First Year Students: Do they Utilize Office Hours?

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At Rutgers Camden many first year students are not utilizing office hours provided by professors. This tool is given to students to allow them to get clarification on schoolwork, get extra help with the course load outside of class hours, and ask questions one on one with professors rather than in front of an entire class. However, freshmen have commented that they struggle with taking advantage of this academic resource. Many say they feel nervous or even unsure of how to come to their professors.

Office hours can be defined as scheduled times professors set aside outside of the class for a more hands-on and individual conversation with students. This is to ensure that students do not feel disconnected from their professors and also give them a safe space to express their needs, whereas in class they may feel less comfortable doing so.

According to Professor Cavanaugh, a professor at Rutgers Camden University, office hours are a crucial part of academic success. She even went as far as to say, “They obtain more personalized feedback about how to approach assignments and their career goals.” Along with this, the professor mentioned that she has seen upperclassmen utilize this tool far more than first year students using office hours.

Gizelle Lizardi is a freshman at Rutgers Camden currently in her first spring semester in college. She mentioned that there has been a major transition period moving from high school to college. Not just with the lifestyle, but also with academics. Many freshmen are still

adjusting to college academics compared to high school. Not to mention that office hours are not always mandatory nor specifically talked about in class. While some professors may encourage students to come to see them early in the semester, these announcements tend to fall flat. Many first year students like Gizelle find going to office hours uncomfortable.

Lizardi said, “I do not feel comfortable approaching a professor outside of class. I probably would never approach one if I saw them somewhere.” She then went on to say that she believes these feelings of being nervous is most likely the main cause of lack of first year students attending office hours, “I think the main factor is nervousness. Many students probably don’t want to be the only ones there and also don’t want to spend the time there.” Another interesting conclusion she had was that there is less structure in college academics compared to in high school. The freshman stated, “There’s no one telling me what to do, I have to take initiative on my own learning experience, it’s strange”.

While there is an adjustment to college academics, office hours can be used as a tool to bridge the gap between a student and professor in the classroom setting. Professors have found that the students that choose to attend office hours have found great success in their academics. Professor Cavanaugh believes that it improves one’s understanding of the course material. It can also further reinforce relationships with Rutgers Camden professors, which can be helpful later on for recommendations, and even shows students that they are able to take initiative for their grades. Professors at Rutgers Camden urge first year students to become familiar with the process of using office hours and to take advantage of these opportunities.