10 Warning Signs of a Bad Professor

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I'm a college student and will be starting my 4th year of college. I have many, many professors and I was disappointed at how this was simplified down into what seems to be just complaints from students. Students need to learn to take responsibility for their own actions and their own education.
I do agree that not having a complete syllabus is something to avoid. I have never had this problem and all my syllabi have included each weeks topic, grading criteria and all the important aspects. My professors even go over it on the first day and ask if there is any confusion.
As for a long list of rules, I wish it wasn't required. It is the few students who don't seem to care about their education that seem to need to have these rules spelled out for them each and every semester. It should be common sense not to do anything that will interrupt the teacher and the other students. As for cheating, all students should have a well established sense of ethics and morality. It really sickens me that some students think that they can survive college and life by copying of another person who is doing the work to get the grade they deserve.
Professors have a difficult job and I haven't met a professor who I found to be extremely boring or difficult. Yes, some of my professors have expected more than others but at the college level, this should be expected.
I really think there should be a list like this for "bad" students written by professors and I saw a comment that is a great example!
To all professors out there, thank you for the job you are doing!

Michael of VT 12:40PM August 17, 2010

We're no longer allowed to print off the syllabus for our students due to budget cuts. Handouts and in-class assignment sheets are also no longer allowed. I'm just waiting for when they tell us we cannot have hard copies for quizzes and tests. But apparently another department at this institution has already done that - everything has to be done online. In this new economic environment, "doesn't hand out the syllabus" needs to be changed to "doesn't have a syllabus."

ann of IA 8:26AM February 21, 2010

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mayfieldfr of AK 9:04PM January 28, 2010

I taught both high school and under graduate students over the course of my teaching tenure and the same rule applies to the methodology of teaching in the respective venues. A professor/teacher/syllabus must clearly state the teaching/learning objective or outcome that the professor was brought to the institution to teach along with the strategy or topics that build upon the teaching/learning outcome/s. Furthermore, a clear and concise grading system is necessary. As stated above by "re-petty", the stated objectives and grading system is an implied contract between student and professor/institution and can be legally adjudicated if prejudice is evident. I conclude by saying, a good professor will present a syllbus and will teach her/his class in a manner that best reflects the integrity of the institution and protects the professor/teacher from unnecessary law suits which is not good for the institution or the professor.

Linda of FL 1:47AM January 28, 2010

10 Warning Signs of a Bad Student
1. The student cuts class within the first full week of classes.
2. The student e-mails you about how unbelievably ill they are, and can’t come to class. After about 3 classes, you see postings on Facebook and other networking sites about how drunk they are.
3. The student is angry when you won't stop and re-teach the material to them....5 minutes before you have to teach another class. Please make an appointment for this sort of thing!
4. The student doesn't turn in any work over the course of the semester, but repeatedly asks you to assign something for extra credit at the end of the term.
5. The student makes sure you know that you are moving far too slowly for them, that they are much smarter and more clever than you, and that you are wasting their time each and every time they come into the room. Most professors would agree that they would rather have 100 students who are willing to try new things and keep an open mind, than 10 students who are so impressed by their own perceived acumen that they make the class unpleasant for everyone.
6. The student texts and surfs the web during the entire class (even when asked to stop) and then wants you to re-teach the material to them after class.
7. The student comes to you wanting to know why they earned a D (see #4 above) for the semester, and tells you they may lose their scholarship if their grade is not changed to something higher. If they can't come back next fall, it's YOUR fault.
8. The student routinely shows up late, disturbing everyone around them as they come in, sit down, eat their breakfast, put up their hair, etc. Tardiness once in a while is certainly normal; making it a habit is a nuisance.
9. The student can't perform the tasks asked of them, and he or she giggles carries on to their classmates like a 2nd grader because he or she thinks they're cute.
10. The student makes you generally wonder why you thought teaching would be a rewarding and enriching profession.

Lynne Smith of IA 11:57AM January 27, 2010

Classrooms need rules so I strongly disagree with #6. I'd rather have a list so I know what to expect. Also, that was a horrible example. Most teachers have those requirements- you can thank your cheating and dis-respectful classmates. Students need more discipline these days... if that is too much for you to deal with, Burger King is hiring enjoy!
I very much agree with Brian.
Welcome to the real world kids!

KM of NE 3:55PM January 22, 2010

I'm now a professor, but in addition to a PhD i have 3 masters degrees. I've taken more classes than one should legally be allowed to take. As a student, I had to get through my coursework along particular schedules and i had no time to get into the "pick the fun or easy professor" game. Sheesh people, life is sometimes not easy, get used to it; if you have a 'boring' professor, then you, as a student, can make it interesting. Ask questions, request explanations. If a prof says something that you don't understand, tell them that you don't understand and ask for an alternative explanation. Whether or not you have an interesting and meaningful class depends largely on YOU the STUDENT far more than it depends on the professor. You, as a student, should be able to both learn and get a high grade REGARDLESS of the professor (i did).
I agree tho, profs in my dept. spend tons of time reviewing each others' syllabi. A syllabus with any of the basics (schedule, grading criteria) missing would NEVER make it to the classroom around here. Missing or incomplete syllabi are reflections of poor administrations. But good degrees can still be had from good schools with poor administrations, and learning can still occur. Students, if stuff is missing from syllabi, ask the prof to fill you in. Take some responsibility for your education for goodness sake.

Brian of HI 8:45PM January 21, 2010

These signs are true of any unprepared presenter who feels they can deceive the audience. Even elementary students know when something is wrong.
All teachers need to see this.

bk of CA 2:08AM January 19, 2010

A good question. You might check with the undergraduate adviser to see if anyone else is ever scehduled to teach that course. Also, consider summer school if your school has it (often you get different faculty then), and see if there's another college (including a community college) in the area which also teaches the course and from which you can transfer credit. Otherwise, you're pretty much stuck, Stuck.

Jeremy of AR 8:35AM January 17, 2010

I am a professor of long standing with negative views of elaborate syllabi. I think it can include the university boilerplate about student conduct (no texting, no eating, no cheating) but beyond that, the important items are how the course will be graded, and what the activities will be.
Some colleagues include all sorts of images, cartoons, and charming anecdotes, along with expectoed outcomes, learning goals, and so forth. Instead of doing that, I read a good book. I teach French, and the expectation is that students will learn French. What more needs to be said?

David Seaman of GA 10:41PM January 16, 2010