WHAT IS THE FACULTY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE (FEI)?
In the Fall of 2006, the Office of Residential Life launched an initiative to increase the quality and frequency of “out-of-the-classroom” interactions between students and faculty members. The Faculty Engagement Initiative (FEI) was developed to bring faculty members into the residence halls to interact with students in an intentional and purposeful manner. Faculty and student interaction outside of the classroom is not only an important component of a liberal arts education but is also a marker of student success and retention. A number of recent studies evaluating the importance and impact of student and faculty interactions have shown that students become more involved in all aspects of campus life when they have quality interactions with faculty members.
The Dean of the College area has a long-standing and dedicated commitment to supporting the academic mission of the College. One proven factor in enhancing the student experience in the classroom is the opportunity to connect with faculty in less formal environments outside the classroom.
The Office of Residential Life values interaction between students and faculty members outside of the classroom and in the residence halls. ORL has identified various programmatic opportunities to engage both students and faculty in developing relationships with one another and to assist in cultivating those relationships. The Faculty Engagement Initiative provides financial resources as well as organizational support to students and faculty members wishing to develop programming in the residence halls.
WHAT ARE FACULTY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS?
The ORL Faculty Engagement Initiative concentrates on six programmatic areas aimed at creating and cultivating relationships between students and faculty members.
- FYRE-Side Chats: Programs that bring together first-year students and members of the Dartmouth faculty to discuss topics of personal and professional interest. FYRE-Side chat programs can range from large, cluster-wide BBQs to small, more intimate gatherings between two residents and a professor.
- Sophomore Advantage Program: It is during the second year of college that students begin to solidify their extracurricular and curricular choices. Funding for Sophomore Advantage programs is available in order to respond to student needs by offering targeted academic and major advising. All sophomore students are eligible to request funding for these programs.
- Graduate Advisor Faculty Discussions: Many undergraduates report that they are uncomfortable initiating relationships with faculty members, particularly those whose research areas interest them but with whom the students, as underclassmen, have not yet had the chance to interact. The Graduate Advisor Faculty Discussions offer the opportunity for undergraduate students to begin relationships with faculty with whom they might not otherwise have the opportunity to interact by partnering with graduate students to facilitate programming. Graduate students are also eligible to request funding for programs they would like to organize to bring students and faculty together.
- Faculty Student Initiated Programs: Student Initiated Programs (SIPs) allow students living on campus to take ownership of their residential experience and coordinate programs that meet their individual needs. Faculty SIPs are student initiated programs that encourage out-of-the-classroom, purposeful and intentional interactions between students and faculty members. Student initiated programs that involve faculty members enhance the residential experience for students by bridging the gap between learning inside and learning outside of the classroom. Students are able to develop substantive relationships with faculty members by inviting them into their halls and interacting with them in a safe, un-scripted fashion. The interactions are mutually beneficial; both student and faculty are able to learn from one another as they engage during programs.
- Community Dinners: Funding for “Community Dinners” provides an opportunity for students to invite faculty members into their residence halls for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert or other programs. The purpose of these programs is to bring one or more faculty members in contact with two or more residential students to discuss an area of personal or professional interest. Members of each academic class are eligible to propose and receive funding for Community Dinners throughout the year. Residential Education staff provided guidance, support, and resources to students wanting to develop deeper connections with faculty. When needed, Residential Education staff can also assist with the organizational aspects of program development and outreach efforts to faculty.
- Greek Letter Organization (GLO) Connections: The commitment to Scholarship asks all members of Greek letter organizations “to pursue the acquisition of knowledge, with individual academic excellence as the primary goal.” Greek letter organizations are encouraged to utilize the Faculty Engagement Initiative as a means to furthering their commitments to Scholarship. The GLO Connections initiative is designed to facilitate faculty and resident interaction outside of the traditional classroom setting and inside the Greek letter organizations. Programs include at least one faculty member and have an intentional purpose in bringing together students and faculty. Faculty Involvement Programs in the CFS houses target a specific population, such as members of an organization registered for a certain class, members interested in a certain field of study, or brothers/sisters interested in learning about a professor's research interests.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR FACULTY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE FUNDING?
Resources are available to assist students, staff, and faculty members in developing and facilitating programming in the residence halls.
- Undergraduate students are eligible to request funding for programming that involves the interaction of faculty members and students.
- Graduate students are eligible to request funding for programming that involves the interaction of faculty members, graduate students and undergraduate students.
- Faculty members are eligible to request funding for programming that involves the interaction of faculty members and students.
- Staff members are eligible to request funding for programming that involves the interaction of faculty members, staff members and students.
Click on the links below for more information or to apply for funding:
Program Ideas
Faculty Engagement Program Procedures
Propose a Program/Request Funds
Evaluate a Program-Organizer
Evaluate a Program-Faculty
Evaluate a Program-Participants' Evaluation Form
For information about Faculty Engagement Programs, contact:
Brittany Medlin
Community Director, Russell Sage Cluster
Brittany Medlin@dartmouth.edu
603-646-8552
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