Class is Back in Session
Fall semester classes began this week. There are students I am glad to see again, others I miss, and others I’m wondering in what way did I offend the universe and ended up with this person in class for a third time? In one of my classes 20 of the 25 students are freshman ─ silent freshman. I have to figure out how to break their timidity or it’s going to be a long semester. The most vocal student in the class realized on Thursday that he has been attending the wrong section. I’ve lost my only voice!Registration is still ongoing, therefore students are adding and dropping classes. Professors at my university also serve as academic advisors. Most of my advisees are seniors. All of them are in a panic trying to ensure that they have registered for all classes needed to graduate. The onslaught and transcript reviews have consumed much of my class preparation time. Popular culture and lecture notes from last semester are providing me with great classroom material. Last year preparing lectures was one of my most challenging tasks.
The first meeting of each class was mostly course reviews and introductions. In one of my PR classes each student
- Ali Edwards
kept introducing themselves as my favorite student. Was “Malcolm X” on BET lately? After the laughs, instruction has begun. Despite posting the required textbooks to each courses’ website a month ago, very few students have purchased books this week. Several coeds are first generation college students and/or come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Some of them are awaiting book vouchers that are ensnared in bureaucratic red tape. These circumstances I certainly understand. However, students are still responsible for assignments and material covered. All of the students are not disadvantaged and lower costs alternatives are available online or through book rentals to obtain texts. Last year I had a student that was unable to purchase her textbooks until midterm. However, she borrowed books from friends, took copious notes in class, and made photo copies of readings. Her grades were much better than some of her classmates that had books on the first day. Determination and commitment makes the grade.
Air Kisses,
Professor Diva Mac
