As a college student, building relationships with professors and other staff or faculty on campus is very important. Students who take the time to connect with their professors will find themselves enriched by the experience both academically and personally. Professors and faculty have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with their students. They can provide you with additional resources if you are struggling in a class, serve as mentors, inform you of interesting opportunities in their field, and write valuable letters of recommendations for jobs, internships, and study abroad programs. Getting to know professors may seem intimidating, but it is important to remember that professors teach because they love working with students. Read on to find out about easy strategies to build relationships with professors during your time here at Dartmouth and beyond.
Strategy #1 - Read Your Syllabus Carefully
A syllabus contains a lot of useful information. Ideally, you should read it at the beginning of the term to gain a better understanding of what the course will be like and also how the professor operates. You typically find the time and location of office hours, if X-hours are used and for what purpose, and whether there will be tutorials, recitations, or study sessions run by professors by reading it. You can also find out how the professors like to communicate with students, whether that’s through email, Canvas, or Slack.
Strategy #2 - Engage, Engage, Engage
Students will receive many benefits from engaging with professors during class and by attending office or X-hours. However, many students don’t go to office hours because they feel a bit intimidated or don’t know what they should say. Try bringing a classmate or friend and refer to some of the talking points below to get you started. Don’t forget to say thank you when you leave!
- Professor, I had a few questions about the material we covered in class. Could you tell me more about ___ ?
- I’m interested in studying ___ , do you have recommendations about what classes I should take or opportunities I should be on the lookout for?
- Professor, could we discuss my latest assignment or exam? I was wondering ____
- I would like to understand this topic better. What additional resources would you recommend?
- Hi Professor, could we go over the expectations for ____ assignment or exam?
Strategy #3 - Participate in the “Take a Faculty Member to Lunch Program”
Dartmouth offers students $50 vouchers to take their professors out for a meal. You can use this voucher by yourself or with two other peers to dine at the Pine restaurant or FOCO once per term. This is a great way to get to know your professor outside of class and learn more about their background, research, and other interesting topics!
For more information, visit this link: Take a Faculty Member to Lunch | Undergraduate Deans Office (dartmouth.edu)
Strategy #4 - Don’t be afraid to reach out!
Try asking questions in class, sending an email discussing your interest or inquiries about the material, and/or coming to class early/staying late to discuss something you found intriguing in the lecture. These are simple but great ways to reach out to your professor that can go a long way!