Dean Cahen on Promoting Respect Between Students and Faculty

While you’re away on Spring Break, Dean Cahen weighs in on how to have productive conversations with faculty members, both in person and via email.

1.)  Be Direct and Concise

Speak and write in complete sentences. Ask questions in complete, thought-out sentences.

For example: Instead of saying, “I do not understand” or asking, “How do you do this?” it is preferable to ask a specific question of your faculty member.

Our time is extremely valuable (as is yours!), so instead of approaching a conversation with a broad question and spending five minutes trying to understand what the question is about, come to a meeting after thinking out your goals and objectives.  The more specific you can be in your questioning, the better the chance of getting the answer for which you are looking.

2.)  Ask Yourself Before You Ask Your Professor

Never ask a question about a homework/test problem that you have not tried to solve and have thought very little about.  It becomes obvious very quickly that the student has put little preparation into understanding the subject matter they are having an issue with and once the student is given the answer, it is unlikely that the level of learning by the student is what the teacher wants.  Learning is a two way activity!  The teacher presents the information and the student needs to put the effort into getting the information understood and learned.  This does require equal efforts on both the part of the teacher and the student.

3.)  Grade Comparisons

Do not discuss and compare grading of a fellow student’s homework or test to yours (usually because you lost more points) with a faculty member unless you are prepared to have the other student’s paper re-graded…..perhaps to a lower grade!  More often than not, there were other reasons not noticed or understood that were responsible for the lower grade.

4.)  Multiple Graders

In large classes where there are multiple graders used for different sections, realize that there will be variations in the sections’ grading.  In most cases the faculty adjusts grades to account for this variation.  Please be aware that this does happen, but efforts are made to minimize impact.  Nasty comments do nothing to change or correct this inevitable issue!

5.)  Course Subject Matter

At most Universities, faculty members design the courses that the students take.  I have seen some students who assume that they know better about what subject matter should be in a course.  Keep in mind that considerations are being taken into account that the students know very little about.  Unfortunately, students frequently tell faculty that they do not need some of the material taught in a class or that something should not be taught…..you should avoid this mistake and respect the experience and expertise of the SEAS faculty.

6.)  Importance of Email

When as faculty member writes an email to students pertaining to a class, the student should take the time and carefully read the content and pay attention to the details that are included.  Do not read this message on a small screen while walking and perhaps talking with friends out in public where other distractions will keep one from understanding the details of the message.  Take the time to read the message preferably on a large screen where there is little chance that some detail will be lost.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email Dean Cahen at glc@virginia.edu, but make sure that you've thought out your questions before you reach out to him!

Dean George L. Cahen is the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and the Director for Experiential Programs and Engineering Outreach. He is a Professor in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering and the Department of Engineering & Society.