Has anyone ever experienced a professor prohibiting students from leaving the classroom during lectures? One of my professors recently sent two emails since our last class, stating that leaving and returning during class time is disrespectful and disruptive.
She has now implemented a rule that if we’re late or leave the lecture hall for any reason, we can’t come back until either the break or the end of class, and we must wait outside. This is a three-hour lecture, and I’ve never encountered such a policy from a university professor before. To me, leaving during class is quite common among students. My classmates and I find this rule completely unreasonable, so I’m curious if others have faced similar situations or if this is even permissible.
As if that weren’t enough, during our last class, where only a maximum of three people left the room, she set an alarm to go off every five minutes at full volume to signal when to move on to the next topic. That seemed equally, if not more, disruptive!
It sounds like you’re in a pretty tough situation! It can be frustrating when a professor sets strict rules that feel unnecessary or overly controlling, especially in a university setting where we’re typically accustomed to a bit more freedom. The rule about not leaving during class does seem extreme, particularly for a three-hour lecture. While I understand the desire to minimize disruptions, it’s also important for students to feel comfortable and able to take care of their needs during long sessions.
Your professor’s approach might stem from wanting to maintain focus in class, but enforcing a no-leaving policy can affect students’ overall experience and engagement. It might be useful for you and your classmates to have a respectful conversation with her. You could express how this rule is impacting your learning experience and ask if there’s any flexibility for situations where leaving is necessary.
As for the alarm, that does seem counterproductive in terms of creating a focused environment. If it continues to disrupt the class, it might be worth mentioning as well, ideally in a constructive way. It’s always worth advocating for a better classroom dynamic that works for everyone involved!