by Leanne Coffman

Created on: February 08, 2009   Last Updated: March 17, 2009

At ten a.m. the students mill in. A few stragglers show up at precisely ten-fifteen, barely under the wire for class to start. Surveying their faces, I consider how the term will be given this semester's group of students.

The objective of nearly every educator is to impart knowledge, and to present a thirst for the field of study. As a Criminal Justice Professor, I am challenged with the additional weight of imparting legalities, principles, theory and processes of crime for those charged with supporting and defending the law.

This is an area I find personally enriching. Criminal Justice is a fascinating field, and I take great enjoyment in sharing this with students. Many of my students have misconceptions modeled after television shows and movies they have viewed. Work in Criminal Justice is much more intriguing and certainly far less technology driven than the media portrays. Part of my labor as their educator is to awaken them to this reality.

There are many benefits to a degree in this discipline. In addition to Criminal Justice being a captivating arena of learning, careers are widely available in a diverse spectrum. Students in this major will typically seek employment in law or law enforcement, corrections and Federal agencies. Therefore, it becomes vital to balance both theory and practice. Evaluating pertinent statistical data and determining conclusive analysis is imperative for these students' career.

In short, it is not enough to have an awareness or knowledge of the methodologies. The students must be able to perform critical thinking and employ use of learned techniques. This is one of the areas I find most difficult and challenging as a Criminal Justice Professor.

Many students display a significant grasp of the subject material (e.g. write excellent research papers), but are unable to achieve valid conclusions when posed with exercises or labs. To thrive in this discipline, students must grasp the big picture, yet be exceedingly detail conscious.

When I review grading, I value quality criteria on submissions of papers and test scores, in addition to those individuals who can formulate appropriate assessments. Labs are a vital component of academics for the Criminal Justice student.

I attempt to make myself available in lab settings, after hours and upon request of students to assist them. My primary goal is to see each undergraduate succeed through educational resources gained here and by discovering and drawing on their own personal strengths. Given this foundation, these students will enjoy a fulfilling Criminal Justice career in the path of their choice.

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