Universities here usually advertise a faculty-student ratio in their promotional literature, Michelle, which underscores this fact. Some kids will prefer large lectures where they will never be called on--or called out for not paying attention. But there's no question that the lecture is the worst educational delivery mode that exists.

My university has about a 13-1 ratio, but I rarely have classes over 20, and occasionally under 10. I know most of my students well; I contact them if they are absent; they have my cell phone; I invite them individually to office hours at the start of each semester to get to know them. Over time I learn their areas of strength and of struggle. I try my best to reach them where they are. Yes, that's bespoke.

I know that the students value it, but there are just too few of them overall for the university to consider us worth keeping.