How much should you tip your professor after finals?

Not gonna tip my professors. It's my money and I'll spend it how I want. If professors feel they are being paid unfairly, they can go back to school and find a new career just like I am. ha!

Not even 15%, really?

I am a retired university professor and I'm astonished!!!! Never did I get a tip from a student!!! I received trivial little objects related to the profession (nursing) at the end of some semesters. Isn't that what your tuition is for, the professor's salary???? What is wrong with education today?????????? I've only been retired for 3 years and can't imagine that tipping is expected or that students would feel obligated to do so!! Most students just eek by during their college years, I did, and I find it VERY offensive to think that a student would even feel ANY sort of pressure to tip them for a workload that they are paid for.

Some info that you may find useful: the salary of an entry level faculty, at the instructor level at the university that I taught at (a state affiliated university) was $41,000. Now remember that the next step is assistant professor and then associate professor and then full professor (the top of the barrel). The salaries increase laterally, so entry for an assistant was in the 50s, associate + mid to high 50s and full was 60-70. Most universities max out full professors (the highest paid position) over $100,000. This info is based on the union contract that I was very active in. This is not to say that I am an authority and do NOT want HATE responses for the info that I have provided. The purpose is to inform you that faculty are well compensated for your education. I spent over 80 hours per week in the classroom, student contact on the clinical area and correcting paperwork, test analysis and classroom prep and I still felt that I was well compensated (don't forget the benefits-medical, etc... and the perk of having summers off, and some faculty get traditional jobs over the summer). I actually worked another part time job, as a nurse, during my faculty tenure, to remain current in the field, so I could "practice what I preached".

I am in no way trashing university faculty, loved , loved, loved my job. I'm not a saint or a martyr. This just hit a nerve!!!! I'm sure that there are institutions that do NOT compensate faculty well. But my feeling is a student is there to learn, I was there to facilitate that and you paid me to do my job, period. NO TIP REQURED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

whoooosh, right over your head.....







BTW - many, if not most, recently hired (as in the past 10 years) community college and university professors are adjunct. They travel to multiple schools, work part time at each making not much money, and have no benefits. Things have changed.

This.

My UNI professor made a huge speech about this coincidentally right after finals.

I hope he's doing okay. To be completely honest I regret only giving 15%.

Not a dam thing. He gets paid plenty.

Omgosh, lol, these responses are so cute and funny!

I don't think "Cute and funny." are the right choice of words here.

I feel it's rather disheartening to know that people aren't aware of the fact that times have changed, and you SHOULD tip your professor, 10, 15 or 25% respectively.

I made this thread to find out what was deemed appropriate, and I learned a lot of people deem 15% to be the ideal amount, as have I.

I never imagined the response I'd get regarding people not tipping at all though, and the sexual innuendo?

All kidding aside, if anyone learns of a gratuity made to an instructor and reports it, that instructor can be in trouble. I ALWAYS tell students who TRY to give money (especially at the holidays) that although I am flattered they liked the course enough to offer, I cannot accept and a perfect way to thank me is to write a fair review on ratemyprofessors.com. Easier than losing my job in NYC.