For two and a half years, RPI has been my life. It has been the place where I’ve learned academic, social, and leadership skills. Through professors, staff members, and my peers, I’ve learned more than I ever thought I would when I entered college. This past year has been difficult emotionally. While I could never ask my friends for more than they’ve done, I would really like to take a moment to thank the professors who have helped.
I recently realized that there are some decent professors. One could ask, what has made me truly appreciate them?
I appreciate the efforts made by a faculty member who goes around to each group to make sure everyone understands the concept while we work out in-class problems. While this may seem like a normal scenario, this professor has 80 of us to deal with. I didn’t realize how much he really tries to put interesting and worthwhile information in each lecture, so that we will get involved with the class and are more motivated to learn the material.
I also appreciate the professors who really get to know their students one-on-one. Those who care enough to find out why you don’t have a smile on your face; or dedicate the extra time to help you truly master a skill or concept.
It is these few people that have kept me motivated lately. While there are a few that have truly influenced my life positively, there are so many more that have made me dislike academics here at RPI.
My first encounter was with a professor who did not post office hours for the first half of the semester. When he finally did post them, I went, asked a question, and he started nodding off. Now, I understand everyone has a bad day, but I just played it safe and went to the TA for the semester.
The worst situation has been this semester. I have a professor who is by far the laziest, most obnoxious one I have ever had here at RPI. First, each lecture costs a great amount of money. I want to be lectured by the professor, not by the professor’s post-doctoral student or a teaching assistant. I can understand if a professor has to go out of town for a few days, someone must fill in. However, when it’s on more than one occasion and the professor is in the class, I think it’s uncalled for.
Secondly, I cannot believe it when a professor sees a student with their hand raised and then after the TA is free from helping another student, directs the TA to the student, instead of helping the student himself.
Third, when asked a question during or after class, his favorite response is “You don’t ask the questions, I ask the questions.” This is on top of not explaining problems in class because “we should know that.” We don’t need to be called stupid because I don’t understand concepts. The saddest part of this whole issue is that with the exception of switching sections—which is sometimes not possible—it feels as if there is not much I can do as a student to improve this situation.
In closing, the point that I would like to make is that as students, we do care how professors treat us. We pay crazy amounts in tuition dollars, how can we not be short-changed?
