November 2004

Briefly speaking: Meeting with professors

Statistics professor Francisco Samaniego helps junior Rosemary Tsai work through some homework problems. (Tony Novelozo/Axiom)

Students spend hours each week listening to professors lecture. Yet many are hesitant to engage their instructors in a one-on-one conversation.

Aggie Family Pack asked Professor Francisco Samaniego, who last year won the prestigious UC Davis Prize for Undergraduate Teaching and Scholarly Achievement, to share his thoughts on why he encourages students to get to know their professors.

It's important for students to understand, early on, the statistics professor says, that their professors really want them to grow and to succeed and are eager to help them through any rough spots they may encounter.

Students can sometimes get stuck on a problem or a concept, he says. Talking with their professor directly and in person can help them work through those issues before they fall behind in class. Better yet, it may put them in a position to do outstanding rather than just good work.

Tips on making that connection

The ideal time to make contact is during office hours -- those regularly scheduled times when professors are available for students to drop in and introduce themselves, ask questions or seek advice.

Professor Francisco Samaniego encourages students, like math major Rosemary Tsai, to meet with him during office hours. (Tony Novelozo/Axiom)

Samaniego suggests that the best time for students to introduce themselves is early in the quarter, when office hours usually aren't crowded. He points out that these initial contacts make it easier to return with questions as the course progresses.

The professor also encourages his students to e-mail him with questions about lectures, homework or the class in general. This style of communication is easy and non-intimidating, and often serves as an icebreaker for future conversations in person.

Professors also get a lot out of interacting with students. "The benefit of office hours really goes both ways," Samaniego says. "Students who come to see me serve as barometers of how the class is going."

Letters of recommendation

The visits also allow professors to get a more complete picture of the student's interests and abilities, Samaniego says. This is important, for example, when a student later asks for a letter of recommendation.

Good letters of recommendation, Samaniego says, usually include information about the student's curiosity, whether they are good thinkers and what kind of creativity they've demonstrated. These traits are often revealed during informal conversations outside of class.

"You can't comment about such things when writing on behalf of students you've never had the chance to talk with," he says. Seeing professors outside of class can also be a good way for students to learn about academic and career opportunities.

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