Should I call an adjunct “professor”? Forum
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Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
Should I call an adjunct “professor xx” or "Ms./Mr. xx"? He is an mid-level associate from a law firm.
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
You are aware that "adjunct" is shorthand for "adjunct professor," right? You have the answer already, I promise!
- DELG
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
Great thread I look forward to your career on TLS
- smaug
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
look them dead in the eye and use their first name
don't blink
don't blink
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
First name. I've never referred to someone as "professor" in law school unless they were like 80 or they called me "Mr. xx"TheHungerGames wrote:Should I call an adjunct “professor xx” or "Ms./Mr. xx"? He is an mid-level associate from a law firm.
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- Johann
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
If V10, professor.
Anything other than that, first name.
edit - oh nm, hes only a midlevel. first name.
Anything other than that, first name.
edit - oh nm, hes only a midlevel. first name.
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
That's weird... Do you go to a Montessori law school?philepistemer wrote:First name. I've never referred to someone as "professor" in law school unless they were like 80 or they called me "Mr. xx"TheHungerGames wrote:Should I call an adjunct “professor xx” or "Ms./Mr. xx"? He is an mid-level associate from a law firm.
- smaug
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
hey now let's be nice to Yalerobotrick wrote:That's weird... Do you go to a Montessori law school?philepistemer wrote:First name. I've never referred to someone as "professor" in law school unless they were like 80 or they called me "Mr. xx"TheHungerGames wrote:Should I call an adjunct “professor xx” or "Ms./Mr. xx"? He is an mid-level associate from a law firm.
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
No, it's that I'm an adult, so I don't address people formally unless they do the same for me.robotrick wrote:That's weird... Do you go to a Montessori law school?philepistemer wrote:First name. I've never referred to someone as "professor" in law school unless they were like 80 or they called me "Mr. xx"TheHungerGames wrote:Should I call an adjunct “professor xx” or "Ms./Mr. xx"? He is an mid-level associate from a law firm.
- A. Nony Mouse
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
Lolphilepistemer wrote:No, it's that I'm an adult, so I don't address people formally unless they do the same for me.robotrick wrote:That's weird... Do you go to a Montessori law school?philepistemer wrote:First name. I've never referred to someone as "professor" in law school unless they were like 80 or they called me "Mr. xx"TheHungerGames wrote:Should I call an adjunct “professor xx” or "Ms./Mr. xx"? He is an mid-level associate from a law firm.
- rcharter1978
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
always professor -- you'll never go wrong showing respect. and adjunct professors eat it up, because they don't always get respect at their day job.
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
An adult doesn't need to refer to themselves as an "adult."philepistemer wrote:No, it's that I'm an adult, so I don't address people formally unless they do the same for me.robotrick wrote:That's weird... Do you go to a Montessori law school?philepistemer wrote:First name. I've never referred to someone as "professor" in law school unless they were like 80 or they called me "Mr. xx"TheHungerGames wrote:Should I call an adjunct “professor xx” or "Ms./Mr. xx"? He is an mid-level associate from a law firm.
- Kali the Annihilator
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
Call them whatever their name is.TheHungerGames wrote:Should I call an adjunct “professor xx” or "Ms./Mr. xx"? He is an mid-level associate from a law firm.
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
Yeah IMO Professor X or Mr. X would be a really weird thing to call someone who has a name.Kali the Annihilator wrote:Call them whatever their name is.TheHungerGames wrote:Should I call an adjunct “professor xx” or "Ms./Mr. xx"? He is an mid-level associate from a law firm.
Last edited by Danger Zone on Sat Jan 27, 2018 3:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
I was an adjunct. My title was lecturer. I told my students to call me by my first name.rcharter1978 wrote:always professor -- you'll never go wrong showing respect. and adjunct professors eat it up, because they don't always get respect at their day job.
"Respect" is fine and all, but the only people I cared about calling me professor were university administrators, so I'd get the raise that would come along with the title.
OP, many of my students ended up calling me Professor X, just "Professor," or Dr. X, even though I explicitly and repeatedly told them that first-name basis was fine. You can opt for more formality if you're more comfortable with it.
- encore1101
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
philepistemer wrote: No, it's that I'm an adult, so I don't address people formally unless they do the same for me.

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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
So you wouldn't address an MD as Dr. X? Or a senator as Senator X? Or a Supreme Court Justice as Justice X? Surely you wouldn't call Justice Ginsberg "Ruth", especially if she was teaching one of your classes or fielding questions at an event.Danger Zone wrote:Yeah IMO Professor X or Mr. X would be a really weird thing to call someone who has a name.Kali the Annihilator wrote:Call them whatever their name is.TheHungerGames wrote:Should I call an adjunct “professor xx” or "Ms./Mr. xx"? He is an mid-level associate from a law firm.
There's nothing wrong with using a respectful honorific to address someone who's earned it, no matter your age or theirs. You won't hurt your relationship with them, but could definitely harm it by using a first name. I've had Professors who say "call me Jim" or whatever, and that's when you know you're safe. I'd advise caution with anyone whose opinion can influence your GPA.
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- Kali the Annihilator
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
1. He was clearly joking and made a reference to Professor X from X Men.GreatBraffsby wrote:So you wouldn't address an MD as Dr. X? Or a senator as Senator X? Or a Supreme Court Justice as Justice X? Surely you wouldn't call Justice Ginsberg "Ruth", especially if she was teaching one of your classes or fielding questions at an event.Danger Zone wrote:Yeah IMO Professor X or Mr. X would be a really weird thing to call someone who has a name.Kali the Annihilator wrote:Call them whatever their name is.TheHungerGames wrote:Should I call an adjunct “professor xx” or "Ms./Mr. xx"? He is an mid-level associate from a law firm.
There's nothing wrong with using a respectful honorific to address someone who's earned it, no matter your age or theirs. You won't hurt your relationship with them, but could definitely harm it by using a first name. I've had Professors who say "call me Jim" or whatever, and that's when you know you're safe. I'd advise caution with anyone whose opinion can influence your GPA.
2. Analogizing an adjunct to a SCOTUS Justice or Senator seems dumb.
3. Advise deez nuts, fam
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
this. how is this even a question? if the prof doesn't say anything, use prof because maybe they care. when they say to use their first name, use it. don't yall know how to interact with adults?starsofthelidd wrote:I was an adjunct. My title was lecturer. I told my students to call me by my first name.rcharter1978 wrote:always professor -- you'll never go wrong showing respect. and adjunct professors eat it up, because they don't always get respect at their day job.
"Respect" is fine and all, but the only people I cared about calling me professor were university administrators, so I'd get the raise that would come along with the title.
OP, many of my students ended up calling me Professor X, just "Professor," or Dr. X, even though I explicitly and repeatedly told them that first-name basis was fine. You can opt for more formality if you're more comfortable with it.
quoted for stars of the lid handle.
- sollos
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
How do people get into law school while being this ignorant?philepistemer wrote:No, it's that I'm an adult, so I don't address people formally unless they do the same for me.robotrick wrote:That's weird... Do you go to a Montessori law school?philepistemer wrote:First name. I've never referred to someone as "professor" in law school unless they were like 80 or they called me "Mr. xx"TheHungerGames wrote:Should I call an adjunct “professor xx” or "Ms./Mr. xx"? He is an mid-level associate from a law firm.
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
Thanks boo <3Kali the Annihilator wrote:1. He was clearly joking and made a reference to Professor X from X Men.GreatBraffsby wrote:So you wouldn't address an MD as Dr. X? Or a senator as Senator X? Or a Supreme Court Justice as Justice X? Surely you wouldn't call Justice Ginsberg "Ruth", especially if she was teaching one of your classes or fielding questions at an event.Danger Zone wrote:Yeah IMO Professor X or Mr. X would be a really weird thing to call someone who has a name.Kali the Annihilator wrote:Call them whatever their name is.TheHungerGames wrote:Should I call an adjunct “professor xx” or "Ms./Mr. xx"? He is an mid-level associate from a law firm.
There's nothing wrong with using a respectful honorific to address someone who's earned it, no matter your age or theirs. You won't hurt your relationship with them, but could definitely harm it by using a first name. I've had Professors who say "call me Jim" or whatever, and that's when you know you're safe. I'd advise caution with anyone whose opinion can influence your GPA.
2. Analogizing an adjunct to a SCOTUS Justice or Senator seems dumb.
3. Advise deez nuts, fam
Last edited by Danger Zone on Sat Jan 27, 2018 3:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
Not only did I get in, but they're giving me a degree.sollos wrote:How do people get into law school while being this ignorant?philepistemer wrote:No, it's that I'm an adult, so I don't address people formally unless they do the same for me.robotrick wrote:That's weird... Do you go to a Montessori law school?philepistemer wrote:First name. I've never referred to someone as "professor" in law school unless they were like 80 or they called me "Mr. xx"TheHungerGames wrote:Should I call an adjunct “professor xx” or "Ms./Mr. xx"? He is an mid-level associate from a law firm.
Look 0L, you're going to a professional school. How do you think professionals treat each other in the workplace? When you're in a law firm, the partners will call you Mr. xx if they want to be addressed as Mr. xx. Otherwise, you call them by their first name. Professors mainly expect the same thing, and if they don't they're either like 80 or they are DBs who love the power.
- Avian
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
A school setting is different from a work setting. You ought to address a Professor as Professor [insert name] unless you know they prefer something different. Some professors will not care one way or the other, but some will, so why piss them off?philepistemer wrote:
Not only did I get in, but they're giving me a degree.
Look 0L, you're going to a professional school. How do you think professionals treat each other in the workplace? When you're in a law firm, the partners will call you Mr. xx if they want to be addressed as Mr. xx. Otherwise, you call them by their first name. Professors mainly expect the same thing, and if they don't they're either like 80 or they are DBs who love the power.
- anyriotgirl
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
I think everyone is overlooking an important point here
if you just address him as "professor" you don't actually have to learn his name
if you just address him as "professor" you don't actually have to learn his name
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Re: Should I call an adjunct “professor”?
I think it's degrading act of submission to address someone formally unless they do the same for me. Some people don't mind subordination so much, and to each her/his own. If I'm going to compromise my principles I better be getting paid for it.Avian wrote:A school setting is different from a work setting. You ought to address a Professor as Professor [insert name] unless you know they prefer something different. Some professors will not care one way or the other, but some will, so why piss them off?philepistemer wrote:
Not only did I get in, but they're giving me a degree.
Look 0L, you're going to a professional school. How do you think professionals treat each other in the workplace? When you're in a law firm, the partners will call you Mr. xx if they want to be addressed as Mr. xx. Otherwise, you call them by their first name. Professors mainly expect the same thing, and if they don't they're either like 80 or they are DBs who love the power.
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