<p>When I was in school if we had a Prof who was an especially great orator we applauded them at the end of the last lecture? It wasn't common, only a History of Art and a History Prof were applauded in my 4 years. But, they were truly inspiring. Does it still happen every so often?</p>
<p>Never heard of this happening. Seems bizarre to me.</p>
<p>Probably depends on the school. They had to earn it. Would not seem bizarre if you had one of these Profs. In fact, would have been bizarre not to applaud. I’m serious.</p>
<p>I was watching a Harvard philosophy lecture (Michael Sandel-Justice) and he got applause at the end of it. He’s pretty spectacular though. None of my professors have ever gotten that.</p>
<p>Students at my college applaud every professor at the last lecture, regardless of their performance. Common courtesy.</p>
<p>May be common courtesy, but not particularly meaningful if everyone receives it.</p>
<p>Never heard of anyone doing that ever</p>
<p>We do it at the end of the last lecture in every class, too. Or at least, we have in both the large lectures I’ve been in. However, both were fairly renowned professors, so I don’t know how common it is otherwise.</p>
<p>It’s happened a few times. I wouldn’t say the professors were “truly inspiring” but they were good classes.</p>
<p>^ I guess that’s why it only happened twice in 4 years in my case.</p>
<p>In four semesters, this has happened once. The professor deserved it though, he was really inspiring and a large reason I chose the major I did.</p>
<p>My organic chemistry prof last semester received a totally deserved standing ovation. She was absolutely amazing.</p>
<p>I was lucky to have a few professors who got applause in the last lecture of the semester - maybe one a year. Once I actually cried in the last class because the professor had been so inspiring and saying goodbye felt like such a great loss.</p>
<p>Think how cool that would be- To have a class of a hundred students standing and clapping for you. That would probably be the greatest feeling ever considering how students moan and complain all the time.</p>
<p>I’ve had this happen once when an ethics professor in his 80’s was retiring and finished his last class…</p>
<p>Otherwise, my largest class size has been about 25 students. Usually more along the lines of 12-15. So it would be quite awkward I think hahaha</p>
<p>All my profs have received applause and/or standing ovations at the end of their last lectures. It’s sort of a fitting farewell until the final exam.</p>
<p>I had an excellent professor for o-chem 2. It was his last semester teaching us, and on his last day, his colleagues came in unannounced, and made him wear one of those cardboard birthday crowns, and made him promise that he’ll wear it throughout the lecture. As soon as they left, he took it off, finished the lecture, and that was that…</p>
<p>Don’t remember if there was an applause, but he sure deserved it</p>
<p>Um, in my Humanities class we applaud the prof (it’s usually a different professor every time because of the interdisciplinary nature of the course) at the end of every lecture. It seems very strange that others seem to find that strange. I think it’s a nice way to show appreciation for the effort that went into preparing the talk.</p>
<p>Engineering major here, and the professor usually gets an applause if his lectures are well put together (eg. speaks clearly, organized, provided at least some value). Approximately half the professors I had got applauses at the final lecture. The other half had some clear flaws, even though they still did their job.</p>
<p>I don’t think it should be obligatory, but deserving. In one instance, when the class was a regular sized class, versus a large lecture hall, at the end of class a few students said they were going to applaud and about 3 of us started and everyone else joined in. The two that initiated it had this Prof before.</p>