Making the most of Student Success Hours

Office Hours Requirements

Every instructor who teaches courses is expected to be available to students outside of class on a reasonable and regular basis. Your availability should be stated in the course syllabus. On-campus course instructors should also be available by appointment for students who cannot meet during posted office hours. See section ACD 305-05 of the Policy Manuals for the policy regarding office hours.

Office hour guidelines for all Instructors teaching and leading SOLS courses (campus and online):

Minimally, 2 hours of office hours [aka “Student Success Hours” (SSHs)] per week for a 3-credit hour lecture course (i.e., two 1-hour sessions each week) for campus and online courses, and “By appointment” options for all students.

SOLS's Additional Suggestions:

Graduate TAs (in campus or online courses) offer and lead separate office hours (SSHs) sessions each week. You can offer options for in-person and Zoom office hours (SSHs)

Reach More Students with Multimodal Office Hours

Consider using technology to increase your availability during office hours. Add options for students to participate in office hours via Zoom, Slack, text, or phone.

Stagger Office Hours

If possible, stagger office hours at various times throughout the week and term. If applicable, work with your TAs to offer additional, supplemental hours. Be sure to communicate how students can schedule appointments if they cannot attend open office hours.

Offer a Recap of Office Hours

Consider sharing frequently asked questions from office hours in a class announcement.

Office Hours Make the Most of Your Time

Make the most of your time by meeting with groups of students who have similar questions about a topic. Questions posted on the class discussion board or Slack may be better suited for further discussion during office hours. You can also use feedback from assignments to target topics students may want to review. Office hours can greatly reduce the time you spend answering emails.

Consider Sharing Guidance Beyond Content

Open office hours to conversations about topics such as graduate school or pursuing research opportunities. These “approachable” topics offer an opportunity to foster student relationships. Students are more likely to return for help with course content.

Additional Resources

• TLC Blog: Quick Tips to Show The Importance of Office Hours to Your Students
• TLC Blog: Make it Your Own! Increasing Educational Value Through Office Hour Activities

Research Sources

• Lydia Eckstein Jackson & Aimee Knupsky (2015)  “Weaning off of Email”: Encouraging Students to Use Office Hours over Email to Contact Professors, College Teaching, 63:4, 183-184, DOI:  10.1080/87567555.2015.1052724
• Patrick Cafferty (2021): Quick Fix: The Artistic Office Hour Promotes Personal Student-Faculty Interactions, College Teaching, DOI:  10.1080/87567555.2021.1952401
• Whitney Griffin, Steven D. Cohen, Rachel Berndtson, Kristen M. Burson, K. Martin Camper, Yujie Chen & Margaret Austin Smith (2014) Starting the Conversation: An Exploratory Study of Factors That Influence Student Office Hour Use, College Teaching, 62:3, 94-99, DOI:  10.1080/87567555.2014.896777