Why don’t you call? Stop emailing.
Professor Sally Boysen: Ohio State University – PsychologyOffice hour activities include, but not limited to: fighting the man, battling the powers of evil, hanging with chimps.
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March 24th, 2008 at 8:05 am
It is so true that students see teachers as the enemy. Professors are coaches. You join the team (for whatever reason) and you have to do the drills. During the process you get better at your task, you learn something, and you win a few games. Not a bad deal. Teachers look arrogant the way that coaches look arrogant: They stand there with the whistle, barking orders while players take laps. Guess what, kids? Your professors did all the drills and took laps too. They are among the best at their particular “sport.” And they know how to get you to be the best. Just shut your mouths and run, please.
March 24th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
The problem with your line of thinking is that many of the “coaches” that you speak of are out of shape mentally. Meaning, they have spent so much time worrying about research, grant proposals, departmental affairs, and personal issues that there is little time to think about the biggest reason that they became professors in the first place. The student becomes an afterthouhght in the whole process. If our “coaches” could spend more time networking with today’s student and less time trying to advance their own careers, there wouldn’t be the great division between student and professor that we see today.
March 26th, 2008 at 8:35 am
It is my understanding that most professors become professors in order to do research, not to teach. If someone wants to teach kids they become a teacher not a college professor.
March 26th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Christina, I have indeed met the occasional professor who was “creeped out” by the undergrads, or as one, now deceased, grad school professor of mine said, “Periodically, the administration throws me into the pit with the undergrads.” But this was an Ivy joint, which has its own “Profscam” thing going (i.e., grad students perform a good proportion of the grunt work). I believe that profs, for the most part, are dedicated to teaching at all levels and know from the get-go that they’re going to have to work this around their research and the insane, bureaucratic demands that admins place on them. And to follow up on what Dennis said, I think the coaches need to network with their colleagues and discuss tricks of the trade and issues of pedagogy from time to time. Profs are often too isolated.
March 26th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Dont email?? My professors tell us to contact them via email if we are not going to be present
March 26th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
She seems like one of those professors that worry about research more than the progress of the students.
It’s alright though, I’m used to paying thousands of dollars just for professors to reiterate word for word from the text book with a spiffy powerpoint presentation.
March 26th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
I can tell why she is bad from the way she talks and her make-ups.
March 27th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Rate your professor is a democratic way of holding professors accountable with honest and valid feedback. I think professors should be honored to be mentioned and should pay attention. We pay a huge premium for their skills. Professors are effectively employed by students and should be subject to evaluations as their job does not require them to teach, only to know. Students must hold them accountable or no one will.
March 27th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Imagine a professor rating students — oh yeah, they call them grades. I am sorry to say that education is not a consumer product where you, the student, are always right and earn grades by demanding accountability. While I believe the process of ‘rate my professor’ is o.k. it is also completely subjective and therefore subject to cruelty and other various abuses. Imagine reading about students who smell like barnyards and have mouths like garbage dumps and the reasoning ability of 2-year old…it wouldn’t be fair, but it might be accurate. I am a student and I find most of what my contemporaries say offensive and hurtful and a poor reflection of them as students!
March 27th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
I think education and the whole system needs to be looked at closely. Return on investment at the undergrad level is turning upside down every year. The whole economy is making people really think about what they would love to do versus what is going to pay the bills and don’t end up living with your parents forever. Its sad times we live in, but Thank god I am a professor making 100k and you suckas keep paying for this over priced garbage and books. See ya in class.
March 27th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Just like a professor to toot their own horn. Spent all those years to get your doctrine to only make 100k. Pathetic… I’ll only spend 4 years to make that much. I’d rather pay for overpriced garbage for 4 years as opposed to 8. Who’s really the dumbas. See ya as I pas you by in life…
March 27th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Jake,
I like the way you think. That is what you call closure in psychology. Good for you!!!!
March 28th, 2008 at 1:35 am
If the teacher is good at what he/she does then that teacher has nothing to worry about. If a teacher is bad, then he/she will likely have many comments because that teacher has ****** off a great number of students. There is the occasion that a good teacher gets a bad report, but more often than not I have found ratemyprofessors.com to be an accurate portrayal of what I should expect when taking a class from a specific teacher.
March 28th, 2008 at 2:40 am
hahaha
so glad she’s not my professor!!
March 28th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Thank God for ratemyprofessor! I have avoided a lot of mistakes by using it. Granted, there are lazy students who leave stupid comments like “you have to come to class” but for the most part I think RMP is a huge help to college students. I haven’t encountered a prof. yet who was misrepresented by the majority of posts on RMP. Hopefully RMP will make professors improve their game.
March 29th, 2008 at 1:44 am
I think some of these profs are going to realize that their videos are not helping their case.
Me thinks the profs doth protest too much.
March 29th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
John Bailey you act like a student with an unhealthy interest in controversy, but I believe you are smarter, and more kind than that, okay? I am a student, and RateMP rocks, but too many times people use it only to tear others down, as opposed to an opportunity to notice a need, i.e. a person going through something we probably can’t even imagine, and see
March 29th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
“John Bailey” You can do better than that. Why you gotta act like a student with an unhealthy interest in controversy? I believe you can do kinder and smarter things than that. I am a student, and RateMP rocks, but too often people use it to only rail on others. Instead we could note that there is a need: i.e. someone possibly going through something we can’t even imagine. Then let’s act, and be ready for an opportunity to help: i.e. find out how they’re doing, “Really”. A little honest care might do more than we think. Usually a negative word without encouragement is not a good thing. Many of you are very smart. After all, what would Jesus do? John 3:16-17
March 30th, 2008 at 11:11 am
What would Jesus do??? easy question…….hang out…..literally…hehehehehe
March 30th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Wouldn’t want to be Jae.
March 31st, 2008 at 12:01 am
I think RMP is pretty accurate, admittedly there have been some teachers that I’ve liked solely based on their personality but I realize that they’re a bad teacher. Most of the comments here only share the latter but I can’t really blame them, I’d personally prefer a good teacher that I didn’t like over a bad one that I do. As for this particular teacher, you don’t need to look at the comments to tell she’s a bad teacher with a bad personality.
1) In the first response that she did, having office hours and having students come to them aren’t a good reflection of your teaching abilities. For all you know, what you tell them in that period of time could be useless overly complex explanations, or you explain it to them in a manner that’s so condescending that they wouldn’t show up a second time. I can guarantee you they’ll nod to all of your responses just to get out of being spoken down to. I’ve had plenty of both, I.E. a friend once told me he asked a teacher how he could improve his next test scores and the response was, “You’re in trouble.” Yeah…that was real helpful.
2) The second comment…self explanatory. You SEEM conceited and arrogant just based on the WAY you’re responding in these videos.
3) She didn’t deny being crazy, she dodged the statement and related it to a similar topic.
4) She had no response for the one student who probably said “Best Prof Ever!” as a joke. Why? She’s not used to hearing anything of that manner. There’s a reason for that.
Meh, that’s about it. Just ranting and psycho-analyzing a common template of a bad teacher. I can’t believe I’m paying all this money for a one quality teacher in five…
March 31st, 2008 at 12:07 am
One last thing, and this is directed at ‘John Bailey’. Although I doubt you’re really a Prof. based on immaturity of the statement you made, a graduate TA at best, congratulations on supposedly making 100K a year. When you’re taking in your last breath, your final thoughts will be “I made what I think was a large sum of money, doing a job where no one likes or appreciate me.”
I’m sure the feeling that this leaves in your mouth will be pleasant. You’re not a wasted life at all.
March 31st, 2008 at 1:00 am
This is my first visit to this website and I find it very interesting and intriguing. Most of you have, for the most part, hit upon some serious issues that universities and individual professors need to look at: 1) the issue of “out of shape” coaches…how do we keep them in shape?, 2) the multiple and diverse demands on a professor’s time (teaching, research/publication, service to the university and discipline), 3) varying requirements of communication and attendance between professors (e-mail issue), 4) professors perceptions of students, and 5) education as an investment. As a recent grad and someone who has had the good fortune of working at a university helping faculty connect more effectively to students, I would like to say a couple words on each of these issues. I would also like to challenge each of you to use this forum for constructive conversations about the changes necessary both within the system of higher education and in the way our faculty teach and interact with students.
So here’s my two cents, for what its worth:
1) How we keep professors “in shape” is related directly to issue #2. Our system is set up such that professors are required to do research/publish/service to stay current in their discipline and how to apply it to the real world, as their students will have to upon graduation. Universities should perhaps examine their reward structure and offer faculty incentives for “staying in shape”.
2) As already stated, the trio of demands on faculty’s time is to keep them “current”. It is understandable, but also needs to be adjusted at some institutions to reward teaching more. At the same time, students need to understand why their professors have such a variety of demands on their time and need to respect this. I too often have heard students grumble and feel slighted because a professor was not in their office or unable to meet with them, even if they were in their office. Another consideration is that most professors are trained within their academic discipline, not on how to teach. Teaching is learned through a “sink or swim” approach as they complete their PhD (this is where our TA’s come from). So, for those of you rating younger professors, be aware of this. Feel free to anonymously make very constructive comments and suggestions on your end of semester evaluations. If you feel comfortable, you may even want to talk to your professor (either during or after the semester…your choice). If you do this, make sure to be conscious of how you would want someone to tell you to make changes in your work habbits and personality…approach delicately and sensitively, and never attack the professor personally or blame them for anything that may be out of their control.
3) READ YOUR SYLLABUS. I don’t really mean to shout…but yet this is a common frustration of mine as I work with students, many of whom are a year away from graduation. Your employer will give you a lot of information in a variety of formats (phone messages, e-mails, newsletters, conversations, etc.) and they will expect you to acct upon it appropriately and as instructed. Employers do not appreciate being asked about things that are already provided. Your professors are preparing you for employability, they are not there to hold your hand through college. You need to consult your syllabus and other documents from the course to find out how important attendance is, if you should tell the prof. when you will be absent (rule of thumb – think job here – if attendance is required excused absences require communication beforehand), how grades are calculated, how to do well on assignments, etc.
4) Professors are like people…they have a variety of motivations for choosing a particular career and have a variety of personalities. Some professors simply are worn out by many students inability to adhere to those standards set forth in the syllabus (see above), the perception that many students are not in their class to learn but to just get a grade and move on, the number of students who do not show up to class or do assignments who then seem perplexed as to why they may be failing, and many issues that they have a negative view of students. These same professors do recognize the good students though, and it is often these professors who are most delighted by and enthusiastic to help those students who they do encounter who are great or outstanding. Perhaps the vibe you are getting from your professor is related to his/her impression of you as a student.
5) Education as an investment. This is a hot topic of mine and I could go on for awhile. I will try to keep it short: you should not be going to a university so that you can earn more money. Our professors often hope you are going to learn how to learn, how to think critically, how to be engaged citizens, how to apply general knowledge to real world situations, and how to effectively communicate with those around you. If you use those skills to get a job that pays a ton – great. If you use those skills to take a job that you are passionate about – great. If you use those skills to make a living – great. Who said a person’s worth was connected to their net annual income?
Okay- I am sorry about the length…I got on a soap-box. Anyway. Please consider the other side of any issue, as was earlier suggested. Please use this forum to actively discuss bigger problems with higher education and let you professors know what your opinions are, in a constructive and respectful manner. Your professors are reading this.
March 31st, 2008 at 1:29 am
Most professors think that it is polite to let them know when you’ll be out. I’m glad Prof Boysen is not a teacher of mine.
March 31st, 2008 at 8:04 pm
My professors agree with this professor. This isn’t high school.
April 1st, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I’d care more about my research too if I got to spend all day with chimps.
April 2nd, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Apparently college students don’t get sick. Or maybe we’re not allowed to.
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:24 pm
I believe the point of telling you that it’s not necessary to email her if you’re not and unable to attend class is that it’s NOT NECESSARY.
If you’re not going to be there, you’re not going to be there. This isn’t kindergarten, where your mommy calls in and lets the office know you won’t be coming in so that they don’t FLIP OUT and think you’ve been kidnapped.
This is not you JOB, where people are depending on you to come in and do the things you’re paid for.
This is college, and the reality is that if you’re not going to show up for class, no one but YOU is going to care.
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:58 pm
While her attitude of “I don’t care if you are sick” might work for some schools, there are certain colleges where attendance DOES matter. I know that in most of my classes, unexcused absences are factored into my grade. This is more likely to happen at a smaller school, obviously, where the profs know you and can tell when you aren’t there.
As for holding profs accountable, doesn’t anyone else have class evaluation forms? We do them the last day of every class, every semester. I don’t think RMP will ever turn into a tool for accountability, nor should it. I use it as a way of figuring out which extra classes to take, when I’ve already figured out my major classes. No matter how big the school is, you will know from word of mouth which professors are the best within your department, and which to avoid for whatever reason. Beyond your own department is where it gets tricky. When it comes to non-major classes, whether it’s just for fun or to fulfill core requirements, a good professor is vital.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Not sure what the problem is with her responses…..I laughed.
BTW havent met a professor yet that cares if youre not coming to class…..maybe community college….no wait not even there. Get over it….its not like they are taking roll call and its not like calling is going excuse you.
If its serious and youre going to miss tons of time I could see, but if you went out had one too many and have a hangover….sleep it off and get to class the next go around…..no one will miss you
April 5th, 2008 at 9:55 am
This teacher’s response was hilarious….you go girl ! I agree with her…if your having problems then it’s your obligations to see the teacher about it. I have a few boring teachers but the bottom line is there is a book and a sylabus explaning what’s due and when. Go to class, do the work, and if something is unclear ask the teacher. This is the real world now….not mommy’s world. Good luck to everyone that has a bogus teacher right now, but suck it up and don’t take another class with that teacher. Oh…and tell everyone you know the pro’s and con’s…help the rest of us out on rate my professor.
April 5th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
As an instructor it has always been interested how often young healthy college students are ill and need to miss so many classes. Old men who teach classes miss one or maybe classes per semester. How odd.
An employer would typically release an employee who missed so much work.
Also of interest are the malfunctions of printers and computers during times when research papers are due.
April 5th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Now with corrections. Always proofread before hitting submit!
As an instructor it has always been interesting how often young healthy college students are ill and need to miss so many classes. Old men who teach classes miss one or maybe two classes per semester. How odd.
An employer would typically release an employee who missed so much work.
Also of interest are the malfunctions of printers and computers during times when research papers are due.
April 5th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Hey Cindy- I go to a Community College and attendence is required for all classes. Furthermore, many of my professors want us to let them know beforhand if we cannot make it to class.
I agree with Boysen about coming into the office. If you have problems, it is your responsibility to go to your instructer and try to figure it out. Or go to an online tutoring site- many of which are provided for free by colleges, or get an actual tutor. It is the instructor’s responsiblity to relate the information and give you a means of collecting it, it is the student’s job to make sure it is understood.
I don’t understand why all of these professors are getting so affronted by these students’ comments. They should understand that not being liked is an occupational hazard of teaching.
As for sounding “conceited and arrogant,” well, while I would obviously prefer a teacher who saw me as closer to an equal, it is understandable. These professors worked their butts off to be where they are, and they are the ones with all of the knowledge on the subject. In my experience they only come off as arrogant to students who think they know more than the professor or who don’t try. Can you blame a professor for thinking he/she is better than a student when he/she worked hard to reach where they are at and they have a lazy student who obviously is not going to amount to much in life?
April 5th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
I think its pretty said that she downs the kids that Email and tell her they’re sick. I mean some kids may be lying, but at least they cared enough to give her a heads up. Not caring why they are in class shows you don’t care about students! I know I Email my professors if I can’t be in class, b/c MOST colleges have an attendence policy and it’s common courtesy to tell someone if you’re not going to show up. Have some respest for the student, geeze!
April 6th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Informing a professor that you’re missing a class because you’re ill is a courtesy. Just like you would an employer.
It’s important to note that many employers would not allow as many absences as schools do.
April 6th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Most professors honestly don’t care if students miss class, because they’re teaching potentially thousands of students– how are they supposed to be able to notice when you’re gone?
Also, in university, you’re paying for your own education, and if you miss class, it’s your fault that you’re wasting the money that you (or someone) has spent trying to get you educated. It’s not the teacher’s responsibility anymore to make sure you get missed work and are able to do well, it’s yours.
April 6th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Dennis, when you have a job, you will do what your boss asks you to do. As a college professor, I can attest to the fact that instructors do what they are told to do from the powers that be, or they don’t have a job. While students live in their own world, thinking that every instructor has to revolve around them to help them reach their career goals, the instructors have mouths to feed, bills, to pay, and personal goals as well just as students will have when they get out into the working world. Why are professors the most underpaid and the most unappreciated and the most misunderstood of all professions? When I was a student, I understood that my professors were there to hold up a beacon of light in the darkness of my ignorance. It was up to me what I did with the light. In the meantime, I knew they played roles in my institution other than my professor. I knew too that they seldom had a day off without some teaching or administration responsibilities. What other profession do you know requires the employee to work 40 hours at the office and then take home a stack of 50 – 100 essays to grade at home during the employee’s “personal” time? Thank your professors for their hard work and realize that they are in their careers just as you hope to be one day. Support them just as you want support in your chosen profession.
April 6th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
The teachers who care will let you know that they want to be informed (yes this is more likely to occur in smaller classrooms) and the teachers who dont will not. Perhaps the teachers who dont should understand that other professors do and should be more understanding of the students who, albeit incorrectly, believe they are being courteous and/or doing what is expected of them. If it means that much to you as a professor, make a general statement in your syllabus that you dont want emails saying studnts will not attend. Why spend your time ranting about here? Shouldn’t a professor have better things to do and/or rave about then complain about a misconception as innocent as this?!
April 8th, 2008 at 2:08 am
JJ…I attend a community college too (attended a 4 year as a transient student–best of both worlds) and the only reason many of my professors even care about attendance is because of financial aid (you have to attend a certain percentage of class time). Within the first week (add/drop) you have to attend because after that you get a W if you drop but other than that you’re good.
If a professor doesn’t need to know if you’re going to be absent….it doesn’t mean they don’t care, it just means there’s nothing they can do about it. What should they try to convince you to come in or show pity because you’re sick….no. Now if you’ve missed a week or so and come to them to try to catch up and they blow you off….then they don’t care. If you are calling ahead so you can get the assignments that you may miss for those days and they tell you “no I won’t give them to you” then they don’t care. Seriously….what in the world do you expect to accomplish or expect a professor to do if you email and say “I’m not coming today….I’m sick”?
Lets face it….you have a book and a syllabus….I don’t know about everyone else’s, but my syllabus lists sections covered for that week, assignments and due dates. Follow it while you’re sick and all is good, turn it in when you get better or have someone drop it off for you. In all honesty calling into school and calling in to work is comparing apples and oranges.
If you can’t go to work you need to call because they pay you to be there….they depend on you…you are needed….you were hired for a purpose. If you can’t go to class….oh well that’s your money that you are throwing down the drain. You purchased that seat in that class for those hours for a reason and if you don’t care enough about that reason to go to class….that’s your problem not the professors.
Don’t get me wrong….I’ve missed time from class and I have emailed….my emails consisted of “Hey I’m going to miss the first week for XXXX reason, can you email me the syllabus so I cant keep up with you guys” and “I’m going to miss these weeks for XXXX reason, should I turn in my work when I get back or do I need to have someone drop it off” or “I cant attend the test XXXX day because my daughter is sick…can it be rescheduled or can arrangements be made”….but if I’m sick or something else and I already know the answers to these questions….there’s no point in emailing is there?
All this is just me……..not out to offend anyone
April 8th, 2008 at 2:13 am
BTW why shouldnt professors be able to rant here? Just like we are ranting about whether or not a professor should be greatful for an email they should be able to rant about whether or not they even want the email. This spot is for them to rant even if its over silly stuff, just like some of the stupid rantings some students leave for certain professors……or is that professors should just accept the fact that people make certain comments about them and keep their mouth shut?
This site has made me remember why it is that I have no desire to go into teaching at all……
it can truly be a thankless career……
April 13th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Cindy, I did not mean to imply that the professor’s did not care if you come to class, I am sure as a professor it does mean something to you if your students take the time to come. All I meant was, if you do not want your students to let you know, then say so in the beginning, understanding that other professors do require or request an email or a call.
Yes, professors should have a place to complain, and this is as good as any, I just think that taking this subject personally is unfair. It is a misconception by the students, but not a hurtful one, or even a major one. Do you not agree that if this bothers a teacher so much they should make a general announcement on their syllabus about it instead of being insulted by it? It makes more sense to be insulted by the students who expect you to give them grades, or who mistake being strict with being a jerk. I suppose I am not surprised by the teachers being mad about the comments, it is just that many seem surprised by them. No, it’s not right, but if you go into teaching you should be prepared for it. Complain about it if you want, but be ready for it.
All of my professors have required attendance (yes, probably based more upon school policy) but the point is that they do. If they do, they do, and you can’t say they don’t at CCs, because obviously it does happen. I have had teachers who, unless in dire emergencies, will not allow any make up work unless they receive a call or email prior to the class.
“Seriously….what in the world do you expect to accomplish or expect a professor to do if you email and say “I’m not coming today….I’m sick”?”
Personally, I find it a little pointless to give prior notice that I wont be attending class, but I am not the one who is making these rules, and I am not defending them!!! Why are you assuming that this is my preference? All I am saying is that it happens. Why would I even WANT to do that? Don’t you think that if I am sick, I would rather stay in bed the get up and make a call or email?
Some syllabuses only include what will be gone over in class, but not assignments given in classes. You cannot assume that every syllabus is as inclusive as it should be (although I certainly wish they were!)
I do not mean to be rude, but it seems, Cindy, that you are assuming something doesn’t happen just because you have not personally experienced it. I find it a little strange that I am telling you that from my own experience it does indeed occur, and yet you still seem to refuse to believe that it could. I am not just making this all up to make a point.
April 18th, 2008 at 1:36 am
I go to a large state university, with about 23,000 students total, and in many of my smaller classes attendance is required. Sure there are the intro classes of 300 people where it doesn’t matter, but even those usually have discussions once or twice a week that you can only miss 3-5 discussion sessions. Then there are the smaller upper-level classes or language classes where you can’t miss more than 5 classes or you fail. So trust me, some colleges really do worry about absences, even large ones. I know that in one of my classes, because of the flu and some problems with colds, migraines, and other health issues, I’m going to get points taken off of my final grade for missing class so much: trust me, if I could come to class I would have. There are a lot more of us sickly honest kids out there than this woman thinks and it really ****** me off. Unlike her, I have to work two jobs to pay my bills while I’m also trying to go to class and stay healthy, so excuse me if I had the courtesy to email and humility to ask for help because I want to do well in your class when I was so sick I was in the ER last week. (true story)
Also, I’m really mad over her comment about ratemyprofessors.com. I never go there when I’m “goofing off.” Who would do that? Seriously now, if I wasn’t coming to class, why would I care about a site about teachers???
I go there for only two reasons. 90% of the time it’s that time of year where I am planning my classes for the next semester and want to read up on the teachers. The reports are very helpful and the majority of them are true. The other reason, which is very rare and I only do a few times a year, is to check up on teachers I really like see how their ratings are going.
April 21st, 2008 at 5:33 am
To Lindsey:
I agree, especially with the last part. I assume that this sight was created for the purpose of communicating professors’ teaching styles in a frank way in order to help students (especially in large universities) sort through the masses of available class sections in an at least quasi-informed manner. Even attending a small liberal arts school, I rely heavily on this site when choosing courses each semester–and that’s about the only time you’ll find me on it.
April 28th, 2008 at 2:52 am
She seems cool and funny !!!
May 28th, 2008 at 11:39 am
This is the same story with my history professors, the students say he is not helpful but at the same time they never come see him, and his office is just a few doors down from the class room.
When I went to see him for help on essays he was always helpful and I actually achieved “A”s because I went to see him.
May 29th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
“Not helpful” for many students does not mean “always available and willing to answer all questions about course content.” Unfortunately, “not helpful” is code for “won’t tolerate whining/tearing up/crying about grades,” “doesn’t concoct irrelevant and bogus extra-credit projects for repentant slackers to boost their grades,” “does not curve unrealistically,” “has been known to give Fs and Ds,” etc.
June 20th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Tonton Macoute (first comment) is probably the same kind of simpleton who thinks that Americans shouldn’t complain about their government because we’re like children who live under someone else’s roof. Yeah, a particular “someone” to whom we pay federal taxes, kinda like how our tuition money goes into the pockets of these professors. Yeah, what a dumb argument.
June 20th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Oh . . . and by the way . . . Americans shouldn’t complain about their government because we’re [sic] like children who live under someone else’s roof.
You got dat one right, bro.
Daniel, just shut your mouth, and fix your sentence fragment.
June 20th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Watcha talkin’ about, Tonton? I never opened my mouth; I was only typing.
June 20th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Oooh! A semicolon. I’m impressed. Are you perhaps the Son of Sam?
June 28th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
No, this is actually college, not “callage, callage.”
June 30th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
it seems like she just could not accept the feedbacks from students. She is trying to calm herself down and try to talk nicely but i can still tell that she is thinking “who do you think you are?” to those people who rated her. I dont even know this prof but she needs to accept other’s point of view and try to fix her way of teaching i guess
July 1st, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Professor Boysen seems to have a great sense of humor. Loved her comments/responses…she’s actually right on the money in my opinion. It’s great to see/hear a fellow psychology professor with such a down to earth feel!
July 3rd, 2008 at 6:45 am
I have read many of the responses here and would like to add some insight to the conversation. First, when speaking about Ohio State, it is a research 1 university, meaning research comes first, period. While a “standard of teaching excellence” is important, anyone in a tenure track or tenured position is a researcher. Students may be paying thousands to study under them, but that is because of their research, not their teaching.
As for Graduate Students, of which I am one, we, too, are students/researchers first. Teaching is important, but grades and “professional development,” meaning research, grants, conference presentations, publications, etc., is what keeps me in the program.
The problem with the “business model University”: students are purchasing grades. How? Here is an example:
I was previously during my PhD at a different University, where I was told to reduce the amount of reading and writing in my course on World Literature. I was not to assign more than 100 pages of reading a week and not more than two five-page papers. Also, book costs had to be under $50.00 (I am cool with this one). This was on a semester system. Why? Because students would not take a class that required 5 hours of reading a week. Because students will choose a class that requires two five-page papers over a class fulfilling the same requirement that asks for three. Less students in the class means less funding for the department and less opportunity to attract majors/minors. Less majors/minors means less students in future classes which means less departmental funding. What does this all mean? That the application of the business model to University practices is giving the students “as consumers” what they want: Wal-Mart-University. Less rigorous standards in the classroom, lower quality of over-all education, and grade inflation. All this watering down also makes the teaching very boring (from the instructor’s perspective), and adds to the general perspective that students care about grades and not learning. If students care about grades and not learning, professors prefer to care about promotions: why am I going to put added work into a class by making and grading a full exam which evaluates learning and understanding, when they only want a scan-tron multiple-choice true-false exam that I can have graded in 5 minutes? The unfortunate reality is that students have been and are demanding lower standards for themselves in the choices they make every semester.
How can this be reversed? Vote for candidates who want to increase funding for education. Become more active in classes and start raising the bar, instead on lowering it so you don’t have to jump as high. Take challenging, thought-provoking classes that demand of you, instead of the classes that look like “an easy A.” Have some integrity for learning. Go to office hours. And again, vote for funding education. You shouldn’t be paying as much as you pay, and professors shouldn’t be forced to water-down classes for students.
Finally, most professors teach because they enjoy sharing knowledge. Most professors make well under 100k a year, except in money-making fields, like the sciences and engineering. All professors could make much more money working in the private sector than in education. Professors are some of the few professionals who have not sold out, so don’t sell them out.
July 6th, 2008 at 6:03 am
Ha ha … I think she’s cool!
July 9th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
My comments relate to programs that are still shown on Foxtel in Australia showing Sally Boysen’s work on animal cognition with the chimpanzees. I was appalled that these animals were given confectionery as “rewards” for their so called accurate “cognitive” responses. To see them taken for a walk in diapers was an insult to their species. What happened to those delightful babel Emma and Harper when they were no longer useful for Sally and her PhD? Were the chimpanzees used for these experiments able to be assimilated back into the wild with their kind after they were finished with?
I am not a grad student per say but a student from the “university of life” with much experience and have found the programs currently still being aired to be totally frustrating and inappropriate.
Doing some further homework on this subject I find the “Chimpanzee Cognition Center” in Ohio Univ. was closed down in 2006.
Let us constantly question and demystify the process of tertiary education (PhD and Master degrees) to keep the process transparent fair and logical.
July 9th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Postscript following previous article, realizing this may or may not be the correct forum.
Have now found the Keithville Krew and glad to hear most have survived:
http://www.chimphaven.org/temp-chimp.cfm
However, the “Chimpanzee Cognition Center” still appears to be continuing under the auspices of a Sarah Boysen?
Now we are feeding them yoghurt to gain newsworthy responses?
June 13th 2007
“The scientists compared three groups of chimpanzees: one with a history of long-term stable, social interaction with humans (‘enculturated’); a group raised in a sanctuary setting, with only caretaker contact with humans (‘semi-enculturated’); and another group raised under more austere captive conditions (laboratory chimpanzees). The experiments looked at how the chimpanzees used rakes in order to retrieve a fruit yoghurt reward”
July 19th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
I like her. Teachers ae human being too; they can get frustrated and comment like the students. Whenyou grow up, you will understand better that you need to check your syllybus for the dateline, read you book, call or e-mail to check on what you have missed when you are sick for a day missing 1 class, and then turn in your assignment the next time you go to class. Many single moms with kids could turn in their assignments in time even when they are sick for a day.
Yes, I agree with you John. Some students complain about their teachers but not look at themselves for not making an enough effort like to ask questions or do their work, turn in assignments in time for whatever reasons, etc.. It cannot be one sided. These students will blame everyone else for their failure. It is very annoying.
July 19th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Anyway to edit my sentences on the errors? My excuse would be I am having technical problems with my lap top. By the way, I agree with John again that she seems cool and funny.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
To all students who think there so smart by rating the professors please get a life and start being responsible. In the life of a college student one will have good teachers and bad, you’ll have some you connect with and others that you wont.
It is called human nature. Use you brains stop wanting to be treated like the professor should be your friend. Stop acting like just because you paid for the class this gives you the right to be rude, indifferent and a dumb.
I think about 40% or more of the adolescents coming out of high schools these days are not prepared for the college experience. This is a huge issue and it is the root of the attitudes one sees in classrooms all across this country.
If a professor is burnt out this is a problem, maybe there needs to be a way for them recharge the batteries or maybe tenure should have more clauses to drop professors who are losing it.
It happens, for the most part most are dedicated professional who know more than you do and that’s why you go to college.
If you can’t figure this out go to a trade school and become a plumber, electrician, or HVAC tech, you will most likely make more money and always have a job.
We should have a European system that only excepts students who are smart enough and good enough to get in. It should be free as well.
July 30th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Based on your videos, you look like a fun professor to have.
That last video where you’ve decided that all the bad comments come from bad students, and where the good comments only come from good students–well, it makes you seem a little childish. Making you, of course, look like a fun professor to have.
Is it just me, or do the majority of these professor rebuttals seem to come from Ohio State?
August 10th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
I just really heard about rmp. I think it’s a good resource. My fellow classmates not, everyone that teaches is called to be a teacher. Many are called but, few are chosen. If a person really has the “Gift to Teach”; it will be visible for all to see. Some professors are in the profession just to collect a pay check; or for a prestigious job, or because they have family members who were teachers. A teacher who is called/chosen are phenomenal they have bad days like anybody else. But, they rise to the occasion and teach anyway. If you run into a professor that is not called/chosen you have to learn from them because on every campus their are teachers who should be in another profession. We know who they are as well. However, you may need to assist them by being on time, attentive, eager to learn, and ask lots of questions. Make the hard nose that seems to be overwhelmed with other agendas and not putting the student first attitude…Give them lots of praise and respect and you will work wonders…Try to focus on your goal that is to learn and pass their class.. We are not here to bash out teacher’s but, to give them feedback so, they can perfect their craft. God Bless
August 30th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
This is proof that this professor is ******, also this video is photo shopped.
September 14th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I had her, and she was my favorite professor at Ohio State. She is 100% crazy and she hates men but it made her lectures really interesting.
September 14th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Does photoshop even handle video?
September 14th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Sorry Jake but your BA in Business isn’t likely to get you 100k a year.
September 19th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Merry,
Why do you think she hates men? Did she say so in her class? It would be ironic for a psychology professor to hate men. And, if she defines herself as a feminist but claims to hate men, wouldn’t that make her a ****** feminist? Let’s hope she doesn’t hate an entire gender; ****** feminism would be deliciously hypocritical.
September 19th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
By “******”, I mean “sex ist”. Apparently, that’s a bad word here.
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Boysen looks like a failed attempt at a sex change operation. No wonder she hates men.
October 4th, 2008 at 11:01 am
The weird thing about college professors is that they give u their email address and tell u to email them if u got questions.. yet, they get REALLY annoyed when u email them.
My advice to you guys reading this.. DON’T E-MAIL any professor even if they give out their email address. Try to talk to them in person and ask questions. Professor’s HATE emails from students, and that’s the truth.
October 4th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Some professors would rather get succinct, well thought out e-mails rather than have students file in with vague, rambling questions that lead to tangential anecdotes and to emotional dumping of complex personal problems. Professors are just being polite most of the time. Furthermore, many questions get resolved over time, when students reflect a bit or look at the syllabus. E-mail slows down thought and action. That’s my experience anyway.
August 4th, 2009 at 2:27 am
I like her! She seems youthful and full of personality. I bet her class would at least be interesting. And define arrogant and conceited; those seem a little too harsh. As a college student myself it disgusts me to see the lack of respect for professors. They are knowledgeable of their material and deserve to act like they do. And I'm from the south and well aware of the fact that Ohio State is a research university, which obviously has its benefits and drawbacks. If the bad outweighs the good for you personally, you should've picked another school. Stop complaining.
August 6th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Lisa, yes there are immature comments, but there are mature, helpful comments, as well. You can usually tell if the person rating has sour grapes, etc. The thing you look for is a pattern – if most of the people say stay away, you can tell there is a problem with the professor. Same with if everyone say if the professor is great. If you look at the comments as a mature adult, you can tell if the comment is worthwhile.
August 17th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
100% agreed! Now, if we can just do so in kindness, it's all good!
August 23rd, 2009 at 1:34 am
First off, its not called a "doctrine." Let's go with "doctorate." Secondly, there aren't any psychology profs like here making much more than 50-60k a year. You should not have to pay anything to earn a doctorate. Ph.D.'s are usually completely funded by the school. In fact, the student generally receives a salary ranging from 15-25K per year to be a student plus full tuition remission. It's not about making money as you suggest. It's about being passionate about your profession. So if it takes 10 years to be what you want to be, so what? What four year degree can you get btw, that allows you to earn 100k a year? I think someone is full of it. I couldn't really tell you much about paying for your bachelors though, because I went on a full scholarship. Oh yeah, your missing an "s" from dumbas* and another "s" from pass. You sound the real idiot.
October 29th, 2009 at 8:56 am
I like her!She seems to be very available for her students and she has a great attitude toward those non flattering comments!If college was meant to be easy,everybody would be doing it!Bravo Professor Boysen!
March 7th, 2010 at 4:00 am
She's right about research: by and large, I would say don't attend a research university unless you're a graduate student.