Hillsdale College’s greatest resource is its professors. Experts in their field, our teachers on campus have a wealth of knowledge for curious scholars to tap into.
But Hillsdale professors are often more than lecturers. They are mentors and counselors to many of their students, from philosophical discussions to life advice.
Office hours are the prime time to speak with professors, from asking about the next paper to clarifying a topic from class to talking about future careers and jobs.
Unfortunately, only students enrolled in a professor’s class typically know when those are. Although some professors post their schedule outside their doors, many times it is a guess and check process to meet with a teacher.
Since the provost’s office requests professors submit their class schedules and office hours each semester, the college should post them where students can access it such as on the myHillsdale portal or on Blackboard. It would promote better communication between professors and students, without bogging down email accounts with requests of when office hours are.
A master list would be a convenient way to find the information for those with a Hillsdale account. It would avoid students running up and down Delp Hall to check schedules outside professors’ doors and be helpful to the students who lose their syllabi.
Office hours for some professors are often fairly quiet, especially outside of essay season. Having convenient access to their availabilities may encourage more student-professor relationships, as well.
Many professors are in their offices for longer than posted hours, but a guarantee that they will be on campus is beneficial for busy students scheduling their weeks and for those who live off campus.
Students should reap the benefits of being at Hillsdale while they can. That means building relationships with their professors. Making access to office hours easier would strengthen Hillsdale’s community.
