<p>I don’t know about in this situation, but I personally have given gifts before (once I was not in a class with them). Mostly little things (like I hope to eventually get around to making my old Latin professor a bracelet that says “Magistra”). I don’t know if the relationship plays in though, since I’m a returning student I often find myself in their offices talking about our families, kids, and with some I’ve been known to go to lunch with them, etc. So several of my professors have been more like friends. I don’t think there’s a problem with someone showing appreciation when it can no longer be construed that there might be gain from it.</p>