Faculty Fellow Program
As a result of recent budget cuts, students are finding
themselves more and more often taking a class in one of our large lecture
halls, including ENS
280, NE 60 and CG333. Departments have addressed budget cuts by offering
fewer, but larger course sections. Students and faculty alike have commented
that while the larger course sections are more efficient, they lack the personal,
more intimate conversations that were more likely to develop in smaller forums.
Faculty Fellows at SDSU are defined as faculty members who engage students
out of the classroom, to further engage them in learning opportunities.
The purpose of this program is twofold. First, to encourage and support ongoing
dialog between students and their faculty members in a comfortable, non-threatening
environment. Second, to increase faculty involvement in the residence halls.
Twenty full-time lecturers or professors are sought for this inaugural year
of the program. For each semester they agree to participate, Faculty Fellows
will be given ten lunch passes and two dinner passes to eat in The
Dining Room of Cuicacalli.
One faculty member spoken to recently about this idea was thrilled. She wanted
to plan ahead which days and times she would eat in The Dining Room, so that
she could include it on her syllabus for each of her classes. She was excited
about the prospect of meeting students in this casual setting, engaging in
more intimate conversations with students than the large lecture hall allows,
and even holding review sessions with students prior to exams.
By agreeing to become a Faculty Fellow, these faculty members would also agree
to participate in a “Last Lecture Series” in the residence halls.
This type of program is very popular on many campuses – it provides faculty
members the opportunity to provide a lecture on any topic they like. While
some professors choose to offer lectures within their discipline, others may
talk about their hobbies, goals, career path, etc. One of the secondary goals
of this program would be to reduce student anxiety about talking with professors.
Additionally, the faculty members would agree to be listed in a resource guide
to be utilized by Resident Advisors. This would list faculty members who could
speak on a variety of topics in the residence halls in support of the LIFE
101 residential education curriculum.
This program supports the University and Division of Student Affairs’ goal
of retention. As mentioned above, students and faculty members will be able
to meet out of classroom to develop relationships, and converse in an environment
that may be deemed by students as “more safe” than the large lecture
halls. One professor recently shared that the thing she doesn’t like
about the large lecture halls is that students are more afraid to ask the “silly
questions” that they would typically ask in a smaller classroom. Increasing
the opportunity for this dialogue, and providing the non-threatening setting
may allow students the opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification
that they were previously uncomfortable asking.
The luncheons and dinner opportunities would be open to any student who chooses
to dine with the professor. The Dining Room is not restricted to students who
have a meal plan, cash is accepted at the door. Therefore, all students taking
classes with the faculty member could participate.
Additionally, students in the residence halls (primarily first-year students)
will have the opportunity to benefit from the “Last Lecture Series” and
other programs presented by faculty in the residential communities at the Resident
Advisor’s request.
For more information Contact: Randy Timm, Director, Residential Education
4-4612, rtimm@mail.sdsu.edu