Cornell's Unwritten Rules

One of the rules in Cornell's unwritten student-faculty compact is that the first class of the semester must be short. If it's a 50-minute class, end the class after 30. If it's a 75-minute class, end the class after 45 or 50 minutes. And if it's a 115-minute seminar, God help you if you don't let the kids out when that first hour is up.

The first class is supposed to be an introduction. The professor distributes the syllabus and talks briefly about the course format, readings, and material covered. If it's a seminar, the students can go around the table and introduce themselves. But there shouldn't be any new material covered. The students haven't quite gotten back into the academic mindset, and chances are that a few will drop the class anyway. End the class early and get ready for a real class next time.

Consider me in complete accordance with what K.W. wrote in last Friday's Kvetch.

Why do all professors think it’s OK to lecture for the entire class time on the first day? Everyone knows the first class meeting is for a quick glance at the syllabus, then back to orientation week mode. We’ve got places to drink!

Not just to drink; we've got to buy books, hoard academic planners, and do whatever else Cornell students do at the start of the semester. It's not easy to switch from summer mode to class mode!