Pen for a Professor

[belril]

Alright, so I want to get my pre-major advisor a gift pen, without breaking the bank. Thoughts on a classy, sub-$75 pen? Thanks for your help!

[pkoko]

I would recommend a Parker Sonnet or Cross ATX/Century. Both brands are very well known in the US and offer nice gift boxes with their pens. I would also consider gifting a rollerball over a FP of the above models because of cheaper price and ease of use/refilling.

 

Besides Cross.com has some really crazy deals on rollerballs and BPs.

[gross]

Give the professor an restored Esterbrook J. If your professor is a professor of economics, he/she will appreciate the great value. If your professor is a professor of history, he/she will appreciate the fact that it is a vintage pen with a great history. If your professor is an English, he/she will appreciate the fact that he/she will be able to write with it for years to come. If your professor is an engineer, he/she will appreciate the fact that it is made of quality materials.

[jips123]

Mmm, I recommend that the option to return or change the pen for another one is available. Giving a pen is like giving a pair of shoes.

[GOB Bluth]

I had a professor in Graduate School who did everything with a Parker Latitude, and he was left handed. I have no idea if he bought it himself or if it was a gift. I think it is vital to know what department she/he teachers in, before you choose a pen.

[holgalee]

Is your professor male or female, young or old? Have you seen what kind of pens he or she favours, in terms of size and weight? I'll suggest a modern fountain pen so that it's easier to maintain and you can do an exchange if it doesn't work out.

 

A year ago, I had the same notion when I was graduating, but the professor mentioned that she tends to lose her pens, so I quickly decided not to get her a fountain pen. Another matter: you may want to check if your college has a policy about professors accepting gifts.

[churl]

Is this professor into pens? As a professor, I dream of students gifting me fountain pens, but I'm not sure whether I'd be happy with their taste...

 

For <$75 'pretty' pens, there are some good options. Here are a few suggestions:

Pelikan M200 (@ isellpens.com for <75)

Waterman Hemisphere

Waterman Phileas

Pilot Lucina (or for a little cheaper, Prera)

Hero 200a

 

EDIT - RE: Accepting gifts

Just about every university has a gift policy, and just about everyone agrees that accepting gifts from students currently in your classes/etc. is unethical. Most gift limits set the number around $20.

Edited April 12, 2010 by churl

[ailleurs]

 

Another matter: you may want to check if your college has a policy about professors accepting gifts.

 

This was my first thought. I teach in a public university system, and we cannot accept gifts. I would investigate this with someone other than your professor before you offer the pen. He/she may have to refuse to avoid ethics violations with the school.

[Koyote]

 

Another matter: you may want to check if your college has a policy about professors accepting gifts.

 

This was my first thought. I teach in a public university system, and we cannot accept gifts. I would investigate this with someone other than your professor before you offer the pen. He/she may have to refuse to avoid ethics violations with the school.

 

Original poster should check with the Dean of the faculty/Vice President for Faculty Affairs.

 

For what it's worth, I've read my college's faculty manual...And the only favors we are not allowed to accept from students are of the sexual variety.

[GOB Bluth]

 

Another matter: you may want to check if your college has a policy about professors accepting gifts.

 

This was my first thought. I teach in a public university system, and we cannot accept gifts. I would investigate this with someone other than your professor before you offer the pen. He/she may have to refuse to avoid ethics violations with the school.

 

Original poster should check with the Dean of the faculty/Vice President for Faculty Affairs.

 

For what it's worth, I've read my college's faculty manual...And the only favors we are not allowed to accept from students are of the sexual variety.

 

 

I say it is better to ask forgiveness than permission. Buy a pen that you, yourself like, so that if your professor has to return it, you get yourself a nice new fountain pen!

[Djehuty]

Is this professor into pens?

 

This is an excellent question and well worth careful consideration. I gave my favorite professor a Waterman Charleston. He loved it. It's still sitting in the box on a bookshelf several years later.

[dval]

 

Another matter: you may want to check if your college has a policy about professors accepting gifts.

 

This was my first thought. I teach in a public university system, and we cannot accept gifts. I would investigate this with someone other than your professor before you offer the pen. He/she may have to refuse to avoid ethics violations with the school.

 

Original poster should check with the Dean of the faculty/Vice President for Faculty Affairs.

 

For what it's worth, I've read my college's faculty manual...And the only favors we are not allowed to accept from students are of the sexual variety.

Never heard of such policy here. In fact, it's very usual to give your advisor a gift; obviously, once you've got your diploma.

 

Now, concerning our topic, if your professor uses BP and/or MP, you can't go wrong with a Cross BP&MP set. If he's a FP user, considering your constrained budget I'd rather go for something else.

[bitterwonder]

I am a professor at a private university; we are not allowed to accept gifts.

I would caution any professor to not accept gifts.

(As I understand it,in the US we should not accept gifts, my international students tell me it is common practise in their home countries).

The best thing you could give a professor is a nice handwritten note stating what you are thanking them for; that can be put into their file and teaching portfolio.

[JLML]

I am a University Full Professor, I accept gifts after graduation, especially from my doctoral students. However, none of those over the years gave me as present a FP :hmm1:

Please try to get a nice vintage pen as earlier suggested (Esterbrook or ->Waterman<-)

Cheers

PS As student I got a Parker Sonnet (black and gold), and I still keep it and she is one of my favourites even if she does not like Noodler's Apache Sunset Ink

[Biber]

Cross has a Townsend on sale right now for $78. Now that would be a nice gift in my opinion.

 

B

Edited April 12, 2010 by Biber

[gyasko]

One of the universities i worked for could never be bothered to pay me on time. Apparently bureaucratic pacing and authority took precedence over people eating and preparing for classes. (The money for my salary didn't even come out of the uni budget, but from an outside foundation.) I borrowed money to pay the rent and i gladly accepted meals from students in those months. Such is the all-mighty power of the prof.

 

To be perfectly cynical about these things, the injunction against gifts is based on a model of teacher-student power dynamics that no longer has much connection to reality. These days the student is a client & the prof is there to please clients. In this context, i wouldn't consider a gift from a student a potential bribe. However, do note that the contemporary uni plays host to a vast layer of bureaucracy which is all too happy to use any infraction of written or unwritten codes against the teacher.

[Kestrelco]

Give the professor an restored Esterbrook J. If your professor is a professor of economics, he/she will appreciate the great value. If your professor is a professor of history, he/she will appreciate the fact that it is a vintage pen with a great history. If your professor is an English, he/she will appreciate the fact that he/she will be able to write with it for years to come. If your professor is an engineer, he/she will appreciate the fact that it is made of quality materials.

 

I don't know the pens - I'm new to the whole FP thing - but what a terrific answer Something in it for everyone...

 

which is what I was trying to explain to my bf last night when I was showing him a few posted on eBay. 'It's not just if they write... it's the design, the aethetics! Look at that cocoa-brown color with the subtle gold sheen over it...that's just handsome!' He scoffed, but deep down I'm sure he knows I'm right...

[Kestrelco]

Be careful about gifts - as many have mentioned some schools do not allow them, and it's possible your professor might not find it ethical even if the school does. While I applaud your sensibilities - it's equally likely that your professor would treasure a hand-written letter extolling your appreciations as much as a pen for which they'd forget the occassion they were gifted with it, lose it or have it 'borrowed' and never returned. The letter recalls everything perfectly and near forever.

[Freddy]

Consider a Parker "51" aerometric... reliable, varitey of color, bullitproof and easy to maintain.

 

Take care.

[futhark]

The idea is thoughtful, and it is nice to hear students express appreciation for their teachers. However, apart from any university regulations, you should think about how you will interact with your pre-major advisor in the future. If you will take courses from that person, or expect to ask for letters of reference in the near future, it would be better to send a well-crafted note of thanks instead of a gift, as suggested above.

Edited April 12, 2010 by futhark