It's hard to generalize about faculty. They come in all ages, shapes, sizes and hues. They are men and women; they are young and old. Northwest faculty come from graduate programs all over the country. Virtually all have a Master's degree. Many have a Doctorate. Some of them look like they just stepped out of a movie where they played the part of a college teacher. Some of them don't look the part at all.

Often they are called faculty. Sometimes they are referred to as instructors. In formal situations they are called professors. The very term "professor" gives an insight into the nature of those who teach in college. Professor comes from the term profess, which originally referred to the declaration one made when entering a religious order. Before 1500 it was used strictly in a religious sense; by the late 1500's it was also used to refer to someone who taught at a university.

Think of professors as people who have professed their commitment to a particular field of study. No matter what the area, they have dedicated a significant portion of their lives to learning about it. And they are very serious about its importance. Students should always try to respect the course and its subject, even if they don't particularly care for it.