Teaching Outside the Classroom: Office Hours

Adapted with permission, Center for Teaching and Learning, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

Because students often are reluctant to visit a teacher's office to discuss their concerns, some teachers have held their office hours in more public places such as bars, which they thought would provide a more relaxing and informal atmosphere. Although these teachers reported that more students came to see them as a result of holding their office hours in these places, some students avoided meeting their teachers in this situation. Consider, for example, a female student whose male teacher holds office hours in a bar. The teacher has put the student in a situation which may make her feel that she is the object of the teacher's personal, rather than professional, attention (which undermines the intellectual climate goals of the university). Therefore, while you might consider offering some office hours in non-traditional places, be careful that you choose places that are neutral and non-threatening to students. Coffee shops and student unions are some possible settings which are less intimidating.

 Also consider the time that you hold your office hours. Vary the time when you meet with students, so that students who are busy or employed may find a time which works with their schedules. Offer appointments to students whose schedules do not match yours. If you hold office hours late in the afternoon or in the evening, when there are few people in the building, you may make students feel uncomfortable. Female students may be concerned for their personal safety if they have to walk to your building after dark, or if they have to enter a darkened building. When meeting with students, keep your door open or slightly open unless there is a third person in the room. By keeping the door open, you create a less personally threatening atmosphere in your office.

 One way to make students more comfortable when they come to your office is to offer both group and individual office hours. Students who typically avoid one-on-one office meetings with their professors might be more likely to come if they know that all the attention in the meeting will not be focused on them. For example, if you find that several students make similar mistakes in their homework sets, suggest that they come to your office together, if possible, for a mini-tutorial in a workshop format. The students will realize that they are not alone in their difficulties and can learn from each other's mistakes.