Advice for New College Instructors

Print PDF

What Award Winning Instructors Have to Say to New Faculty Members

I began reading a book I purchased in 2008.  (Memo to self: Next week stop procrastinating.  )  Any way, in their book “Practical Magic” (2003) Roueche, Milliron & Roueche report on a study of “excellent” award winning full-time community college instructors, but the advice applies to part-time instructors as well.  When asked the most important advice they would give a beginning instructor their responses were (in rank order):

1. Focus on your students,
2. Put forth the effort necessary to be effective,
3. Find a mentor,
4. Be positive,
5. Set high standards for self and students,
6. Be open and honest,
7. Explore and utilize a range of teaching techniques,
8. Embrace teaching life,
9. Strive for balance,
10. Value student contributions,
11. Be flexible,
12. Value intrinsic rewards,
13. Orient yourself to the community college context and your college in particular, and
14. Get involved in college activities.

Therefore, my advice would be read this book, and then if it ain’t in your heart, if it no longer excites you, find something else to do.

© 2010 Paul A. Hummel, Ed.D.

Revised June 26, 2010