Holiday Gifts for Professors
Unique Christmas & Hanukkah Gift Ideas for Your College Teachers
Oct 13, 2007
Looking for a gift for that college professor, instructor, or teaching assistant who made a difference in your life? College teachers don't often get gifts from students and generally feel pretty unappreciated, so as long as you give a gift that is appropriate, it will probably be appreciated very much. Here are some general rules you should keep in mind when purchasing a Christmas or Hanukkah gift (or any kind of present) for a college teacher, along with some specific suggestions for great gifts.
General Guidelines for Buying Your Teacher a Gift
First of all, make sure it's not against the rules to give your teacher a gift! Some colleges and universities forbid faculty members or instructors from accepting gifts from students.
If it's not against the rules, be sure to give your professor the present after your grades have been finalized and turned into the registrar. This is very important because teachers need to make sure no one thinks they are playing favorites. This may mean the gift arrives after the holidays are over, but don't worry--your late gift will still be very much appreciated!
When purchasing a gift, don't worry about cost, as professors know full well that students have little money. Instead, try to be sentimental. If the class was about Shakespeare, buy the teacher a mug with a Shakespeare quote or a Shakespeare bobblehead. If there was a quote the professor was always reciting, buy a T-shirt with that quote.
It's also important that you purchase gifts that won't make your teacher feel uncomfortable. Anything that suggests romantic interest--jewelry, perfume, boxer shorts--is a bad idea.
Unique (and Cheap) Gift Ideas
- Bobbleheads and "action figures." You can find bobbleheads and humorous "action figure" dolls of famous philosophers, politicians, scientists, and so forth. Pick one that's relevant to your class and you'll have a great gift that the professor will display on his or desk forever. You can usually purchase bobbleheads and action figures for under $15.
- A really cool bookmark. Your professor probably has plenty of books, so there's no need to buy more, especially since the department might pay for his or her books. But a bookmark is a little something a scholar can always use.
- A mix CD. Come up with 10-15 songs that are relevant to your class and put them on a CD for your teacher. Be creative! Better yet, get a bunch of your classmates to work with you on this project and give the CD as a joint present.
- A T-shirt. Find a T-shirt with a professor's favorite quote, or with the picture of a person you studies in that class, or something else that's appropriate.
- Baby gifts. If your teacher is about to become a parent, a small gift for the baby is very thoughtful. A children's book is a good idea, or buy a little stuffed animal or onesie with the college's name and colors.
- A heartfelt thank-you note. Honestly, this will be as meaningful to your teacher as anything else you could give.
See also:
Holiday gifts for college students
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