<p>I wish I could get away with this, as do the other faculty I know. Over the past 10 years, we have watched students become more and more passive consumers, with little initiative or problem-solving ability. Questions clearly covered by the syllabus become the subject of an email which begins, all too often, “Hey Prof.” I am dedicated to my students’ success, but I do expect them to take the initiative to look for the answer themselves, and then check with me. </p>
<p>A colleague received feedback from a student that, “if the professor had told me what the (substantive answer was on an independent research project), I would have done better.” True, but then the whole point of getting an education would be missed. </p>