Frequently Asked Questions

These questions are answered below:

1. What do student consultants do?

2. What do faculty members do in the TLI?

3. Are faculty members required to participate in the TLI?

4. Does the student consultant have any say in my grades?

5. How does my role as a student impact the TLI?

6. What kinds of feedback do professors ask for (A.K.A. what are the notes you’re taking)?

7. Do other colleges have programs like the TLI?

8. How can I become a student consultant?

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1. What do student consultants do?

Student consultants come in a variety of shapes and sizes. We each have slightly different roles based on the expectations of the faculty member with whom we are working as well as our own expectations and previous experience. Some of us work with brand new faculty and some of us work with faculty who have lots of teaching experience. For the most part, student consultants attend weekly meetings of one of the faculty member’s classes. We observe the interaction between the students and the faculty member and take notes about what is going well and what could be adjusted or examined more closely for a more smooth and stimulating class. Student consultants meet with our faculty partners one-on-one once a week as well as meeting as a group (of student consultants) once a week to exchange feedback, experiences, and ideas. Lastly, student consultants sometimes attend the faculty pedagogy seminars through the TLI to engage in active discussion about teaching and learning. We are paid by the hour for this work.



2. What do faculty members do in the TLI?

Faculty members partner with student consultants to explore classroom teaching. All participate in weekly meetings with their student consultants. Some also meet weekly in a faculty pedagogy seminar with other faculty who are participating in the TLI.



3. Are faculty members required to participate in the TLI?

Nope. Any faculty member who is participating in the TLI has done so out of a personal desire to explore issues of classroom practice, affirm what is working well already, and/or improve his or her teaching and interaction with students.



4. Does the student consultant have any say in my grades?

No. The student consultant’s role is to help the teacher clarify his or her goals and approaches and make changes and improvements, not to evaluate fellow students or try to influence faculty members’ evaluation of students. The student consultant can serve as an advocate for fellow students by helping to bridge the gap between the student and teacher perspective, but the student consultant has no influence on grades or other forms of evaluation.



5. How does my role as a student impact the TLI?

Students are the hub and motor of the TLI. Professors participate in TLI so that they can clarify their commitments and approaches and be more effective teachers. Student consultants participate in the TLI to become better students and improve the educational environment for fellow students. Students enrolled in a course in which the professor has elected to participate in the TLI automatically become essential participants of the TLI experience. We realize that students enrolled in the course did not necessarily “sign up” for this experience, but we believe that the TLI can benefit everyone. It can be as much or as little a part of your class time as you would like it to be. The most important role you have as a student is to support your teacher in his or her endeavors in the TLI by being yourself, being honest, and being present in class.



6. What kinds of feedback do professors ask for (A.K.A. what are the notes you’re taking)?

Every professor has a slightly different motivation for participating in the TLI. Some professors choose to participate because it is their first year teaching in the Tri-Co (or ever), and they want honest feedback about how their work and their teaching is affecting their students. Other professors have been teaching for a really long time and might just want to have their teaching observed for potential revision and change. All the professors who participate in the TLI, however, have a strong commitment to their students and their profession and are devoting extra time to making themselves the best they can be. They all want feedback on what is working and what could work better.



7. Do other colleges have programs like the TLI?

The TLI is unique to the Tri-Co. It is supported by a grant given to Bryn Mawr College from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Since its development, the TLI has expanded to many different areas within the Tri-Co and neighboring schools (such as Villanova and Ursinus). With increasing advocacy and research about education, more colleges are looking into instituting programs like the TLI, but at the end of the day, the TLI is the one and only quite like it.



8. How can I become a student consultant?

If you are interested in taking on this role, talk with other students who have been consultants to get a sense of the responsibilities involved. You can also find information on the TLI main page .  Then, contact Alison Cook-Sather (acooksat@brynmawr.edu or acooksat@haverford.edu). Also check out the Get Involved page.