Office Hours Policies
Office hours are a great opportunity to build rapport with students and also to help clarify course material and expectations. The real question is whether to make the office hours open—anybody is free to come—or whether to require them.
Below we've provided policy options, as well as rationale for using each of them—or not. Feel free to use the language below in your syllabus, and adapt as necessary.
Open Office Hours
Required Office Hours
Open Office Hours
Students are welcome to attend office hours at the pre-set times lined out in the syllabus.
Sample Syllabus Policy: "You are always welcome to attend office hours, as many times as you like, individually or in groups, whether to talk about course material, the discipline more widely, or career thoughts—or just as an opportunity for us to get to know each other better. I am very happy to talk to students during office hours! My office hours are [insert set times] but please contact me if those times collide with other courses or responsibilities for you and we can work on finding another time."
| Rationale For | Rationale Against |
|---|---|
| It’s helpful to emphasize the openness of your office hours and to show enthusiasm for interactions with students. Making these hours open rather than required takes pressure off students. For some students, private open office hours offer a safer space for them to discuss content they’re misunderstanding or explain ways in which they may be struggling with the course. Requiring appointments might be daunting for some students and disincentivize seeking support. | More timid students or students with less experience in academia (first-generation, for example) may be hesitant to come to office hours and/or may not understand their purpose. You may need to spend class time emphasizing the value of office hours and clarifying the range of reasons that can legitimately bring students to office hours. |
Required Office Hours
Students are required to attend at least one (or a set number outlined in the syllabus) office hours session throughout the semester.
Sample Syllabus Policy: "In addition to my regularly scheduled, and open, office hours—I will always be happy to see you!—I am requiring each student to have a 20-minute (or longer) meeting with me within the first three weeks of the course. We’ll use this time to get to know one another, and in particular for me to field any questions you might have about the course and for me to learn about your goals for the experience. I look forward to seeing you!"
| Rationale For | Rationale Against |
|---|---|
| It’s helpful to emphasize the openness of your office hours and to show enthusiasm for interactions with students. Making these hours open rather than required takes pressure off students. For some students, private open office hours offer a safer space for them to discuss content they’re misunderstanding or explain ways in which they may be struggling with the course. Requiring appointments might be daunting for some students and disincentivize seeking support. | More timid students or students with less experience in academia (first-generation, for example) may be hesitant to come to office hours and/or may not understand their purpose. You may need to spend class time emphasizing the value of office hours and clarifying the range of reasons that can legitimately bring students to office hours. |
