10 Warning Signs of a Bad Professor

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After attending two years in college with the outcome of a 3.5 GPA and two semesters on honor role and obtaining an Assoc. Degree (with 3 documented disabilities), I transfered to a private university for a B.A. The professors didn't believe in study guides and only graded 3 exams per semester. One professor gave us undoable amounts of work, one didn't post grades at all, and one past out reviews that didn't match the material on the exams. So when the final grades came in I obtained D's. Now they want me to take a Success course and repeat those classes that do not pertain to my major (I am a junior and the ones they want me to repeat are 'their' common core classes, classes I already attended at my old college. Mind you, the semester costs $11,000 and they are the most expensive classes. I have asked for study guides repeatedly as according to the American Disabilities Act (ADA) to no avail. The school informs me that professors don't have to give out study guides because they believe it is cheating. According to th ADA if a university receives Federal money they have to comply with disability accommodations upon request, which I did. It is very clear to me they are not interested in helping students academically succeed but using us as cash cows. I do not believe that I have to take a Success class for study skills since my past performance at another college was pretty good, and they refuse to see that they are the problems in their beliefs about study guides. The definition of study guides is that they are tools for learning comprehension, so why are they so misinformed or misguided about them? They are stuck on how they think how I should learn to retain information instead of me informing them on how I retain information, after all, I am the one who has the disabilities and it is my financial investment in student loans that are at stake. It costs them nothing to create and provide study guides. Why do they think study guides are cheating when research on cognitive learning tells us that study guides are an effective tool for learning? This is not rocket science. It makes me think that they are not really interested the students academic success as they claim, but more interested in swimming in their own self importance. What do you think? By the way, this Oklahoma Baptist University.

K.K.R. of OK 9:39PM December 22, 2012

Watch out for the arbitrary grading type. For example, at UCM (Univ of Central Missouri) a poor professor, Jason Bergner in Accounting, hands out a syllubus that basically says that at the end of semester he grades based on his opinion of your attributes? (which has nothing to do with performance in the class). Then, at the end of the class, no matter what you have scored on tests & homework, he adds points only to some students based on his whim. This is very dissappointing for more than a few students. Only really screwy teachers would do this sort of tning, but it does happen....
So, look closely at the syllubus on day 1. If it seems unclear or even flakey like above, drop the class.

Been There of MO 9:26PM December 20, 2012

I feel there is one other thing that can be added to this, "A professor that deems it necessary to make his or her political views known to everyone" I've run into lots of professors like this it is very irritating and causes significant issues on the basis of politics even so much that they will make you miserable if you dont agree with them.

Michael of TX 7:19AM December 16, 2012

Bad professors can really make it difficult, which sucks especially if you're a good student only trying to learn.
One of my professors has a 20+ "Syllabook" (syllabus) that has some of the most ridiculous rules. Just read one I've been breaking all semester- been calling her "Professor X"- apparently that's a no-no, because she's doesn't have the "tenure." Apparently only "Dr. X" is acceptable, and "Mrs. X" (who would say that, really?) is an abomination.
Had two other professors this semester who hardly ever post grades online. One of them has not posted any grades online, and the semester's final is tomorrow. Has she lost any papers? Who knows. When I emailed the other one (twice) if I could have a couple of my grades to see my standing before the final, she never responded (after she told me to email her about it). It's ridiculous they let some of these nuts teach.

Uknown of TX 10:23PM December 11, 2012

This article is so true and is on point with everything about a "bad professor". This article explains exactly what a bad professor is, and to tell you the truth one of my professors are everything this article said about a bad professor. My math professor fits in everyone of these examples. I should've dropped the class the moment i knew that he was't going to teach me anything just by the lack of education he's showing us, but the reason i didn't drop the class was to see maybe i could teach myself a couple things from the math book i brought from the book store. Now we have a month left in this semester and to be honest with you my math professor hasn't changed a bit, but I've taught myself a couple things. I just hope later on in the future i don't have to experience a "bad professor" like i did this semester.

Hamdi Jaber of NJ 11:35AM April 10, 2012

Also, I think best professors I had so far are the ones who have first hand experience in their fields, like biology, chemistry, history, etc. The once that actually are still working in their fields. They tend to be more easy going, and hence, the students are not stressed out, and enjoy the learning process.
I think the worst professors are the ones who are teachers 100% of their time, they get very delusional about what they student needs, and they tend to think that they are best at presenting the material.

oleg of PA 1:38AM February 16, 2012

how about professors who worked at school for so long they are sure they are untouchables. so they slack off.

arnold of PA 1:25AM February 16, 2012

Good article!
My list includes professors who are rude, condescending, and offensive. How about those professors who ridicule and/or openly flirt with their students? And this semester, I added an new category - those who push their religion and morality on their 'captive' audience. Some of us don't have the luxury of dropping a class as continuation in some programs depend on passing each each course in the order they are scheduled. Therefore, the offending professor can take advantage of the situation and turn her classroom into a third rate soap box to force her silly, boring, draconian philosophy onto her students, and God forbid you should disagree or complain about it.

Disgusted IntheBibleBelt of IN 12:58AM January 26, 2012

Does it get worse than this Canadian example? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz5v2Yusr9E Unfortunately, some courses are mandatory and there is only on person to teach it -- so you can get stuck with a case of dementia.

Phineas 8:39PM December 19, 2011

One of my most hated professors scored a 7/10 on this. She doesn't seem unsure about the material, she does give out a syllabus and she does fill up the class time. However, these are very technical aspects of being a professor, the bare minimum. The other 7 have to do with passion and effectiveness. She rarely involves students in lectures, presents the material in a boringly drawn out, spacey... zzz way that is ultimately confusing, has petty rules involving how students should conduct themselves and how/when/where they should speak to her, assigns too much work and is rude to students and moans and groans about how students nowadays don't care and are rude while bragging about her two master's degrees and yelling at students who dare ask her a question outside of her office.

sure! duresee of SC 3:49AM October 03, 2011