Perhaps one of the most important things a new instructor can learn is students' deep concern with fairness, a concern that often outstrips their interest in grades. When Rita Rodabaugh, director of the Academy for the Art of Teaching at Florida International University, surveyed over 300 students (one-third were freshman, 10% graduate students, the rest a mix of classes) and asked them to rank-order a list of teaching misbehaviors (most serious to least serious), they came up with the following:

1) Shows partiality to some students due to gender, age, race, etc.

2) Does not know subject matter; gives wrong information.

3) Unfair in grading; gives grades arbitrarily; or changes policy during the semester.

4) Uses unfair tests; asks trick questions; or gives exams which are unrelated to lectures.

5) Embarrasses students in class; uses sarcasm and putdowns.

6) Not prepared for class; thumbs through material during class to decide what to discuss.

7) Does not keep office hours or is otherwise generally not available to students.

8) Gives an excessive amount of work.

9) Gives very dull, boring lectures.

10) Is much too easy; no challenge; all students can make A's.