You're not going to like every class you take here at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Similarly, not every professor will be your favorite.
However, some classes and professors are unavoidable. All you need to do is pass the class.
Should a problem with a professor or a class arise, some professors say the best way to deal with it is to let them know as early as possible, take time to reflect on the problem and show you care about your academic success. Failing to alert a professor of your problem might mean a failing grade or rocky relationship.
"Professors have no knowledge of a problem if students don't tell them," said Dawn Braithwaite, a communication studies professor.
While it might seem simple, Braithwaite said many students do not come forward with their concerns at the right time.
That, she said, can lead to bigger or impossible-to-fix problems. Time plays a huge role in settling problems.
After first experiencing a problem, Braithwaite said, students should wait 24 hours to collect themselves and figure out what the problem is. She said students should give the problem a lot of thought and review the syllabus or assignment to help clarify their predicament.
Also, this allows the student to compose his or her feelings instead of snapping at the instructor, she said. An inappropriate student response, she said, might just trigger an inappropriate teacher response, which does not benefit the student or the instructor.
After waiting, students should notify their professor of the problem by sending an email, making a phone call or visiting during office hours.
Braithwaite said professors like face-to-face appointments because they allow students to see them in a less-formal environment.
"I think that professors like it when students come in and talk to us," Braithwaite said. "We're humans, too."
Thomas Gannon, an associate professor of English and ethnic studies, said in his 30 years of teaching, he has rarely seen students come to his office with a problem.
He said there is a hesitancy among some students who take his classes to ask him for clarification on an assignment, despite the students needing his help.
"The students who are having problems don't come and see me, even though the emails and syllabi don't seem clear to them," Gannon said.
To fix that, Gannon said students should make sure to check the assignment's instructions or course policies.
Then if they still have questions, he said they should contact their professor and try to be as clear as possible. That way, the professor is aware of the student's problem, he said.
Braithwaite said most professors respond well to students striving to do well.
In many cases, she said, professors will recognize their effort and do their best to accommodate them.
Before problems arise, she said students can take preventative measures that build a connection between the professor and student and make problems less likely.
Letting the professor know who you are is a key, she said.
That means making eye contact in lecture, asking questions in class, introducing yourself to the professor after class and during office hours and offering feedback, Braithwaite said.
All in all, she said students should not feel intimidated by their professor's Ph.D.
"They're pretty smart and pretty accomplished, but it doesn't mean they're perfect."
RILEYJOHNSON@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM
is a member of the 
