Office hours

Office hours refers to a practice, common in colleges and universities, but also found in some other settings, where instructors and teaching assistants allow students to visit them (typically, at their office) to ask questions or discuss topics related to their course.

Office hours could be:

• Walk-in office hours within predetermined time ranges (for instance, an instructor might have office hours 4-5 PM Wednesday and 10-11 AM Friday).
• Office hours by appointment: The student and the instructor or teaching assistant make an appointment (online, by email, or in person before or after class).

In addition to or in place of in-person office hours, some instructors might offer office hours by Skype or text chatting.