Instructors would you give your students your cell phone number to contact you?

Question

I'm talking about college instructors. I ask this question because in my History of Psychology course my instructor gave us his personal email and cell phone to contact him any time. He stressed the fact it was fine to contact him ANYTIME. I found this to be odd because most of my previous instructors only provide their business email and office number for students to contact them.

Answer 1

I do teach college classes, and I have given my cell phone number on occasion to students, but never to an entire class.  Part of it is that I travel a lot, and if a student needs an answer quickly, it is just too hard to connect at times using landlines and email.  However, I don't want to be interrupted in the middle of the night by drunken students telling me they won't make it to class the next morning, so I can't see giving it out as a matter of course.

Answer 2

It just depends how personal a teacher is and how open with their time they are. Ive had teachers that have done both and the email thing has definately helped me in the past. Althought i know i would never be comfortable enough to call their home phone i know some do. Of course it's only for school related things like questions and not for small talk lol

Answer 3

Trust your instincts. Something is strange here.

Answer 4

Well, I don't teach college classes, but I do teach private high school and middle school classes for homeschooled kids.  We meet on a schedule that is more like a college class (once-twice per week for 1-1.5 hours), and I do give out my cell and email.  If I worked in a high school and had 120 students, I wouldn't do this; however, they have me in class once or twice a week, and a week's worth of homework to do on their own.  If they have questions, they're allowed to call me during reasonable hours or email me at any time.

It's not odd - it just fits in well with his schedule and is his preferred method of contact.  Feel lucky that you have a prof who's not restricted to business hours :)

Answer 5

Um ya that's so not right. If I where you I'd say something to the dean of your college