1. The document provides rules of etiquette for university students to follow both in and out of class. 2. The in-class rules include arriving on time, being prepared, paying attention, participating, and respecting professors. Out of class, students should complete homework on time, work hard, and communicate professionally with professors. 3. After exams, students should accept their grades as given by professors, who are best positioned to evaluate students fairly, rather than lobbying for higher marks. Students are advised to focus on the knowledge gained rather than their GPAs.

1. THE RULES OF UNIVERSITY ETIQUETTE FOR
STUDENTS
Rushan Ziatdinov‡
www.ziatdinov-lab.com
Carol Griffiths§
www.carolgriffiths.net
If not you, who? If not now, when?
1 At university
a) Go to class and get there on time.
b) Be prepared for class and be an active participant.
c) Don’t talk to your friends in class and turn off the
gadgets (cell phone, Blackberry, Internet etc.).
d) Be a good listener.
e) If necessary, bring your laptop on every lesson.
f) Show everyday progress in your studies.
g) Try to understand every topic as much as you can.
h) Try to do research in areas connected with a
course.
i) Work in groups.
j) Do not complain about your professor. It is easier
and more humane to solve all problems face-to-
face.
k) Respect your university and try to make it
stronger by giving meaningful suggestions. Do not
forget that the knowledge you shine with outside
can motivate other people for studying in your
university.
2 At home
a) Do your homework on time. Do not plagiarize!
b) Do everything precisely and in details.
c) Work hard.
d) Write correct and polite business letters to all of
your professors without any exemption. The sim-
plest example is found below.
Dear Dr. Mehmet Kaya:
‡Department of Computer & Instructional Technologies,
Fatih University, Istanbul, Turkey.
§Department of English Language Teaching, Fatih Univer-
sity, Istanbul, Turkey.
Hope and wish the best for you and your family.
(or some other kind wishes)
.................................................................
.................................................................
Thank you very much.
−−
Sincerely,
Ismail Demir
Student Number: 00000000
Department of Psychological Counseling,
Faculty of Education, Fatih University,
34500 Buyukcekmece, Istanbul, Turkey
Cell. phone: 000-0000-0000
E-mail: demir@gmail.com
You may also refer to the book “How to Say It”1
which provides clear and practical guidance for
what to say and what not to say in any situation.
3 After examination
a) Don’t talk about or complain about grades, just
accept as they are. Your professor knows much
more than you and interested in a fair evaluation.
b) Don’t go to a professor’s office to lobby for a better
grade. The university is not a bazaar where one
is welcome to bargain.
c) Do not think about your GPA, think about the
knowledge you got and how it can be useful for
your future.
1Rosalie Maggio. (2009). How to Say It, Third Edition:
Choice Words, Phrases, Sentences, and Paragraphs for Every
Situation, Prentice Hall Press.
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