Final answer:
The term 'professor' refers to a teacher of the highest rank in a college or university. Professors are usually tenured and highly experienced in their academic fields, and engage in a mix of teaching, research, and publication of scholarly work.
Step-by-step explanation:
A professor is a teacher of the highest rank in a college or university. The correct answer to the student's question is C) Professor. Professors have usually achieved a high level of expertise in their field of study and hold a doctoral degree. They are involved in teaching upper-level courses, guiding graduate students, conducting research, and contributing scholarly works to their discipline. In academia, the rank of a professor is often associated with tenure, which provides job security and certain academic freedoms.
To illustrate further, an associate professor may sometimes feel pressure about their tenure status, as tenure decisions impact their job security and professional growth. This can create a challenging work environment, as depicted in the scenario: An associate professor is afraid that she won't be given tenure and starts spreading rumors about one of her associates to make herself look better. Such an act is typically considered unprofessional and unethical within the academic community.