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Faculty to Studen Ratio

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Western Oregon University has 180 full-time faculty. This means that we have an 18:1 student to faculty ratio. It also means that 100% of classes are taught by faculty members—professors, not students.
Western Oregon believes that a teacher belongs at a university to do just that—teach. As a university that specialized in teacher education for many years (before expanding to include a broad liberal arts curriculum), Western’s emphasis has always been on educational excellence. Small student-to-faculty ratios make nearly every class a seminar rather than just a 200+ lecture. This means that not only can students learn directly from their professors—by simply asking questions—but they can also participate in classroom discussions with their peers under the guidance of their professor. This dynamic is unique to small collegiate institutions, as many larger universities cannot offer their students the luxury of having their questions answered by a professor in the classroom. The small number of faculty and students at Western paired with mandatory office hours for professors means that students can have their questions answered in-person by their professors outside of the classroom. Rarely are students met with waiting lines, sign-ups, or “will return” signs, but rather they are greeted by an educational professional ready and willing to take a hands-on approach to their instruction.
Although Western Oregon University does not emphasize itself as a research university, the men and women that are part of the faculty are constantly working to keep abreast of the changes in their respective fields. Aside from the many prestigious teaching awards bestowed upon Western’s professors, its roster is also decorated with awards for outstanding scholarship, faculty-student projects, faculty-student advocacy, and book awards. Western’s campus is full of professors with active professional lives that extend beyond the classroom, including writing teachers who publish books of poetry, dance professors who perform in crowded dance halls on a national stage, and scientists that work locally in the fields of meteorology, geology, and astrology to better know the region surrounding their university. Every professor is encouraged to remain active in his or her academic community while also remaining accountable to those students who have given their time and money to learn from a real professor.
One of Western Oregon’s most unique often underappreciated qualities is their commitment to one-on-one academic advising of every student to fit his or her degree plan. Before a student can register for any class in an upcoming term, they must first consult with their academic advisor—a professor from within the student’s major field of study. Academic advising is not just encouraged, it is required; computer registration cannot commence until the advising “hold” is removed. Therefore students are given uninterrupted time with a professor in their study area who knows the curriculum inside and out. The use of professors as academic advisors has several benefits over an outsourced advising department or no advising at all. Most importantly, students are counseled in the completion of an efficient and timely degree plan, not just left to flounder on their own. Students are also given the opportunity to seek professional advise from someone intimate to the field—professors can give guidance toward one class or another that might better suit a student’s specialized interests. And finally, by using the very person that will later be teaching that student’s classes, students can develop the kind of strong personal and working relationships that can only be found at a small, nurturing university.
Western’s professors are one of a kind. Teachers, scholars, creators, advisors, and friends, they fill many roles in the lives of students who can appreciate their guidance and support and can capitalize on their experience and insider knowledge. The faculty at Western is proud to fulfill their many duties without forgetting the one job that’s most important—at 18 students for every one teacher, they know they are here to teach.


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