A First Day Introduction | Faculty Commons

Sam Matteson
Professor of Physics
University of North Texas

[March 3, 2013]

When I first began my career as a professor, I participated in a seminar sponsored by what is now called Faculty Commons. This seminar dealt with freedom of speech and the legal and ethical bounds of faith statements by faculty members in the academy.

From that next semester until now—a period of over twenty-five years—I have on the first day of class introduced myself as a Christ-follower.

I have learned a few things along the way and use them to encourage all my colleagues to share a bit of what is important to them on the first day of class, especially those who follow Christ. As I do so, I’m reminded of the following few bits of wisdom:

Pray earnestly about what you should do and how you should do it. Pray for courage to stand up and be identified as a follower of Christ.
Remember that this is a personal statement, use your own words and avoid sounding like canned institutional propaganda or like a liturgical recitation. Your words should be about you; you are explaining that faith is personal but not private. Your words and demeanor should reflect what is important to your life as a scholar and educator.
Be wise. I find it prudent to write out what I wish to say and to stick to the script, for several reasons: (1) so I can have a wise brother or sister vet my remarks before hand and advise me on the tone, content and length; (2) so I can honor my students’ time and steward well my responsibility as an instructor by being concise and on point; (3) and so that if a student—or anyone else for that matter—complains (and I have had five complaints in 25 years), I can defuse the issue by providing exactly what I said.In fact, on one occasion a student misheard and misreported what I shared. Upon reading my remarks the Dean commended me rather than condemned me with “I wish all of our faculty would do this.”

Also, remember to make the statement relevant to the learning goals for the class you are teaching. The connection you make should seem natural and unforced, consistent with the flow, not extraneous.For example, on the first day of class I share that my teaching philosophy and my mission statement are rooted in the redeeming work of Christ and my role as a servant.I want my class to know what to expect of me and that by better understanding my teaching philosophy they will see that I value each student and treasure his/her individuality.

Resolve to live before your students a Christ-like example.

Lastly, be invitational. One goal should be to communicate your accessibility as a person and advisor. Then be ready to follow up. While it may be encouraging to a believer to learn that his favorite “prof” is also a believer, the real benefit comes when a seeker finds meaningful answers to her tough questions in coffee shop conversations.

I encourage everyone to identify themselves as Christ-followers through a first day introduction that is personal, real, wise, relevant and invitational.