Defining “Faculty Approachability”

This post is not meant to strictly define “faculty approachability” but rather to give a sense of how the idea can range. Faculty can be approached in person or digitally/virtually. One-to-one interactions may be where the mind goes first, but a student who has a small-group discussion with a professor or who asks a question during class may reflect “approachability.” What about students who feel comfortable with the faculty member but haven’t actually approached yet? That’s a start. And faculty who initiate contact, even if it’s through active learning pedagogy that entails personalized attention in class — welcome that one to the party, too.