As minutes on the clock tick away, students are trapped in lecture halls, even after the class period is over. The professor keeps going on with the lecture, unaware that class has ended.
Professors should be more mindful of students’ time and avoid keeping students after class. Students are paying to be in class for its allotted time, not earlier and not later.
College students tend to have very busy schedules and other commitments outside of school, such as work or extracurriculars. Professors also have commitments of their own, so it’s imperative that they are more understanding.
Ethan Ernst, a sophomore English major, reiterated that time is crucial for college students.
“I would say students already have a fairly large workload, so they need all the time they can get,” Ernst said. “College students need to be able to do homework and balance other things they need to do in their lives and also make sure they get to class on time.”
When professors are not mindful of students’ time, it can have lasting effects, such as students being late or even missing their next class. Students that have jobs or other commitments could also be late for their shifts. It is not fair for students to have to drop all of their commitments because of professors’ carelessness.
Professors should develop time management strategies to prevent their classes from getting out late. For instance, by using a timer, professors can better manage and be more mindful of students’ neverending priorities.
James Keating, a sophomore history major, expressed that professors are trying to do too much in one class period.
“I would say the professor should expand their lesson into two class periods if they have the class another day in the week, instead of trying to do it all in one class,” Keating said.
Sometimes, professors tell students important information or give handouts at the end of class which cause the class to get out late. Instead of waiting until the very end of class, professors should address important announcements at the beginning of class so they do not have to hold students past class time.
Professors need to reevaluate their approach to time management in the interest of student well-being and success. When professors manage their time better, students will be less pressed for time and have the ability to thrive, both in general and in the classroom.
