will try harder going forward.

Professors Do Not Read Minds!

Your professor cannot know something is wrong if you do not tell them. Most of the time, problems can be quickly resolved if you speak up. It can be hard for students with ADHD to initiate a conversation and to ask for help. But stepping up to talk to faculty is an important part of self-advocacy. If you communicate respectfully with them, they will do the same with you. Respect them for their experience and expertise. Be open to their suggestions, and do not be afraid to ask questions.

---

Sources:
DePaul University Department of Sociology. (n.d.). How to Talk to Your Professors. From DePaul University College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences: https://las.depaul.edu/academics/sociology/student-resources/Documents/how-to-talk-to-professors.pdf
Micari, M., & Pazos, P. (2012). Connecting to the Professor: Impact of the Student–Faculty Relationship in a Highly Challenging Course. College Teaching, 41-47.
Renstrom, J. (2015, July 28). How to Talk to a Professor — Explained by a Professor. From Noodle.com: https://www.noodle.com/articles/how-to-talk-to-a-professor-explained-by-a-professor
Roberts, K. D., Park, H. J., Brown, S., & Cook, B. (2011). Universal design for instruction in postsecondary education: A systematic review of empirically based articles. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 24(1), 5-15.
The Learning Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (n.d.). Talking with Your Professor. From The Learning Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/talking-with-your-professor/
Trolian, T. L., Hanson, J., Jach, E., & Pascarella, E. (2016). Influencing academic motivation: The effects of student-faculty interaction. Journal of College Student Development,, 810-826.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne Department of Economics. (n.d.). How to Talk to your Professor. From University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne Department of Economics: https://economics.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate-program/academic-student-support/how-talk-your-professor
Wax, D. (n.d.). Lifehack. From Advice for Students: How to Talk to Professors: https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/advice-for-students-how-to-talk-to-professors.html

Images:
Professor writing behind a stack of books: Photo by Cottonbro from Pexels
Student and professor in office hours: Photo by Antoni Shkraba from Pexels
Student on sofa working on laptop computer: Photo by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels
Student and professor: https://collegetidbits.com/4-keys-to-talking-with-your-college-professor/

---

Specific questions and topic suggestions can be emailed to questions@ADHDinCollege.com.

---