Roles and Expectations of a College Professor
The roles and expectations of a college professor are neither simple nor straightforward.
A professor is perceived much differently by students and by the administration.
However, to be a successful professor you must be able to satisfy both groups.
At times, this can be a daunting task.
For students, the role of an instructor is simple: To be an educator.
This means that you should know your material well and to be able to present the information in a cohesive and interesting manner.
The expectations of a good educator is that they avail themselves to their students.
When a student needs clarification of an important point, learning will virtually stop until that point is understood.
Also, students expect that the professor gives exams and assignments that are appropriate to the course material and that all assignments are graded impartially, fairly, and accurately.
The instructor is a mentor and guide to their students.
This is an awesome responsibility.
The future success of a student is at least partially dependent on the ability of the professor to be an effective educator.
Administrators consider their faculty from a completely different perspective.
Whereas the educational process is desirable, it is not of paramount importance.
What is more important is that the professor fulfills their contractual obligations to the university.
Student satisfaction is of interest to the administration but again it is not of utmost concern.
What matters more is that academic standards are maintained.
In the pursuit of academic excellence, some students will fail and others will do poorly.
Another concern we have is with student attrition.
Frequently, many students begin a course but do not remain.
This is of great concern for for-profit colleges.
Their income is based on student enrollments.
Therefore, there may be indirect pressure from the administration to lower the educational standards so that greater numbers of paying students may remain.
We, as educators, frequently feel that our primary loyalty rests with our students.
Perhaps that is as it should be.
However, we should never lose sight of the fact that the administration is paying us.
Therefore, our primary loyalty must remain with our employer.
It is within your ability to make a 6-figure income a year as a part-time professor.
Unfortunately, the road to success is filled with obstacles for those who don't know how it's done.
Frustration and ultimate failure is the hard reality for most who try to attain this income level as an adjunct professor.
Fortunately, there is an easier way to achieve success.
A professor is perceived much differently by students and by the administration.
However, to be a successful professor you must be able to satisfy both groups.
At times, this can be a daunting task.
For students, the role of an instructor is simple: To be an educator.
This means that you should know your material well and to be able to present the information in a cohesive and interesting manner.
The expectations of a good educator is that they avail themselves to their students.
When a student needs clarification of an important point, learning will virtually stop until that point is understood.
Also, students expect that the professor gives exams and assignments that are appropriate to the course material and that all assignments are graded impartially, fairly, and accurately.
The instructor is a mentor and guide to their students.
This is an awesome responsibility.
The future success of a student is at least partially dependent on the ability of the professor to be an effective educator.
Administrators consider their faculty from a completely different perspective.
Whereas the educational process is desirable, it is not of paramount importance.
What is more important is that the professor fulfills their contractual obligations to the university.
Student satisfaction is of interest to the administration but again it is not of utmost concern.
What matters more is that academic standards are maintained.
In the pursuit of academic excellence, some students will fail and others will do poorly.
Another concern we have is with student attrition.
Frequently, many students begin a course but do not remain.
This is of great concern for for-profit colleges.
Their income is based on student enrollments.
Therefore, there may be indirect pressure from the administration to lower the educational standards so that greater numbers of paying students may remain.
We, as educators, frequently feel that our primary loyalty rests with our students.
Perhaps that is as it should be.
However, we should never lose sight of the fact that the administration is paying us.
Therefore, our primary loyalty must remain with our employer.
It is within your ability to make a 6-figure income a year as a part-time professor.
Unfortunately, the road to success is filled with obstacles for those who don't know how it's done.
Frustration and ultimate failure is the hard reality for most who try to attain this income level as an adjunct professor.
Fortunately, there is an easier way to achieve success.
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