Breaking the Office Hours Barrier

Office hours are dedicated times outside of regular class meetings where faculty can provide individualized guidance to students. They are underutilized by students due to a variety of perceived barriers. In this study, the effectiveness of two student designed interventions at reducing uncertainty surrounding office hours was assessed. The interventions include a video skit and pamphlet that outline the purpose of office hours, common myths, and offer guidance regarding office hours. Undergraduate students enrolled in an Introductory Biology course were assigned to the video intervention, pamphlet intervention, or a control group. Intervention surveys measured perceived barriers, familiarity, likelihood of attending, and perceptions of office hours. Demographic information helped explore differences in responses across student populations. Results show that both interventions reduced anxiety and uncertainty and improved students’ understanding and perceptions of office hours.