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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]the job of the professor is to deliver the lecture, answer student questions, assess exams, grade students.

in my university I am not even allowed to take attendance.

professors are not baby sitters. professors are not counselors. professors are not mental health professionals. professors teach those students who want to learn. if a student does not want to learn, there is nothing a professor can do about it. these are adults we are talking about.

- R1 prof. [/quote]

In a class of less than about 20, I will definitely notice if a student's demeanor changes, if they seem troubled or upset or depressed, if they are less engaged.  I start watching carefully, especially if the work and grades are also deteriorating.  Sometimes I can have them meet with me about their academic work and then gently bring up the counseling center, or I will email their adviser.  I've walked out of my office and left students alone in there to use my campus phone to call for a therapy appointment.  I've escorted kids to the counseling center and waited with them at their request until someone could see them.  I've even a few times called the dorm staff on weekends to check on students I knew were struggling.  You can't count on me to be a regulated system (I'm only one person, operating within the rules to respond to needs that I see in front of me), but you can count on me to try to find help within my orbit for a fellow human being. I'm a prof at an R2.[/quote]

my class is rarely less than 20. but I understand what you are saying. I try to do the same as well - I try to accommodate every students' needs, and will gently prod those who I think are falling behind. But I want to clarify that is not part of my job. I do it because I want every student in my class to succeed. College is not grade school. Again, these are adults, and are responsible to ensure that they are doing their part to learn and succeed in college. Please have reasonable expectations, and realize that you are not the only one who I have to attend to. Like someone else said, teaching is many times not even the important part of my job as a professor [research is].

- R1 prof. [/quote]

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