To ask if you work in a university have you noticed a recent change in student behaviour?

[0987ghj]

I graduated from university in 2019, and have now returned to study a different course. I've noticed a big difference in student behaviour and I wondered if it's something that university staff have also noticed or if it's just my course.

I'm hoping that this thread doesn't seem like I'm trying to slate current university students/gen Z. A few of the examples I've seen are from mature students, so I don't think it's generational/an age thing.

There's a lot of talking now during lectures, people just talking loudly whilst the lecturer is talking (not even whispering). It's pretty brazen and full on conversations, not just a quick question or comment, and really distracting. People are often late quite a lot, there's routinely a few students who are 40+ minutes late to a 2-hour lecture. I know there are some reasons people may be late such as childcare issues, or traffic or illnesses like IBS that make it hard to leave the house in the mornings so that might just be why, but it's a lot more lateness than I ever saw in my degree before. There would be the occasional person 5-10 minutes late, but not 40+ minutes.

People also start packing up and starting to leave before the lecturer has even finished talking. Our lectures always finish slightly early to allow time to walk to other lectures so there's not really any need for it. I don't remember this happening before, unless it was because the lecture had ran over and even then people would quietly/subtly pack up.

I was at uni from 2011-2017 and never saw behaviour like this. People were occasionally 5-10 minutes late max and would never pack up early. People did skip lectures or fall asleep in them but at least this doesn't disturb anyone else.

Students are having to work to make money, attendance is having to take a back seat, assignments are clearly suffering.

Picture frame, does that explain the loud talking

They’re paying through the nose for it so they’re acting entitled. I think it’d become really devalued overall.

I think society as a whole has vastly different attitudes to work. Early in my career, I and all the people around me worked soooo hard. People I work with now, young and old and including me, whilst perfectly competent, just don't seem to be prepared to put in anything over what's absolutely required. Which may be a good thing, but we did it for our own benefit and progression really.

Yanbu. Phones out during lectures. Rocking up when they fancy . Eating in lectures. Absolutely not arsed

Started studying in 2019 and saw much of this behaviour…

I'm a lecturer and haven't noticed any of that. I'm actually teaching two really nice cohorts this semester.

Over covid there was a massive deterioration in their academic and social skills (and who could blame them after they both finished school and started uni in their bedrooms) but that's unwinding now and we're seeing results and engagement come up again. And the poor social skills wasn't talking or eating during lectures, it was not coming or not taking notes. No lack of actual manners for the most part.

If there is significant talking though I don't stand for it, a hard stare shuts them up.

Yes! I am old and have been shocked by the poor manners of students on my current course. Really poor attention span and so arrogant - like what the tutor is saying isn't important.

That said, if I was the tutor I would ask them to be quiet or leave.

Are you studying a quite different subject this time? And is it something like nursing with tons of hours of lectures seemingly on any random thing to make up the NMC hours requirement where students have to attend and sign a register to pass the course?

Way back in the day this never happened in my experience. If you turned up late for a lecture . even 5 minutes ...the doors were closed and you wouldn't dream of expecting to open them and just roll in ...whatever the reason. Lateness occurred and there was many a last minute rush towards lecture halls in the hope that the lecturer her/himself was also a few minutes late. Sometimes you were lucky, sometimes not. If unlucky you took yourself off to some student coffee place to drink black coffee, moan and recover from the night before. 😃

As a student I’ve been appalled by other students behaviour! We only had 1 3 hour lecture a week (part time MA) and I’ve seen constant texting/messaging, someone scheduled their sexual health phone check up during one lecture and only left the room when the lecturer said something, my last presentation 90% of the other students were tapping on their laptops loudly and they didn’t even realise when I had finished and the lecturer asked if anyone had any questions. We’re all somewhat mature students with it being a Postgraduate but it’s obviously an ingrained culture that’s occurred in the last 20yrs since I first graduated as the lecturers barely bat an eyelid over the behaviour.

I worked all the way through university in the late 1990s. It's not new. My assignments didn't suffer.

Student here too and I’ve noticed a lot of all of what you’ve mentioned. Before I started so many people (previous student) I spoke to mentioned how strict things were, like not getting into a lecture after 5 minutes. Total opposite!

And then you get this (on MSN via the Independent): Recent graduate in tears because she can't cope with the 9-5

With rent rises and cost of living far outstripping loans, yes students are having to work WAY more hours than previously.

Loans don't even cover rent in many cities. Working is no longer a top up to loans. Does this explain students talking in class? Probably not but speaks to a stressful experience of balancing multiple pressures.

Actually, I think those who are working have more respect for timekeeping and for good manners. I don't think you'll find those who are chattering over everyone are the ones who are working.

Yep, lots of rude behaviour going on. I’m not a lecturer but deliver careers/employability sessions, introduce & host guest speakers etc.

Postgrads so not 18-19 year olds. Poor attendance, stupidly late, looking at phones, chatting amongst themselves, then clueless when you ask a question to bring their attention back as they haven’t been listening.

Entitled as fuck - I’ve heard students saying stuff to lecturers like “well I’ve paid £25k for my degree so I shouldn’t have to work for it, I’ve paid for it” WTAF😳

I’m a lecturer and the biggest thing we see is students who aren’t able to meet deadlines/manage time and workload. I think it’s because of exams being cancelled during Covid maybe, and they are struggling to find a rhythm with it all. We also have an absolutely massive - like unbelievably massive - increase in students with mental health problems, which I suppose goes alongside the Covid theory.

Yes agree with this.

I have two friends who lecture. They independently have told me that fhey're having to support students far more heavily these past two years than they ever have.

Timekeeping, deadlines, mental health, study skills, etiquette...the list goes on.

The contempt of £9250 pa started this.

Yes agree with above comments. Currently a master’s student but was teaching last year. Noticed students really struggled with self discipline and respect for lecturers. It’s a shame study skills are not taught as I think it’s hard to be distracted by your phone if you’re busy taking notes. I’m dyslexic and notes are a necessity for me. My current course is made up of 99% overseas students who spend lectures applying for jobs and many of them swipe in then leave as the university monitors attendance for their visas.

Uni has become a Ponzi scheme.

I work in an Irish university, in a teaching role.

Yes, huge change. I still enjoy working with students, and most are still committed & connected but behaviour in lectures is desperate.

The nature of my role is much more small group seminar / teaching so that's much easier to manage but when I am in large lectures, they drift in & out, have full scale discussions & are on their phones. I kind of think that they think we're on a screen even tho we're right there!

I had 3 such experiences last week. In the first session I said nothing. The noise escalated throughout the class. By the second session, I decided to address it immediately & students did respond positively tbf.

The whole nature of 3rd level education has changed, with students seeing attendance as optional and a huge percentage working nearly full time jobs at the same time. Some have to; others choose to.