My stepfather used to say that anytime you get a new boss, you should ask what his or her greatest pet peeve is and then never do that thing.
I’ve relayed the story to many students. I’ve even used it as a lead-in to discuss some of my own pet peeves, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I thought about using it to help students succeed in my classes and others.
Trust me on this one, a lot of professors have the same pet peeves. So, understanding mine probably can help you in many of your classes. So, in the spirit of setting you up for success, here are 12 Ways to Tick Off Your Professor.
1. Losing or failing to read the syllabus
Professors spend hours planning, updating and tweaking each course’s syllabus. I spend an average of four hours on a syllabus, even if I’ve taught the class before. I take the document seriously because I consider it a contract between the professor and the student. I outline all of my expectations in the syllabus and assume I am setting students up for success. Most other professors do the same. So, it really makes professors angry when students don’t read the syllabus and ask questions about items specifically addressed in the document. Keep it. Love it. Cherish it. Live it.
2. Taking value away from classmates
No student should be allowed to impede another student’s learning. This most commonly happens when students make loud noises (on purpose) or talk to others during class. This rudeness really gets me worked up. Students who take value away from other students are removed from my class—immediately.
3. Inappropriate use of technology
I’ve had cell phones ring many times in my classes. I had one student whose cell phone rang while she was giving a group presentation. Another student actually answered her cell phone in my class. All of this despite my strict policy against cell phone ringers or alerts being on in class.
And texting, checking email or chatting on social media during class—don’t even get me started! You are not surrounded by an invisible force field. I can see you and so can your classmates!
Inappropriate use of technology makes my head spins in a complete circle all Exorcist style. It is rude to the professor and to other students in the course. We’re not so important that we can’t make it through a single class without communicating via technology.
4. Missing deadlines
Journalists work on deadlines. I teach journalists. There’s not much more to say about that from my perspective.
Most professors are stringent about assignment deadlines. Failing to meet deadlines puts the professor in the awkward position of penalizing your grade, failing your or giving you the unfair advantage of having more time than your classmates. All of these alternatives are negative for the professor because you miss the learning objectives of the assignment, are off the course schedule and have altered his or her grading plans.
5. Discussing grades in class
This is the student equivalent of discussing how much money you make with your coworkers. It’s just poor manners and a bad idea. It shouldn’t happen.
6. Coming to class without supplies
Professors typically will indicate whether you need to bring your book(s) to each class, so that’s not really what I’m discussing here. But it makes no sense when students come to class without pens or paper. You will need to write something in every class session. Perhaps nothing grates on my nerves worse than students who come to class unprepared and beg supplies from classmates. This shows arrogance and a lack of concern about the course and your peers.
7. Asking to print
I can’t stand it when students come to class to ask permission to print. The assignment is “done,” they just need to print it. If it’s not printed, it’s not done. You missed your deadline (See No. 4). Just a bit of advice, if you wait until right before class to print, printers across campus will spontaneously combust. I guarantee it. Professors want you to print in advance.
8. Giving excuses
Professors aren’t interested in hearing all of the reasons you can’t do something. Just do it. When I hear excuses, I automatically think “everybody’s got problems.” I can’t help it. My pity meter is broken.
9. Being late
My father says, “if you’re five minutes late, you might as well be five hours late because it means the same thing.” It means you didn’t care. You think whatever you were doing is more important than what is scheduled. Being late is a sign of arrogance. Be reliable. Show up on time. Being on time also sends an important message. It says “you can rely on me.” It shouts competence, which professors love.
10. Asking ‘Did we do anything?’
It’s rare that a student makes it through an entire semester without missing a class. Many of these absences are legitimate with causes like illness or car trouble. Whether the absence is excused or not, the approach to gathering information about the missed class session is one of professors’ greatest pet peeves.
You should never ask your professor something like, “I was absent for the last class session. Did we do anything?” Most professors have the same mental response to this question. It’s something like, “No. You weren’t here, and we just couldn’t go on learning without you.”
So, how do you find out what you missed in the class? Ask the professor the right way. Say something like “I was absent for the last class session. I got the notes from Amy. What else do I need to do to catch up?”
Being proactive about asking for notes or assignments from other students and asking this question correctly alters the professor’s response from snarky to helpful.
11. Not problem solving
Students have more access to information than ever before. If you don’t understand a concept or the way something works, look in your notes and textbook first. If you still don’t understand, try consulting what my coworker calls “the Google machine.” Don’t get me wrong, professors want to help you, but they also want you to take an active part in your learning. You can have a more informed discussion with your professor once you’ve clarified what you don’t know and separated what you understand from what specifically still confuses you. In other words, don’t run straight into your professor’s office every time you discover and issue. Try to solve your own problem before you ask for help.
12. Sighing and whining
Sometimes it seems students think that if they sigh and whine when a professor starts to give an assignment that the professor will forgo the work. It’s almost like they think the professor will say, “Oh, I was going to give this assignment. I planned it all semester. But, since you sighed, I’ll just skip it.” It doesn’t happen that way. You probably just tick the professor off.
In relation to this topic, sitting in the professor’s office and whining also does not help you accomplish your goals. The time you’ve spent griping could have been used toward solving your problem instead of wasting you and your professor’s time.
I know it’s a lot, but it really all amounts to professionalism. Students reflect in the classroom how they will behave in the workplace. The prompt, prepared and professional students are the ones professors want to recommend for great jobs.
Ann Marie Shackelford says
Oh, Kenna – it’s like we live in a parallel universe. From someone who has advised student publications for 23 years, please allow me to give you a standing ovation for this post. You absolutely nailed the Top 10 in my book. If you don’t yet have a fan club, you must & I will be the president. Prepare to become famous.
My only question? May I please share this with the Baconian News Team? I will give you credit, your name in lights, etc. They need to see that I am so not the only person who shares this sentiment.
I give you great admiration,
Ann Marie Shackelford, Associate Professor of Journalism
Faculty Adviser: The Baconian, Baconian Online
Bacone College
thekrg says
Ann,
You are WAY too kind. Of course you can share this post with your students. It takes a village, right?
There is one other thing I thought of, but it’s not so much a pet peeve as it is a requirement. Any time students go anywhere with me (a conference, speaker event, awards ceremony, etc.) they are required to wear business attire. I do this because I will be introducing them to potential employers, references and sources. This isn’t so much a peeve because it’s not optional. If you want to attend an event with me, you will dress up. If not, stay home.
I’m also a big fan of my student editor dressing professionally at all times. This doesn’t mean that I expect the EIC to walk around campus in a suit, but I also don’t want to see him/her in sweats or PJs. They represent the pubs, me, our department, and the school. They are a figurehead at the university. They need to dress as such. As I was taught, you dress for the job you want, not the one you have.
I hope the post helps! Thank you for your kind comments.
Kenna
DelaneyKirk says
I ask my students the same thing…wouldn’t you want to know your boss’s pet peeves the first day? I go on to say I’m just trying to model successful behavior in the workplace.
Oh, and can I add “buy a stapler” to your list…your teacher (or boss) will not be impressed with dog-eared corners to your papers.
thekrg says
And don’t come in late and then interrupt everyone who is actually working to talk about how sorry you are for being late. I thought of that one just this week. It’s a constant process, I guess.
Thanks for your comment!
Kenna
Dan says
I don’t think you could have picked a better picture for this post. What a stare!
These ten commandments are hilarious and absolutely true. I’m very proud to say though that these are not really hard to follow. I have always appreciated your transparency, how you clearly lay down your rules and expectations right from the start.
Prof KRG says
I don’t think they’re unrealistic at all. A lot of it is common courtesy. Of course, you didn’t have a problem with it because you are a good student who wants value from his education. I always think it’s best to put my expectations out there and set the students up for success at the beginning of the class. Hopefully we all have a better experience that way.
Thanks for your comment, Dan!
Dave Schwartz says
Regarding No. 3, I make it very clear on my syllabus that if your cell phone rings in class, you lose one point of your final total for every person who hears it. If it’s a 20-person class with 1,000 total points, that’s 2 percent, which is often the difference between a + or a -.
Prof KRG says
That is an excellent policy! The problem today is texting more than ringing. It drives me nuts!
Thanks for reading!
Doc_1 says
Good post, Dan. These are all things which can easily translated into our working lives.
I love #10. People feel that you need to change your whole agenda or plan because they are uncomfortable, or just don’t want to do it.Thanks
Doc_1 says
Good post, Dan. These are all things which can easily be translated into our working lives.
I love #10. People feel that you need to change your whole agenda or plan because they are a little uncomfortable, or just don’t want to do it. Thanks martinamcgowan
mgable says
Maybe it’s different in college, but as a high school student who values education I can tell you that we don’t think like you regarding those last three.
#8: Yes, “My dog ate my homework” is annoying and pointless (though it has been known to happen), but most of what teachers label as “excuses” are valid reasons and as long as they don’t disturb class there’s no reason why teachers shouldn’t be able to hear the students out. Your class is important, but it’s not the most important thing ever, and frankly, your arrogance in assuming that tempts students to not do their work simply out of spite.
#9: I hate it when student’s are late, too, especially if they make a fuss about it, but sometimes it can’t be helped. For example, my school gives us five minutes between classes. I was stressed out for two years because right before a class where the teacher expected us to be ready and in our seats well before class started, I had art with a teacher who seldom noticed when class ended and who always demanded we stay late. Did I mention that the classrooms are as far apart as it’s possible to be in my school? And again with the arrogance about your class; you should just continue to teach the class so your other students don’t hate you, then take it up with the tardy student after class.
#10: Students don’t groan about assignments because they think you’ll change your mind, they do it for two reasons. They know it annoys you and misery loves company, and they’re hoping that you’ll take the level of their groans as feedback and consider whether or not that particular assignment is the best way to teach its lesson, because everyone learns best when they want to learn (and if you’re assigning busy work then shame on you!)
I figure you’re probably cursing me as an uppity twerp right now, because I’ve learned it takes a certain type of teacher (usually the best) to take blunt criticism calmly, but whenever you’re mad at someone, whether a student or a commenter, just remember that respect is never given, it must be earned.
profkrg says
@mgable An “uppity twerp?” Absolutely not. I appreciate your feedback.
I don’t mean to sound insensitive to student concerns. I also am understanding of legitimate issues. However, I do prepare students for an extremely competitive and deadline-focused industry. I consider it a great part of my responsibility as their professor and academic adviser to prepare them as professionals. In other words, I often think of it as “If I don’t teach them these things, who will?” Missing deadlines, being late to client meetings and having a poor attitude about assignments will get them fired in the media industry.
I have high expectations of my students and, for the most part, they live up to those expectations. I also reflect this level of professionalism in my own actions.
Thank you for your comment. I appreciate the time you spent on crafting your response. I also think varied opinions are essentially to greater understanding.
Kenna
profkrg says
@Doc_1martinamcgowan Thank you for your response. I can’t imagine people whining or sighing in the professional world, but I’m sure it does happen. Thanks for reading!
Kenna
PhilipASC says
I don’t know the culture of where you are working, Professor, but I had a friend get fired for writing a list like that in that tone. I’m sure she’d envy you your ability to do so with impunity. Me, I am glad you communicate so frankly and am sure your earnest students appreciate it, too. I’m curious, though, about whether you’ve encountered any blowback about your tone from administrators.
profkrg says
@PhilipASC No, I have not received any negative feedback about this post from my administrators. Honestly, I don’t think there’s a single thing here with which they would disagree. The expectations for our students are great. I like the idea of putting them out there up front. I’ve been using this for a couple of years now, I think. Not a negative word about it other than what you can read below. Kenna
JohnniePeyton says
I am a graduate student serving as a teacher’s assistant in the undergraduate institution from which I just graduated in May. I actually simply Googled “Why don’t students read the syllabus” and this list is one of the first things that popped up. Currently being on both sides of the line really helps me see frustrations on both ends, and I found this list to be hilarious and informative from both a teacher’s and student’s point of view. Thank you for sharing; with your permission, I plan on implementing this list or creating my own later on in my career.
profkrg says
JohnniePeyton I’m glad you enjoyed the list. I encourage you to use it! Kenna
asauertieg says
This is great! I will share with my students when classes start next week. A few of my peeves: Asking for an absence to be “excused,” ignoring my emails, asking me to come in to see them on a day I’m not teaching when I’ve been trying to reach them for weeks, asking for extra credit, begging for a grade change, telling me they won’t be able to play their sport if I don’t change their grade, missing more than 1/2 the classes and expecting to pass…not showing up on the day of their presentation, not showing up for the make up exam, not showing up for an appointment they’ve ask for…I guess that’s more than a few…
asauertieg says
mgableDon’t you think calling the author (who you don’t even know) arrogant is arrogant in its own way? And what makes you think you are qualified to say whether a particular assignment is the “best way to teach a lesson?” I’ve had students complain about assignments only to come back after it’s completed and admit that they really did find it useful. However, I do solicit feedback from my students and sometimes change assignments if I see that they have outlived their usefulness. And by the way, your last sentence goes both ways. I wish you luck in college!
asauertieg says
profkrgMartina McGowanmartinamcgowanMy friends in business tell me that they get much whining and sighing from entry level employees. This kind of behavior (what I call the “have it your way” school) often continues after students graduate. They expect all sorts of accommodations, just as they did in school.
profkrg says
asauertieg I hope students take it in the helpful way it was attended. I’ve also done a post of what profs do that irritate students. Maybe I’ll rework that one too.
It seems the things you listed above also are all about respect and professionalism. That grade change thing just shouldn’t happen, but it does. I’m not sure what students think sometimes, but it is our job to teach them to know better.
Thanks for reading and commenting. Good luck this semester!
asauertieg says
profkrgRespect and professionalism! Absolutely. I tell my students that this is their job and I expect them to treat it as if it were. I like the idea of opening up the conversation both ways. I am sure I do things that irritate my students… 🙂
Hope you have a good semester, too. I wish I had time to keep up with my blog, I started it last year and haven’t posted since then.
Hailey Michelle Holloway says
I feel like I could have written this list for you.
Prof KRG says
That’s impressive since you only had one class with me. You must have learned a lot! 😉