Building relationships with professors is one of the most valuable investments students can make during their academic journey. Beyond helping you succeed in a particular course, strong faculty connections can provide mentorship, career guidance, networking opportunities, research experience, and professional recommendations long after graduation. Professors have navigated the paths many students hope to pursue, and their insight can help illuminate opportunities, avoid common pitfalls, and connect classroom learning to real-world practice.

For students in online programs, however, building these relationships can feel challenging. Without casual conversations before or after class, many students are unsure how to initiate contact or make meaningful connections with faculty. The good news is that online learning offers unique opportunities for engagement when students take advantage of the available communication tools. To learn more about how students can cultivate these relationships, I spoke with Dr. Patrick Hutchinson, who teaches INFO 204 and INFO 210 at the School of Information. Having taken INFO 204 with him myself, I knew he would be an excellent person to discuss this topic with because of the genuine care and support he shows his students.

Building Relationships in an Online Learning Environment

How do you recommend students build relationships with professors in the online learning space?

I love this question! So, at least with me, I love it when students feel that they can reach out and ask questions when they need to. That means that the professor needs to be open to as much communication as possible, either through email, phone, or Zoom meetings – but the best relationships in online learning are built when both sides feel they can express ideas and ask questions. I would always encourage students to come to office hours, email or call with any questions, or ask for a separate appointment if the office hours don’t work for them. But also – be prepared as a student! Become familiar with the syllabus and, if included, the text, so that these conversations can be as meaningful and beneficial as possible. In online learning, there can be this difficult “separation”, if you will, but I honestly feel that gap can be bridged through honest effort on both sides.

How does online learning help these relationships?

I think it helps a great deal! In my opinion, online learning sometimes has an unearned reputation for being less substantive or meaningful than in-person learning, and I could not disagree more. When a professor is working with a student who has a full-time job, takes care of multiple family members or just has a busy life, online learning is a real gift. The online environment allows students to be in a situation best suited to their needs; because they are more comfortable and better able to handle their multiple responsibilities, they can begin to build these relationships with their faculty on a more even keel. The on-ground teaching-learning environment does, of course, yield many benefits. For some students, however, they can feel intimidated or less likely to communicate and build relationships. Again, I think this builds an important bridge for many students who may have previously faced barriers to access.

Why Faculty Relationships Matter

Why do you think building relationships with professors benefits a student?

One of the most important things I think students should remember when building a relationship with faculty is to try to think of this as a kind of partnership. Yes, the faculty is teaching the course (and assigning the grades, of course!), but I can sincerely say that I often learn as much from my students as they hopefully do from me. So many of my students have had years and years of important work and life experience, which is so beneficial to an enriching online classroom experience. The benefit to the student from all of this is that, when the work is done together, everyone reaps the rewards. Students hopefully always learn about new concepts, strengthen critical thinking skills, and build a larger and more robust network. But the relationship-building helps me as a faculty member too, as I get to see and understand the concerns and issues that are more current and important to our future librarians.

Did having an academic mentor help your career?

Yes, absolutely. I’ve had a few academic mentors from when I was in school who made a real difference in my work and encouraged me to keep going. Making those connections in library school made a huge difference, both in getting to know what the work was like and in knowing who I might like to talk to when it came time to apply for jobs.

What do you wish more students understood about networking in academia?

Networking in academia can definitely be hard, so please don’t be discouraged! Most people working in academia are truly quite busy, and if you don’t hear back from people right away, don’t take it personally. It can take persistence and patience (and I know it can be doubly hard in an online environment), but the work that goes into networking really will be worth it down the road. You’ll remember meeting these people, and some truly genuine connections will be made.

Making the Most of Faculty Engagement

What kinds of questions are most useful to bring to office hours?

Now, in this case, I can only speak for myself, but I’m happy to answer anything that you may have when you come to office hours! It’s great if you study the course syllabus and look at the modules early on to get a sense of what the course will be like, but I know not everything is always clear. I think every question is valid. Sometimes, I get straightforward questions about how to complete an assignment or format an APA citation, but many other times, I get students who want to have conversations about library careers, their paths in the MLIS program, or just general questions about how I began in this field. I see value in all of this, as it gives students good context for both where I come from and how it might help them as they proceed.

How can students get involved in research or projects with faculty at the iSchool?

Absolutely, look at the SJSU iSchool website to see the interests of your faculty and consider reaching out if you think you’d like to work with them. There may be limitations, of course, depending on the time and availability of the professor that you want to work with, but some may certainly be willing to work with you. I would also suggest that, when possible, try to go to virtual events if you see any available to meet faculty and get to know them. I mention this under this question because if you find something that is of strong interest to you and you know there is a faculty member at SJSU who feels the same way, it may be worthwhile to reach out and start a conversation.

What can students do early in the program to secure strong recommendation letters?

At least from my point of view, be involved, engaged and active in class early and often! I know not every class has a discussion board, but when they do, try to show genuine enthusiasm for the topic and be specific in your learning – show your professors what this work means to you. And if you have the time and interest, be involved in the SJSU community; if there are clubs, organizations or volunteer opportunities that you can be engaged with, definitely do so. Again, I know everyone here is very busy and won’t have a chance to do all of these things, but if you can, it’s certainly worthwhile. Finally, communication is key for me. If you have an issue or difficulty, that’s fine! Just let me know, and we will try to work through it together. While I would never say that we all work the same here at SJSU, I do think that the faculty care. It will mean a lot if you keep them informed of what is going on in your life.

Staying Connected Beyond the Classroom

What are some ways students can continue relationships with professors after a class ends?

I love staying in touch with my students after class ends! Some have reached out to me asking for letters of recommendation for jobs, so that might be an option! I am also happy to connect on LinkedIn or through email. And, of course, any just overall general networking can be quite beneficial. If you are able to attend ALA or other conferences, that’s a great way to stay connected after class ends.

Advice for New Students

If you could give one piece of advice to first-year students, what would it be?

So much advice! First, try not to get overwhelmed. The core classes can be a lot of work, and when you are new and possibly working, it can feel like a burden. Try to take the load of courses that feel right to you. This is not a race, and if you need to go a bit slower, you’ll be better off and happier in the long run if you do. Also, again, if you have a question, reach out! I’m always so happy to hear from students and want to assist if I can – but if you don’t tell me, I won’t know. And finally, when you need to, take a deep breath or even a break. Give yourself space and grace when you need to. We are proud of the work you are doing!

Key Takeaways

Building meaningful relationships with professors does not require perfect timing or extraordinary circumstances—it starts with simple, consistent engagement. Attend office hours, ask questions, communicate openly, and take an active role in your learning. Faculty members are often eager to support students who show genuine interest and initiative.

For online learners especially, these connections can provide mentorship, professional networking opportunities, research experiences, recommendation letters, and valuable career guidance. As Dr. Hutchinson emphasizes, the most successful faculty-student relationships are partnerships built on communication, curiosity, and mutual respect. Whether you are just starting your program or nearing graduation, it is never too late to reach out and begin building those connections.