Office hours: the block of time that professors are mandated to be available to assist students outside of class. But how effective they are in solving class-related issues is highly dependent on the participation of both the professor and the student.
One of the major complaints students have about office hours is that some of the their professors do not bother to show up. Conversely, professors complain about how students never drop by, so why should they waste their time waiting for people who will never show?
Among the factors underlying these questions are insecurity and procrastination. In class, some professors come off as unapproachable due to difficult lectures, curriculum, or downright intimidating behavior. Therefore, students may fear that raising questions will reflect poorly in a face-to-face meeting with their professor. The other situation involves students who have questions about certain assignments or a test, but delay them until the 11th hour. As a result, they purposely avoid office hours out of the fear that the professor will perceive them as irresponsible.
This is a destructive mentality that should be dispelled. It almost boils down to an issue of self-esteem. It is university policy that every professor must devote at least two hours per week outside of class to assist students in need. At the beginning of every semester, most students receive a syllabus that clearly lists when the professor is available. The idea of office hours is so ingrained into the system that students who have concerns are meant to use them as second nature.
Although some student doubts have valid sources, any hesitations about attending office hours should be set aside. They are a requirement and solidify the working relationships the professors should have with their students. If no one shows up, professors have no way of knowing how well they are teaching.
Professors who do not receive any feedback from students outside of class certainly have no incentive to spend two hours sitting alone in their offices. But skipping out on office hours only confirms the idea that certain professors are unapproachable. A new class of students enters the university every year, so long-term professorial absenteeism operates only to perpetuate the idea that student attempts to attend office hours are futile.
At the end of classes, students will often swarm a professor with a range of questions. In all likelihood, this is the most ideal time to hold office hours, and professors should strive to make sure at least one of their sessions is held directly after class. This is simply a matter of convenience and relevance. It's much easier for students to speak to their professor when a professor is readily available, and when course-related issues are fresh in their minds.
Older professors remember a time when students were less apathetic about their courses. In the "good old days," students enthusiastically attended office hours not just to address problems, but also to discuss and learn more about particular topics. But they should also keep in mind that in the 1960s and '70s, higher education was often an act of personal choice. These days, a college degree is almost essential for a successful future, and more students attend because they have to. It is inevitable that some students will not care at all about certain classes they have to take.
But this should provide incentive for professors to raise their own standards and offer more interesting lectures. By the sound of it, some of them haven't changed their curriculum in years. It's up to the professors to give the students something worth discussing.
