Is it really common for professors to invite students to their houses.

[Anonymous]

It is unethical to fcuk the students.

Thanks and bye.

[Anonymous]

Wow. I went to two parties at a professors house, once in law school and once in undergrad. They were fun! No alcohol, fun discussions, good time to get to know classmates, etc.

[Anonymous]

Professor here. Yes, these parties exist. And Yes, there are too many cases of harassment. And men married to former graduate students, too many of whom in my field used to be married to someone of their own generation. So hopefully the #metoo movement will change this.

[Anonymous]

I had several invites to professors' homes during law school. They were smaller groups (5-7 students) and a great way to get to the know the professors and fellow students better.

[Anonymous]

When I was a student at a popular well known state college in Virginia in the 1970s (which shall remain nameless), there was a Professor in the Communications department who threw a massive keg party/cookout at his house at the end of the Spring semester….and,…the best part: This was the FINAL EXAM. *

*Not making this up. If there is anybody out there on DCUM who remembers, please contact me at [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can definitely see how personal invitations to a select few, or certainly one-on-one, can lead to abuses of power, harassment, etc. But I think the "favoritism" charge and fear of unfair grading sort of has things backward. As someone who socialized quite a bit with professors in undergrad (rarely one-on-one) and yes, at YLS, most often the students who developed closer relationships with professors were the ones who ALREADY had excelled. I.e. they had already gotten a great grade(s), written a brilliant paper, were an honors student... that is how they got the research assistant or TA position in the first place. The instances of dim kids somehow finagling preferential treatment from professors were basically... nil.

I disagree with this. I was by far the best student in classes but an immigrant and just not interested in socializing with the faculty. There was a lot of small talk which I hate anyway but especially when I can’t a handle on it.

Yes I agree that this is likely. But it sounds like you would not have wanted to go if you were invited.

I was invited multiple times! And I did go but hated it.

Because you’re an immigrant? Odd.

probably. It is probably partly personality as well but in my culture it is just not common to have these informal interactions with the faculty. I feel lthat American professors (not all of them obviously but a larger fraction than in many other places) crave to be seen as hip/young.

[Anonymous]

I have been to professors' houses as an undergrad. It was always with other students and I remember the professors being very kind and caring. Oddly enough, I don't think I have ever been to a professor's house as a grad student. Maybe I looked less in need of a good meal and sympathetic ear.

[Anonymous]

At small liberal arts colleges it's perfectly fine to invite groups of students to professors houses.

[Anonymous]

I went to St. Mary's College in southern Maryland and there were a few professors who would have class in their living rooms. Nothing nefarious ever happened to my knowledge and it was a nice change of pace to be out of a classroom when discussing whatever literature we were reading. Kind of like a college book club.