For chemistry Associate Professor John Hopkins, teaching goes beyond crowded lecture halls and weekly required office hours
Hopkins — who is known for spending long nights in the lobby of Herget Hall and working one-on-one with students — was recently recognized by the National Association of College and University Residence Halls for his work as a Faculty Friend in Herget Hall.
He was also recognized this past weekend at a state residents assistant leadership conference with the “Always Hallways” award.
Faculty Friends is a program organized by Residential Life that brings students and faculty together in a place considered more comfortable than classrooms for students — their dorms.
Professors who are Faculty Friends hold office hours once a week in the dorms.
Hopkins also holds weekly study sessions at night called “Hop on with Hopkins.” He said he does this because more students can come then.
“I help them understand things and do homework,” he said.
Donnie Midkiff, a biological sciences sophomore, wrote the nomination for Hopkins’ award.
Midkiff described Hopkins in the nomination as concerned and caring and said that he was an example of hard work for all students.
When an exam rolls around, Hopkins holds a review session for his entire class of 450 students. He also makes himself available for students in Herget for a special review session.
“When I get together with a small group, I can do one-on-one help,” Hopkins said.
Hopkins said he likes being able to hold small group sessions with his students.
“I get to be more personal,” he said. “I get to know the students and where they are coming from. I get to know and understand their problems.”
Hopkins said there are normally 15 students at weekly study sessions and 40 at exam reviews. He also said the program is open to students who do not live in Herget.
“It’s a good deal for everybody,” he said. “[Students] get to sit with me on a couch or a table, and if they don’t get it, they’re not shy — they can ask questions.”
Hopkins said some students come back to ask for advice on more than chemistry.
“You have an opportunity to help direct their lives, to open their eyes to more opportunities,” he said.
During final exams last semester, Hopkins spent the night in Herget Hall offering study and review sessions for students.
He offered a five-hour review session that lasted until after 3 a.m., and then he slept in an extra room so that he could wake up and administer an exam at 7:30 a.m.
“I thought he was crazy,” Midkiff said about Hopkins’ all-night study session. “I couldn’t believe he was actually going to do it. The residents heard about it and said he was awesome for doing it.”
Thuy Dinh, a biological sciences freshmen, said that while she does not live in Herget, she attends Hopkins’ study sessions there. Dinh said Hopkins helps her with homework and studying.
“He’s more of a friend than a teacher,” she said.