A professor’s quality depends on a number of factors – success in research, number of publications, ability as a lecturer, willingness to meet with students – and so on. But in this “technologically-advanced” day, I often judge a professor by his or her tech-savviness and empathy with students.

In this context (and perhaps only this context), a good professor reduces the number of required book purchases. He or she posts readings online instead of selling them in a $100 coursepack. Saying that he does not make any money off of coursepack sales does not help my bottom line, even if it makes the professor feel a little bit better about himself. Too busy? Ask a TF to do it.

I have almost $1000 of books to buy: not for concentration classes, but general education requirements. I’m not buying a single one, so I guess you’ll see me in the library a lot more now.