By Brian Pivonka

Students only have about two to three hours a week in class with their professors. Between lectures and tests during regular class time, they often must find an opportunity outside of class to have their concerns heard.

The Academic Operations Manual says faculty members must offer at least three one-hour periods per week to make themselves available to students, and that these hours should not be during student activities periods. The manual also states that office hours should be scheduled at periods when students are most likely to utilize them.

“[I would go] if it was more than once a week,” said Dom Palumbo, a junior management major. “You know, they’re there for like an hour. Maybe if it was longer or something.”

Students also questioned the professors’ attendance to their hours.

“They’re only there when we tell them we’re coming,” said Jessica Abraham, a freshman communications major.

Not all students, however, believe it is all the professors’ fault. Abraham questions her peers more than her professors.

“[The students] don’t want to take the time [to go],” Abraham said. “They’re just lazy or they don’t need the help.”

The professors, whether students come in or not, are obligated to wait in their offices during the allotted times.

“I’ve almost never had somebody come in during office hours, sometimes before a test,” said Assistant Professor of psychology Richard Gramzow. “Usually, if someone wants to meet with me, they contact me and we set up a time. Usually I’m sitting here all by myself. Nobody drops in unannounced.”

Other students, however, do realize the benefits of office hours and will drop by to meet with their professors when they need to.

“Yeah, I use them,” said Brian Dixon, a middler information sciences major. “I’m a computer science [student] and you write programs, and if the TA is not available, the professor is your last chance. Their office hours are different so you go to which ever one is easier.”

Students also cite office hours as a chance to make sure they establish a relationship with their professors.

“I do [use office hours]. I like to still be involved,” said Katelyn Meehan, a sophomore sociology major. “It’s better than class because you can do it personally and some things you just can’t talk about in class.”

Aaron Tillman, a lecturer in the school of general studies, said students are more inclined to use office hours after midterms than before.

“It would be fair to say that students come around more from mid term and thereafter,” Tillman said. “After mid term there are more graded events. Students know where they stand. Students know they need to get a ‘C’ or above. If they are concerned, office hours is where they start to figure things out. “