On Classroom Etiquette at College

A physician professor and med students learn a technique of Osteopathic manipulative medicine at Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, in Vallejo, California, United States. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Taking courses at a university can be exciting and wonderful but it can also be confusing and stressful. There are many things you are learning to adjust to and you can easily lose focus and make mistakes that will create unnecessary difficulties further down the line. It can really help if you plan ahead and try to stay organized so that you don't get overwhelmed and make unforced errors that will only increase your stress and distract from your learning.

If you've never attended a class at a college or university there are some things you can benefit from knowing before you begin. Some of it may seem like common sense but you might be surprised at how often these simple things can be neglected and the problems that can cause. There is always going to be someone who stumbles over these things, so make sure that it isn't you.

Let's start with one of my favorites.


Show up. Be a little early.

Easy enough isn't it?

There is no such thing as being fashionably late to class. Unlike high school, you will only meet in the classroom from 14 to 17 hours per week on average, and possibly a little more for lab courses. You have plenty of time to talk to your friends, flirt with coeds, eat, use the restroom, or take a smoke break.

But that time is not class time.

Whether or not your courses have attendance policies and penalties, and many do, you are penalizing yourself by being late or absent. When you are late you interrupt other people who are trying to learn, and any time you miss from class is a lost chance to be exposed to the material and to ask questions.

Professors do not give you a mini-summary during their office hours of only the things covered that are specifically going to be on the next quiz or exam. In fact, that's the point of these assessments. You are expected to know most if not all of the material covered. And while the assessment may only cover 20 to 60% of that material, you don't know which 20 to 60% that will be.

Show up. And bring your book, a writing pad, and a pen. Even if you prefer to use a laptop to take notes, the pen and paper will come in handy.

Act like your instructor is important to your success. She is.

Your professor is your guide. She will outline the material to be explored, give you a map of how it will be covered, and provide you various tools (such as a syllabus, lectures, handouts, required and assigned texts, etc.) with which you can successfully navigate your way from beginning to end. She will offer advice, go over potential pitfalls and common errors, and offer corrections when you go off course.

But she doesn't work for you (she works for the university). You don't pay her salary (the university does, and your tuition is part of only one the university's revenue streams). And she decides how you work is going to be evaluated and is the one who applies that standard when determining your grade for the course. You are paying for the privilege to attend her class and to learn from her expertise and experience.

That's why you are there. To learn from her and your other professors and then to demonstrate a required level of mastery of the material to their satisfaction. That is your goal with your coursework. Successfully completing your coursework is your primary objective while you are attending university. Disrespect or ignore your professors at your own peril.

More than that, realize what an amazing opportunity you have to learn from people who have dedicated their lives to mastering a particular discipline and then sharing that wisdom with others. That is worthy of respect, even if you don't care for their particular subject or teaching style. Don't read, text, pass notes, or sleep in class. You are there to be educated, not entertained, and you need to act like an adult in professional situation during class time.

Remember that you are not invisible. Seriously.

Sounds simple, right? Even simpler and more obvious than the other no-brainers mentioned so far. Yet some students are so habituated to sitting in front of screens that can't seem them (unless a camera is active) that they seem to forget that the professor and their fellow classmates are live and in real time.

Let me say it another way: your professor is not a hologram.

Your professor can see you sleeping, reading a magazine, surfing on your laptop, or texting with your smartphone.

Really.

Students who surf on their laptop have a pattern of typing and clicking that bears no relation to what is being said in class and never look up from their screens, usually with a faraway look. And if you think you are clever by placing your smartphone in your lap while texting, trust me--your professor notices you moving your hand rapidly in your lap while grinning in that direction.

Again, just make up your mind that you are going to act like a professional adult for the duration of the class period. If necessary pretend that a parent, grandparent, clergy person, or some other serious adult who would frown on immature behavior in the classroom is sitting right behind you the whole time.

Also, participate when you get the chance. You don't have to volunteer every time to answer a question or solve a problem, but don't get used to always being passive in the class. Make sure you are noticed and that it is for something other than goofing off.

Recall how much your education costs and think about your post-degree goals.


When you go to class unprepared, unappreciative, or uncooperative, you are going to contribute to a negative atmosphere in the room. This will make otherwise fun subjects dull, easier topics difficult, and already challenging courses impossible.


Why make things harder and less interesting? And trust me, every course can be harder and less interesting than you already think it is.


Of course, even the best students don't always feel well or up for class every day. That's called life. It doesn't get any easier with your post-university career. Don't beat yourself up over it. But don't ignore it either.

If you are flagging on enthusiasm toward your courses for a day or two, that's normal. If it goes on for a several days, you need to identify the problem (getting ill, relationship issues, feeling homesick) and deal with it ASAP. Get help with the problem if necessary.

If it drags on for over a week, you definitely need some help getting back on track from a trusted upper class student like an RA or peer counselor or someone from the student life department at your school. Consider making an appointment with your adviser. The reason you are so unhappy and disinterested in your courses may be that you don't really fit your major and need to consider a change.


But what about those occasional minor lapses in taking your work seriously? Just remember how expensive your education is. Unless you are independently wealthy you are either relying on scholarships, grants, or student loans (and possibly a combination of these) to pay your tuition and fees. You wouldn't spend thousands of dollars reserving a table and pre-paying for meals at an expensive restaurant and then never show up or arrive after the food is cold, would you?

Also keep in mind that if you don't get the required grade in your courses you are going to have to repeat them, which means it will take longer to graduate and it will make reaching your post-degree goals that much harder to attain. Just decide you are going to get through your courses and move on.

Relax and appreciate your chance to explore a larger world and expand your boundaries.

Some of the above warnings may sound like a scold, and you may feel like you would never behave in a rude or counter-productive way. Yet every year students end up falling into some of these patterns. Again, make sure that it isn't you. Or it if it is, own up to that and take the necessary steps to get back on track.

You may also have noticed I talked about attitude and preparation as much as actual in class behavior, and that is because they two are joined at the hip. Remember, even if you feel bored or tired, just "fake it until you make it", at least for short term lapses in commitment.

But most important of all, make sure you give yourself a chance to succeed and to enjoy yourself. Relax. Don't panic. The faculty and staff are there to support you and offer guidance and encouragement. Time flies by very quickly during your college years, so be sure to appreciate them and make the most of them whole they last.

Take a class or two just because they sound interesting. Join a student organization. Make many friends. And of course, show up to class.