How can I get Students to Come to Office Hours?

How can I get Students to Come to Office Hours?

Call Them Something Else. By calling it “study table” instead of “office hours,” and holding them in the dorm cafeteria. Identify a problem area where you know many students are struggling and announce that - “Today from 2-3pm we’ll be going over additional examples of….”

Go Someplace Else. Students who may be reluctant to come to an office will come to the student union, dorm lounge or a coffee shop.

Make Them Come. Some instructors only return tests, papers, or drafts of papers during office hours. This gives you the chance to explain their strengths and weaknesses and help them to improve. Or you might just strongly encourage them to come; pass around a sign-up sheet in class, asking students to commit to coming at a specific time. This works especially well just before an exam day or when a paper is due.

See Them in Groups. Either study tables or sign-up sheets will let you see small groups of students at the same time. This is especially important if you teach very large classes.

Tell Them How to use Office Hours. Give them a handout on how to get the most from a visit; write down specific questions in advance, bring the readings with them with passages to discuss marked, etc.

Use Email.

This can be the most convenient way to communicate with your students. If possible, announce that you will be online in the evening once in awhile. This is when students are usually doing their homework and need help. Archive responses to student questions and use this material to develop an FAQ on your website.

- Teaching Effectiveness Program

University of Oregon