Having taught four semesters (18 credit hours) as an Adjunct Geography Professor at Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville, VA, I have come up with a few conclusions about the relationship between a students and their professors. These few points are intended for both students and aspiring professors. As a student, remember these so that you can walk into the classroom with confidence that you are an adult. As an aspiring professor, keep these tips in mind as your prepare for your student’s.

  • A student’s work has value beyond the classroom.
  • Student’s should tailor their work, papers and presentations, to the class not the professor.
  • The professor is no more intelligent than you. They have only read more than you.
  • The professor should not view themselves as a lecturer but as a developer of colleagues.
  • Conversations are more informative than lectures.
  • Its not what you know, but how to find it.
  • Focus on quality, not the grades.
  • You learn more by being wrong than you do by being quiet. Speak Up!
  • A student is an early stage of professional life and should be expected to act and work in a professional manner.
  • A professor should be able to use the tools of their students and vice versa.
  • To Reiterate: A student’s work has value beyond the classroom. The professor’s job is to show the student that value.