Student-Faculty Partnership Program

In this program, which runs during the Spring quarter, students and faculty members work together as partners in exploring how we can create more engaging, inclusive, learning-rich environments for every student. Students and faculty members are “paired up” for the quarter, and then each week — starting Week 1 and going through Week 7 — students visit and observe their faculty partner’s class and meet with their faculty partner to discuss their respective observations, insights, and wonderings. This program is premised on the idea that students and faculty members can learn much from each other regarding the experience of teaching and learning, and that it is through dialogue and sharing of different perspectives that this learning can occur.

We will be seeking faculty participants who:

NOTE: Information on the rest of this page is faculty-focused; students interested in this program should go to the student information page��to learn more.

Program Goals

This program is designed to:

Foster open and constructive student-faculty dialogue to promote understanding, empathy, and connection.

Engage students and faculty as co-inquirers who learn and work together to analyze and improve educational practice.

Involve students with diverse experiences, identities, and perspectives in creating an inclusive, engaging learning environment here at DU

Structure & Timeline

This program typically runs during the Spring quarter. We will be inviting faculty to apply for the Spring 2027 program in early 2027. We plan to select participants and determine student-faculty pairings by early March (after students know their class schedules for the Spring).��

If you apply and are selected for the program, here is what you can expect:

In early March, we will have an orientation for all faculty participants. Also in early March (before Spring break), you and your student partner will meet with each other to plan for your Spring partnership work. This will include identifying a focus/area of interest – related to teaching and learning in your classroom – for your work together.
Each week of the Spring quarter (starting with week 1 and going through week 7)��your student partner will visit your classroom and take detailed observation notes, focusing on the areas of interest you identified. In addition, the two of you will meet weekly to share/discuss each others’ perspectives, wonderings, and insights in regards to these observations. You will also spend some time on your own reflecting on what you’re learning from this experience.
Twice during the Spring quarter, you’ll meet with the program facilitator and other faculty participants to reflect on how the process is going and what you’re learning. Note: The student participants will also be meeting with each other and the program facilitator once a week to reflect on what they are learning from this experience.
Mid-Spring-quarter��your student partner will conduct a feedback session/focus group with the students in your class, compile that feedback and share it with you.
At the end of Spring quarter, you’ll participate in a final debrief/reflection/celebration with the other faculty participants, and will also have the opportunity to share your individual reflection on what the partnership experience was like, in writing or in person, with the program facilitator.

Faculty Time Commitment

2 Hours Initially Includes 1 hour for orientation activities, plus 1 hour to meet with your student partner and plan your work together.

+1 Hour per Week For weekly meetings with your student partner happening Week 1 through Week 7 of the Spring quarter.

+2 Hours During Quarter For two one-hour meetings with fellow faculty participants and the program facilitator (one early Spring quarter and one later)

+2 Hours at End For final wrap up activities at end of Spring quarter.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will you decide which faculty members participate?

We may have more qualified applicants than there are available slots. Our final selection of faculty members will be determined in large part by the schedules of the student participants (we’ll need to ensure that students’ available times mesh with the class times of the participating faculty members).
How will students be compensated and what is their time commitment?
All students who participate in this program will be compensated by the hour for their time. We��estimate��that the time commitment will be as follows:
- 4 hours in early March for orientation activities and partnership planning
- 5 to 6 hours per week during the Spring quarter –��on average��– for observing their faculty partners class, writing up their notes/reflections, meeting with their faculty partner, and meeting with the other student participants
- 2 hours for end-of-quarter wrap up activities at the end of Spring quarter or beginning of summer
What students will participate and how will you match students to faculty members?

We will be inviting applications from undergraduate students who have been at DU for at least 2 quarters.�� We plan to recruit students who represent a diversity of social identities and perspectives, as our intent is to bring voices to the table that are currently underrepresented in shaping the learning environment in higher education.
In most cases, faculty members with be paired with a student partner who is outside of their discipline, the idea being��that��students bring an expertise in what it means to be a student,��faculty members bring their expertise in the discipline, and it’s the combination of these two types of expertise (along with a mutual desire to learn and work together in creating an inclusive, engaging learning environment) that will lead to great things!

To Learn More and to Apply

If you would like to learn more, please contact Virginia Pitts who is the facilitator of this program.

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