Physics professor Frank Gasparini does not understand why more students do not attend office hours. Sophomore computer science major Jeff Kaplan does not see why he should.
"Not as many as I would like come, and I don't get it," said Gasparini. "I let my students vote on when I should have my office hours and I also offer small group seminars."
"My English teacher is late to appointments and he takes too long during appointments," said Kaplan. "His class is bad enough and I'm not learning anything, so why should I go to his office hours again?"
While all UB professors are mandated to have at least two office hours per week, the degree to which the time fulfills the purpose of offering assistance outside the classroom varies widely.
"I believe office hours allow students to make the connections of what they are learning, because there is only so much you can do in a lecture," said Gasparini.
Some students, however, feel it is the instructors who are responsible for the ineffective office hours.
"I disregard their invitation because I went to a teacher's office hours once and she wasn't there," said Nathalia Fotine, a sophomore Italian major. "I'm guessing since no one ever goes to see her, she sometimes figures not to attend."
Using office hours can also depend on a student's performance in class. Some feel independent and confident with their class work and have little need for guidance. Others use office hours to further explore or clarify class materials.
"The vast majority don't bother coming, only those few who need special help come by," said George Barnett, professor of communication.
"For the first time ever I used a professor's office hours," said Diana Basic, a sophomore accounting major. "I had to for accounting because I got so lost and it was so helpful."
Some students who are intimidated and hesitate to directly address a professor in class, use the informality of office hours to ask questions they would be uncomfortable raising in class. Other students said they found the one-on-one setting of office hours more intimidating than the classroom.
Instructors point out that office hours not only permit students to improve their comprehension of class materials, but provide instructors with valuable advice on their teaching and course content.
"Office hours are excellent feedback for me," said Stephen Cavior, a mathematics professor. "I get to know what I need to emphasize more and I get to know how the students feel about the pace that I am teaching."
Students who are reluctant to communicate with their professors sometimes turn to teaching assistants, who are typically closer to undergraduates in age, for additional help.
"It's not a matter of intimidation at all, professors just seem to be too busy and TAs have more time and seem to be more available and helpful," said junior Becky Lai, an accounting major. "I think TAs should have more office hours because it is easier to communicate with them."
"I feel I know it all plus my professors' office hours conflict with my class schedule," said Ricky Johnson, a freshman psychology major. "If I do go it will be to my TA's office hours because they are more like me and younger."
Chris Post, a communication TA, said professors have busy schedules and depend on TAs to be the immediate help for students.
"It depends on how available the professor is and obviously the TA knows less than the professor, but we do the time-consuming stuff," said Post.
Another reason students may prefer to turn to TAs is because they tend to be more lenient than the professors. According to Post, some students try to take advantage of TAs' goodwill in order to reduce their own workload.
"We are always available and helpful, but it's their study tendencies," said Post. "We give them review sheets and they still complain, always asking for more and more hints. They just come to us to try and cover their poor grades or absence, it's always last-minute things with them."
A further hindrance to faculty-student communication is the recent rise of e-mail. Students frequently rely on e-mails to communicate with their professors instead of attending office hours.
"I really don't understand why they choose this approach," said Gasparini. "A student once e-mailed me because he was having problems printing my class notes. The funny thing though was that he was asking me why I think his printer was not working, instead of calling CIT."
"Students want to come by when it is convenient for them to come," said Barnett. "They have e-mail and Blackboard on UBlearns so they have no reason to come."
Barnett said he does not encourage students to attend office hours because he takes class time to address questions and concerns.
"We have too many students and not enough teachers in UB. The students-to-teacher ratio is too large. That is why I don't have time to get personal with all the students," said Barnett.
Photo: Breadchastick / Wikimedia Commons
