Q. Should I contact my professors before classes start?

Well, that depends. You would need to speak with a professor for advising purposes for the upcoming semester in order to get your advising Alternative PIN number for registering. Below is section of the Student Handbook pertaining to advising. 

Generally, it is probably a good idea to wait before speaking to a professor about an upcoming class. Many of your questions will likely be answered on Day One. If not, you can always ask during or after class. I don't know what kind of important information you would hope to learn before class that cannot wait until Day One. Professors are somewhat lenient at the beginning of a new semester getting classes, textbooks, and IT access issues resolved sufficiently before assignments become due. 

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Here is what the Student Handbook says about the advising process:

The advising process is designed to help the student make important decisions related to academic and career progress. All HCU students should become familiar with their advisor and the advising process. Below are some guidelines to follow to make the advising process a successful part of the HCU experience.

During the freshmen and sophomore years, all students (except those in the College of Science and Mathematics) are assigned a Core Advisor, a faculty advisor who can help navigate the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum and counsel students on all academic matters, broad career and vocational interests, etc. Sometime during the sophomore year, students with declared majors will transfer to a Major Advisor, a faculty advisor who specializes in the student’s particular field of interest or allied field. The Major Advisor assists the student in planning major-specific educational and career goals. (Students in the College of Science and Mathematics work with a Major Advisor from the freshmen year forward.) Students may see advisors (“Core” or “Major,” as assigned) to

• discuss academic successes, failures, or other issues that may affect academic progress
• select courses for each semester
• change a major or minor
• file a degree plan
• discuss educational and career goals, and
• provide personal encouragement and support

The faculty advisor's responsibility to the student is

• to listen and help solve problems regarding academic or career issues,
• to aid in selecting appropriate courses each semester,
• to serve as a reference to appropriate campus resources, and
• to assist the student in attaining educational and career goals.

The student's responsibility to the faculty advisor is to

• come to the advising sessions prepared and ready to ask questions,
• be knowledgeable about HCU academic policies and procedures,
• know the office hours and location of advisors,
• schedule appointments with advisors,
• keep scheduled appointments on time or cancel in advance,
• accept responsibility for academic decisions,
• seek assistance before experiencing academic difficulty, and
• share information about educational and career goals.