Professors and TAs

One of my biggest mistakes early on in my undergraduate degree was being scared to reach out to my professors when I was struggling with the coursework. It can seem intimidating to ask for help from your professors, but if you’re forthcoming and honest about your situation or difficulties, professors are much more accommodating and understanding than you may expect.

— HAILEY CLARKE

Professors and teaching assistants (TAs) are the bread and butter of university. You will see them every day, whether that be in a lecture or tutorial. But, there are a few differences between a high school teacher and a university prof.

Here are some things to keep in mind when interacting with your instructors at UBC.

HELLO, MY NAME IS... Profs can go by a bunch of different names. Some can go by “Dr.”, some might go by “Professor” and some even by their first name. Usually, profs will go over this on the first day of class, but don’t be afraid to ask if they forget. You don’t want to accidentally call them the wrong thing (some can be a bit sensitive about their title).

ALWAYS ASK QUESTIONS Along with asking a prof what to call them, ask them about anything you’re confused about. You’ll not only understand the material better, but your prof or TA will appreciate your engagement. They probably don’t like lecturing about price elasticity for an hour to an unengaged class. Plus, you never know when a random question might lead to a story about the time your prof was almost a casualty during a car chase.

EMAILS WORK JUST AS WELL This is for the quiet folks out there: if raising your hand in a massive lecture hall seems intimidating, feel free to ask your question in a short email. The answer might take longer, but profs and especially TAs are good at getting back to students within a day or so. Emails are also a great way to ask last-minute questions about assignments.

An important note: there is a correct way to send an email to your prof or TA. It might sound stupid, but look up “how to email your professor” before sending something that might annoy them.

OFFICE HOURS ARE YOUR NEW BESTIE Have a question leftover from class? Interested in getting involved with research? Just looking to talk to someone? Office hours are a great place to do all of these things, and more! Again, it might seem scary to walk into your instructor’s office uninvited. But don’t worry — more often than not they are hoping someone stops by to talk with them. If you’re really nervous, feel free to bring a friend along as support.

WE’RE ALL HUMAN There will inevitably be a point during the semester where you want to throw your iClicker at your prof’s or TA’s head. Just remember that they are human and have other stuff going on in their life before you start writing that Rate My Prof review.

STAND UP FOR YOURSELF That being said, sometimes your prof or TA is just being an asshole. Don’t be afraid to challenge their ideas in class, or reach out to other UBC resources if they are being unfair in their grading or treatment of students. U