Being a professor is oftentimes an underpaid and thankless job.

Professors spend an average of six extra years becoming an expert on their topic, tens of thousands dollars spent towards a master’s degree or PhD and countless late nights in front of a computer screen in order to get their hands on the ultimate prize: lecturing in front of a group of immature college students.

At the same time, it seems a sect of our society devalues higher education and its professors for “indoctrinating” their students with “woke” ideology. Of course almost all such claims are baseless but our professors must deal with these accusations nonetheless.

Our professors are expected to be experts in their field, spend innumerable hours researching, preparing lectures and creating assignments, teach three to four classes a semester, filter and respond to thousands of emails and somehow still find time to publish their own work. Oh and forget having a personal life. 

With that in mind, when is the last time you thanked one of your professors? I can honestly say that 99% of my professors have been amazing here at Colorado Mesa University (CMU) and also shown themselves to be great people too. Whether it was a random professor for a required class or a higher level class in my major, I always came away with great respect for them.

As the end of the semester quickly approaches and another class of Mavericks leave the halls of CMU, students should let their favorite professors know how much they are appreciated and the impact they have had in their lives. Give them a fun memento or gift to remember you by, even if it is just a graduation card. Hell maybe that leads to a better final grade, who knows!

In my opinion, our professors and the relationships we develop with them are the best thing about CMU. Small class sizes lend themselves to meaningful connections that students and faculty create with one another. And yet, professors seldom get the credit they so rightfully deserve in making the university a great place to be at.

If there is one thing that I have learned from my four years at Colorado Mesa University (CMU) it is that our professors do what they do with the student in mind. Let them know how awesome they are!

Being a professor is oftentimes an underpaid and thankless job.

Professors spend an average of six extra years becoming an expert on their topic, tens of thousands dollars spent towards a master’s degree or PhD and countless late nights in front of a computer screen in order to get their hands on the ultimate prize: lecturing in front of a group of immature college students.

At the same time, it seems a sect of our society devalues higher education and its professors for “indoctrinating” their students with “woke” ideology. Of course almost all such claims are baseless but our professors must deal with these accusations nonetheless.

Our professors are expected to be experts in their field, spend innumerable hours researching, preparing lectures and creating assignments, teach three to four classes a semester, filter and respond to thousands of emails and somehow still find time to publish their own work. Oh and forget having a personal life. 

With that in mind, when is the last time you thanked one of your professors? I can honestly say that 99% of my professors have been amazing here at Colorado Mesa University (CMU) and also shown themselves to be great people too. Whether it was a random professor for a required class or a higher level class in my major, I always came away with great respect for them.

As the end of the semester quickly approaches and another class of Mavericks leave the halls of CMU, students should let their favorite professors know how much they are appreciated and the impact they have had in their lives. Give them a fun memento or gift to remember you by, even if it is just a graduation card. Hell maybe that leads to a better final grade, who knows!

In my opinion, our professors and the relationships we develop with them are the best thing about CMU. Small class sizes lend themselves to meaningful connections that students and faculty create with one another. And yet, professors seldom get the credit they so rightfully deserve in making the university a great place to be at.

If there is one thing that I have learned from my four years at Colorado Mesa University (CMU) it is that our professors do what they do with the student in mind. Let them know how awesome they are!