Micheal Varela, sophomore accounting and finance double-major
What makes a professor a bad professor?
“I feel like a bad professor would be somebody who is not being actively supportive of their students. Somebody who puts them off, doesn’t respond to any emails, cancels office hours and isn’t able to have open availability for their students.”
How do you deal with bad professors?
“I mean, luckily, here on campus, I haven’t had any bad professors, but I have heard many stories when it comes to STEM majors. A lot of the chemistry professors — they don’t have open office hours, so [my advice is to] just try to reach out or find alternatives. Get support from students and just reach out to other resources like QRS and the writing center when the bad professor isn’t available.”
D’Andre Bergt, first-year business analytics and accounting double-major
What makes a professor a bad professor?
“I think something that makes a professor a bad professor is if you can tell they’re not enthusiastic about what they’re teaching.”
How do you deal with bad professors?
“I scroll on Instagram in class.”
Sofia Pressley, senior art history major
What makes a professor a bad professor?
“Honestly one that isn’t clear. One that’s unprepared, honestly.”
How do you deal with bad professors?
“I try my best not to take them again and try to tell other people, ‘Do not take this person.’”
Olivia Raffaniello, first-year political science and psychology double-major
What makes a professor a bad professor?
“[They’re a bad professor] if they’re not available during their office hours. If they give really brief and vague explanations of what they’re trying to explain and it’s not helpful or in-depth.”
How do you deal with bad professors?
“Peer tutors. Use your peer tutors, I love peer tutors so much, and they are way better at explaining, and are always there to help you more than the professor.”
Cristal Suárez, sophomore accounting major
What makes a professor a bad professor?
“When they’re unprepared. If they have a bunch of connection problems, it might not be their fault, but it just makes them seem unprofessional.”
How do you deal with bad professors?
“I go based off of the textbook.”
Diya Joshy, junior psychology major
What makes a professor a bad professor?
“I feel like a professor that doesn’t have structure makes a bad professor, and if they don’t really know what they’re talking about or they feel like they’re learning with you, that’s also bad.”
How do you deal with bad professors?
“I take it upon myself to do everything on my own. So I kind of learn from outside sources or whatever I can find.”
*This story was updated on February 18, 2026
