What is Students as Partners?
Students as Partners is an innovative, internationally-recognized approach to pedagogy in higher education that re-positions students as collaborators in teaching and learning.
Led by Xavier’s Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), this semester-long partnership will match interested STEM faculty with 1-2 undergraduate students. Faculty and student partners choose an aspect of a course to focus on together for a semester.
Student consultants in the Students as Partners program collaborate with faculty partners to enhance classroom experiences with a focus on equity, inclusion, and belonging. Their responsibilities include:
1. Training and Collaboration: Attending a kick-off meeting, training sessions with the Center for Teaching, and regular group meetings with other student consultants.
2. Classroom Observation: Regularly attending the faculty partner’s classes (e.g., weekly), taking observation notes, and focusing on what works well and what could be improved.
3. Feedback and Planning: Meeting regularly with the faculty partner to discuss observations, provide feedback, and draft a plan for course improvement.
4. Implementation and Support: Assisting in implementing tools and strategies based on the improvement plan and supporting the professor in gathering student feedback.
5. Program Feedback: Offering feedback on the Students as Partners program itself throughout the semester.
This collaborative effort aims to improve student success by incorporating ongoing, student-centered feedback into course development and delivery.