Connecting with Instructors

There are many reasons why you might seek to cultivate a professional relationship with an instructor.

Identify your Motivations

Pause and reflect to identify your specific reason(s) or goal(s) for establishing a working connection with an instructor, such as:

  • Deepening your understanding of a topic they lecture on or research
  • Getting involved with their research
  • Mentorship, such as if you wish to learn about their career path
  • Learning more about their professional network(s)
  • Exploring graduate opportunities or vetting them as a prospective supervisor
  • Asking them for a letter of reference for work or graduate school applications

This list is not exhaustive. It is important to understand your motivation for connecting so that you can identify next steps and what questions you should ask.

Find an Instructor

Then, identify an instructor who complements your goal.

A great place to start is with your own class schedule and review the lecturers of the classes you are enrolled in. You can find detailed descriptions about their research interests and ongoing projects on the . Once you have decided upon an instructor with whom you have a professional interest in common, here are some tips for cultivating a relationship.

Be Engaged

  • Ensure you attend lectures regularly.
  • Participate actively in class activities, discussions and projects.
  • Take notes during lectures and study time.

Seek Out Interaction

  • A great way to interact with your instructor is to use their office hours.
  • Come prepared with specific questions, topics or feedback.
  • You can send an email to request a time to meet if the office hours do not work for your schedule.

Take Initiative

  • Actively ask questions to learn about opportunities. For example:
    • Ask if they are willing to share their experience. Your instructor may be happy to share their career experiences/insights, research opportunities, career options and professional network opportunities.
    • Ask how you can get involved. Your instructor may know of volunteer opportunities they can connect you with, such as research, projects, departmental events or teaching assistantships.

Express Appreciation

  • Regardless of the outcome, show gratitude for your instructor’s time. This can be in the form of email or a quick thank you after class.
  • If you were successful in participating in an opportunity as a result of the conversation, share that news with your instructor.

Connecting with Other Instructors

If you did not find an academic interest in common among your current instructors, use the Â鶹ÊÓƵ directory to look up other potential instructors.

Keep in mind that there are a multitude of other ways to build connections. The following is a non-exhaustive list of ideas to network beyond the instructors in your class schedule:

  • Seek out teaching or research assistantships for courses that interest you. This can be a way to connect with instructors. To find teaching or research assistantships:
    • Keep an eye on .
    • Ask your faculty's student service desk.
  • Get involved with the Undergraduate Research Initiative (URI). Most undergraduate research opportunities are NOT formally advertised, so the URI is your place to find research opportunities in your area of interest.
  • Search the internet to find current research projects or organizations affiliated with the Â鶹ÊÓƵ that interest you and email to ask if you can volunteer.
  • Get involved with faculty events and projects. To learn about upcoming events and projects:
    • Read your faculty’s newsletter, if applicable.
    • Ask your faculty's student service desk.
  • Join a faculty/department association or .
  • Attend departmental/faculty poster presentations and conferences, and talk with the students and professors involved in the research. To find out more about upcoming events:
    • Read your faculty’s newsletter.
    • Keep an eye on the weekly undergraduate student digest.
    • Attend the annual Festival of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities ( FURCA)
  • Talk to your peers (or seek out graduate students) who are doing research in areas that interest you and ask for an introduction.
Remember: Opportunities are not always so formal as a scheduled meeting. A simple conversation in passing (e.g., at a poster presentation event) can spark a connection that may lead to a working relationship or a key introduction. Keep in mind that instructors are people too — engage authentically and be willing to participate in opportunities even if they aren’t exactly what you had in mind.

Opportunities to Learn About Graduate + Professional Studies