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Questions tagged [professorship]

Queries specific to the duties and responsibilities of professors, as distinct from all other academic staff positions. This tag should not be used for queries that could equally apply to researchers or instructors who are not professors.

75 votes
8 answers
18k views

Is generic "thank you" email a waste of time in academia?

A very busy professor just responded my email. He answered my questions, and in the end, he explicitly said something like "Please let me know if you have any questions" or "Please respond if you have ...
dodo's user avatar
  • 2,155
71 votes
10 answers
14k views

What is the point of being the head of the department?

What is the point of being the head of the department ? I'm an undergraduate Physics & Mathematics student and I want to stay in academia, do research and also teach. I'm assuming professors also ...
Our's user avatar
  • 4,179
71 votes
5 answers
42k views

What ratio of PhD graduates in STEM fields ultimately end up as (tenured) professors?

I recently saw this infogram circling around various social networks: It appeared in this Tweet with the following claim: Got a PhD? Your chance of becoming a Professor is 0.45%. Good luck. Being ...
badroit's user avatar
  • 13.7k
70 votes
9 answers
22k views

Should I challenge my professor who thinks he's always right?

One of my professors has been in the IT development fields for over 40 years. He thinks he is up-to-date with all the latest research and technology. But I believe he's not. The problem is - he hates ...
user10815's user avatar
  • 525
70 votes
7 answers
45k views

My professor gave me a bad grade and wouldn't discuss it further, I think some prejudice may be involved. How should a student proceed?

Background: I was a senior at a very prestigious, high-ranking university in the US. At the time my GPA was around a 3.9 and had never had any issues with professors (and actually socialized with a ...
blankip's user avatar
  • 4,915
70 votes
12 answers
11k views

Why do faculty use the software "Blackboard"?

It is becoming apparent to me that, outside my field, use of Blackboard and other LMS software is becoming extremely common. Indeed, a rash of technical problems here is making it apparent students ...
Anonymous's user avatar
  • 26.3k
68 votes
10 answers
110k views

Is it appropriate to send an email to a professor at the end of the semester thanking them for their teaching?

I'm aware of very similar questions previously asked - all with good answers. These usually pertain to following up with a professor after a recommendation. My question is specifically about sending a ...
Adam Pollack's user avatar
65 votes
12 answers
23k views

Is it okay if a professor friends a student on social media sites?

If a professor is teaching a student currently, is it okay if he/she friends the student on social media sites such as Facebook or Google Plus?
Tomtkj's user avatar
  • 737
65 votes
5 answers
12k views

Is it normal for professors to not have families or not spend time with their families over the holidays, due to pressure of work?

My sister is a professor. I was visiting her over Thanksgiving break and my father (who is also a professor) told me not to hang out with her because she had a grant proposal due. Is this normal for ...
user45218's user avatar
  • 483
58 votes
10 answers
13k views

Is it appropriate to email a professor with a simpler solution than the one she provided?

I am in a graduate math program in the US, and the professor is teaching via online lectures. The proof she provideed for one of the theorems is a little bit tricky to understand. I think I found a ...
Blue's user avatar
  • 1,587
58 votes
7 answers
11k views

Do universities hire graduates from lesser universities?

Recently, someone analyzed computer science professors at top universities and found that over half of the professors at the top 51 universities graduated from a top 10 university. Others have also ...
Austin Henley's user avatar
56 votes
6 answers
6k views

Is it normal to feel dread before starting a faculty position?

I need some advice. After several months of interviews and work, I secured a faculty position at a good business school, which was a relief since jobs are so hard to get around here. Everyone tells me ...
Skunkness's user avatar
  • 1,451
55 votes
9 answers
17k views

A professor has offered to send me a hard copy of his new book. Would it be rude to ask for a PDF file instead?

While working my way through one textbook, I spotted several errors, TeXed them up and emailed to the author of the textbook. He thanked me and asked for my physical address so he could send me a copy ...
Leo's user avatar
  • 1,787
55 votes
10 answers
154k views

After my PhD how much salary should I expect as a professor of computer science?

It's easy for me to find out salaries for tech-jobs but it seems Professor salaries are quite hush-hush. I really love to teach and would be more than willing to join academia. However, I may choose ...
PhD's user avatar
  • 1,122
55 votes
6 answers
11k views

What kind of career path might be possible for a professor following a plagiarism scandal?

Prior to transferring to another university, I attended a college in a different state with a renown reputation for integrity and academic rigor. The year before I left, I enrolled in a course that ...
daOnlyBG's user avatar
  • 742

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