November 2005

Briefly speaking: Wisdom from a revered professor

No doubt many parents are anxious to help their students learn skills to successfully navigate the challenges of the university -- from the fast-paced quarter system to the myriad choices for a major.

Professor Maureen Stanton, recipient of the 2005 UC Davis Prize for Undergraduate Teaching and Scholarly Achievement, encourages students to seek advice from faculty members and offers a few guidelines for parents as well.

"We have office hours because we want to meet with students!" says Stanton, one of the campus's most admired professors. "Students shouldn't be afraid of their professors."

Taking advantage of office hours

Too often, Stanton says, students hesitate to take advantage of office hours where they can get help with coursework or discuss possible research interests. These sessions also provide insight into a professor's passion for a particular course of study.

"When students have the opportunity to get inside a professor's head and find out what makes them tick, it adds tremendously to the overall UC experience," says Stanton, who followed a childhood interest in nature to become one of the world's most influential evolutionary ecologists.

Students should keep in mind, however, that faculty members are also overwhelmed by commitments. If a student needs a one-on-one discussion, Stanton advises sending an e-mail or making an appointment, rather than knocking on a door and asking to talk immediately.

Tips for parents

Stanton also has a few pointers for parents to help their student make the most of the college experience:

• Encourage your student to form study groups with other like-minded, serious students.
• Help your student find a healthy balance among studies and the cultural and recreational aspects of life.
• Limit, if you can, the hours your student works. Too many work hours can damage their academic career.

Most importantly, Stanton urges parents to help their child explore topics beyond the initial major, especially if he or she is not liking the material much. She recalls students who have come to her overwhelmed by a parent's pressure to enter a particular field -- such as medicine, law or business -- to make a lot of money.

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