Thank You note to professor

[nehs]

I had two really nice professors this Fall 2011 Semester and it was a pleasure taking classes with them. they were not only knowledgeable about their respective fields but also very dedicated to their job.

My question is: is it appropriate to send them Thank you notes or go hand-in thank you notes? Will it feel awkward? I'm not sure but I really want to let them know that I enjoyed the course and also learnt a lot!

Has any of you done this?

[eakmurphy]

Do it! Everyone appreciates being recognized for a job well done, and if a professor did a very good job teaching a class, they probably put a lot of work into it.

[fuzzylogician]

I am going to send thank you notes to two of my professors this year. They are my advisors and mentors, not only my teachers, but it's the same idea as yours. Since both I and they are away, I am simply going to email them. It's the thought that counts, and like you say I want a small gesture of appreciation and not something that could become awkward.

[emmm]

Yes, do it. I taught for a while and got a few of these every quarter. It was always a nice surprise.

[nehs]

Thanks guys!

I'm more confident now

I would want to hand it in , so a simple and elegant paper put inside an envelope is good enough ? I first thought of a card but then I decided against it and I want to go with a simple paper.

[emmm]

Either is fine -- as a former teacher, it really is the thought that counts :-)

[nehs]

Thanks emmm, that was so helpful! Happy new year

[LawlQuals]

I was a TA for three years, and I would get several of them at the end of the semester. They were either emails or actual cards people placed in my mailbox. I was thoroughly appreciative, they are always really nice to receive. Some students got a little too familiar/flirty with lengthy emails, which I thought were a little silly, but nonetheless I appreciated their effort in thanking me. It was not something they had to do, and it is nice to know that some of your students enjoyed having you as an instructor.

I have interacted with a lot of professors, and this conversation topic has come up a few times. All of them had the same idea: a short thank you note is really appreciated, but what they do not like to receive are gifts. The latter are burdensome and just not appropriate.

I have sent thank you notes (physical cards) to a couple professors over the years.