John Dillon – Senior Adjunct Professor

My students frequently hear me tell them that “It’s my job to help you succeed.”  But what does that mean exactly?

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First off, notice the word “help.”  The goal is for you to succeed, which implies personal responsibility on your part. I’m there to assist you in achieving that success.

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In the classroom, education is a partnership between student and professor. As professor, it’s my job to impart the information you need to learn the material in a way that’s clear, repeatable, and lends itself to inspiring further study. As a student, your responsibility is to invest the time necessary for learning, do the exercises and challenge me to explain things more clearly if you don’t “get it.”

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The onus is upon me to deliver the information and identify the areas that are particularly important, but I can’t do it alone. You can help by engaging as a willing participant in the educational exercise. If it seems unclear to you, then I need to try other approaches to clarify the important stuff. I endeavor to give you the knowledge that will help you succeed, not only in the classroom (e.g., so you can pass tests), but also in your future career.

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Indeed, I believe that my challenge is to not just deliver the information but, more importantly, provide analytical tools you can use in life, regardless of the specific discipline you’ve chosen.

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If I am successful in this regard, then I have fulfilled my job—I have helped you succeed.