open letter to people starting college this fall.

[eppur_se_muova]

1. Most students need a letter like this -- but I worry how many would really read it, ...

... and use it. OK, maybe a majority. But it's the students who tuck away every handout "for later" and never get to them who cause a lot of the problems.

Almost every place I've taught has had strict (verging on neurotic) rules about instructors handing out syllabi, and following them strictly. Yet I couldn't count how many times I've answered a question with "that's in the syllabus". (Usually followed by the response, "Can I get another copy of the syllabus?".