Module 04 – Getting to Know Your Professors

PROFESSORS

Classes are taught primarily by professors, who may be assistant, associate, or full professors depending on their research, the breadth of their publications, as well as their years of teaching. Though a professor who receives tenure is allowed to teach and conduct research with greater academic freedom, most professors at UT Austin are deeply involved in research and are highly ranked within their fields. If you are interested in a specific area of study, talk to a professor in that field. They can provide insight to their experience, and may even connect you to research opportunities or internships.

LECTURERS

Lecturers are members of the faculty who cannot gain tenure, and whose primary responsibility is teaching. Lecturers normally teach more classes per semester than tenure track faculty. They are not expected to conduct research, although many of them actually do. Some lecturers may only teach one class during one semester, and may only be on campus for a specific amount of time. Because their primary responsibility is teaching, they may have more time to talk one-on-one with students.

ASSISTANT INSTRUCTORS (AIs) and TEACHING ASSISTANTS (TAs)

Assistant Instructors are advanced graduate students who teach their own classes. They have completed all aspects of a PhD other than writing a dissertation and are usually in the process of doing research and writing for their dissertation. Teaching Assistants are graduate students who work as a professor’s assistant. Your TA can help you understand class materials and lectures, but major decisions about the class are made by the professor. Normally they grade papers, meet with students, and sometimes create exams.  These instructors may also be able to relate to your experience as a student, as they are in school themselves.

Benefits of and Tips for Meeting with Faculty

Meeting with faculty members can bring many benefits, but there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Office hours are a good opportunity to gain clarification regarding course content, including the goals and big picture ideas of the course.
• Be prepared to share the time with your peers, especially if it is close to midterms or when a large project is due. If you want one-on-one time with your professor, make sure to request an appointment.
• You may be interested in the research your professor conducts and wish to learn more. In some cases, this can lead to opportunities to become involved in research projects. COLA offers a number of research opportunities for undergraduates, and connecting to your professor is a great way to find out what type of research best fits your goals and interests.
• When asking for letters of recommendation, do so well in advance. You want to give your reference ample time to write thoughtfully. Decide whether it is best to receive a letter from your professor, TA, or another professional on campus. Provide your reference with all the information they need, including all relevant instructions as well as your most updated résumé.

Starting off with a face-to-face meeting with your professor may feel intimidating at first. Email can be a great alternative to start the conversation. When communicating with faculty and other professionals it is important to consider the following:

• Before writing, have a clear question or comment and state that purpose in the email. Make sure your question isn’t already answered in the syllabus. If stating a concern, try your best to suggest a solution.
• Write from your UT account to make your email more professional and keep it from being sent to spam.
• Include your full name, EID, and what class you’re in, including the unique number, as your professor may have more than one class or several sections of the same class.
• Use meaningful language in the subject line. Formally greet and address them using their credentials. If they have a PhD (most professors do), address them as Dr. If you are unsure, you can check the syllabus or look them up in the UT Directory.
• Use appropriate and professional language, including proper grammar and punctuation. This may be the first interaction you have with faculty, and should be both respectful to their position as well as reflective of how you want to be viewed as a student.
• Proofread after writing and make sure any necessary attachments are included. It is always a little awkward to follow up a sincere email with a, “whoops, here it is!”