The purpose of the Peer Faculty Consultation program is to provide individualized, confidential consultation to support the development of teaching effectiveness in order to improve student learning. Faculty partnerships with a trained consultant are one important way for faculty to develop formative assessment during their classes. Faculty who volunteer to be a part of this program will select a trained peer consultant and receive supportive, confidential and focused formative assessment.
There are currently twenty-three MSU faculty members who have been trained to be faculty consultants. Also known as peer consultants, they can help you better assess student learning in your classes. This valuable service is available at no charge to all MSU faculty. You can select a consultant from a list which includes faculty from each college on campus. Once the Center is contacted and you select your consultant there will be an interview process in an attempt to find out what information is desired. In most cases the consultant will study the class syllabus, visit the class being taught (video taping if possible) and talk to the class as a whole without the instructor being present. The consultant will take all of this information and share it in a follow-up interview with the faculty member. Since this is a formative assessment only the faculty member can use this information in any way they choose. The consultation is confidential. All material collected will be given to the instructor at the end of the consultation. The Center will keep no record on consultations other than the name of the professor asking for the consultation and the time spent with each consultation.
Consultations can happen at any time during the semester. However, to benefit faculty the most it is suggested that they occur between the 4th and 8th week of the semester. This will give the faculty member time to adjust the class based on consultant and student responses.
We are now taking requests for faculty consultations during the spring semester. If you are interested please contact Dr. Stewart Ross, Director for the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Minnesota State University.
The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at MSU exists to serve the teaching community. Information about specific individuals who participate in the consultation program is considered confidential by the Center. All materials generated during consultations are considered the sole property of the faculty member requesting the service and will be returned to the faculty member at the conclusion of the consultation.
