How Long Should You Wait for a Late Professor

No matter how great your college is, its bound to happen: a professor is going to be late to class. But how long should you wait for them to show up? Ten minutes? Fifteen? The entire 50-minute class period? Do you tell someone? And, most importantly, when is it OK to leave? Rules of Thumb At most schools, there are rules of thumb about how long to wait if your professor doesnt show. Fifteen minutes is pretty common, though each campus has its own variation. Some students believe that 10 minutes is long enough. Few schools have a written policy about how long to wait for a late professor. How long you hold out depends on many factors, including the campus culture and your own attitude (and patience) as a student. Is It Normal for the Professor to Be Late? Professors are people, too, and some of them have a habit of always running late. If your professor is often tardy, you might consider staying a while since theres a chance theyll still show up. Is Your Professor Never Late?   Some professors are extremely punctual and expect you to be on time, too. If thats the case, and your professor hasnt appeared after 15 to 20 minutes, you may consider their tardiness a sign that something is awry. Your professors punctuality is an important pattern to consider when youre trying to decide what to do if he or she is late to class. Guest Professors Perhaps your regular professor is out of town and someone else is supposed to be leading the class today. If thats the case, you should wait as long as possible, perhaps even the entire class period. The guest professor could be lost, looking for parking, stuck in traffic, or dealing with unexpected issues. If you (and other students) leave before the guest professor arrives, your absence could reflect badly on the class and your professor. Traffic If  students who live off-campus are talking about a bad backup on the freeway or other event snarling access to campus, your professor might be facing the same situation. Consider what he or she might be facing that day during the commute when deciding whether to stay or leave. Consider Your Class Schedule Is it the first day of class when you need to make a good impression or get a signature to add the class? Is there a major assignment due or an important exam scheduled? If so, leaving early might be a bad idea. In some circumstances, being one of the last students to leave the class may be a better option. What to Do Next If your professor is late and you decide to leave, what should you do next?  If its really out of character for your professor not to show, consider stopping by your colleges registrars office to let them know. You also might send your professor a courtesy email, letting them know you were in class and are checking in. Was the class supposed to meet elsewhere? Did you miss an announcement? Its a good idea to check in and follow up. Final Thoughts Theres no magic number about how long you should (or shouldnt) wait for a late professor. It all depends on your campus culture, your professors habits and expectations, the situation, and what you are personally comfortable with. Given all of that, however, its important to remember that your education is what you make of it. Leaving or staying is a judgment call youll have to make.