Peer Faculty Observations
Get professional, respectful, and confidential feedback on your teaching from experienced instructors from other disciplines.
Each fall and spring term, CETL coordinates one-hour teaching observations to help instructors gain additional perspective on their teaching. Peer Faculty Consultants are experienced instructors from other disciplines who can provide professional, respectful, and confidential feedback on teaching. Consultations are available to all university faculty regardless of rank, but new faculty are particularly encouraged to participate in this program. We encourage instructors to mention the consultation experience in professional development reports to their deans (or for adjunct faculty, their department chairs).
Consultants must teach in a different discipline from the Instructor. They are encouraged to have recent experience being observed before performing an observation for others. Consultants should have taught at least 3 years at Minnesota State Mankato.
Central Tenets of the Peer Faculty Observations Program
- The observation process should treat the observed faculty member with professional respect.
- The observation process should promote teaching growth and self-awareness.
- Conversations and observation notes will be confidential between the Instructor and the Consultant.
Peer Faculty Consultation Process
1. Request a Consultation
New and veteran faculty may request a Peer Faculty Consultation through the CETL office during weeks 1-10 of each fall and spring semester. Tell us your academic discipline, office hours, and the course description for the observation. The CETL Director will pair you with a Peer Faculty Consultant.
2. One-on-One Consultation
The Consultant contacts the Instructor to schedule a confidential consultation. During the consultation, the Instructor will describe the course: goals, curriculum, teaching practices, and the students. Together, the Consultant and the Instructor identify specific teaching areas to observe in the classroom and to provide comments on.
3. Observation
The Consultant and Instructor schedule a teaching observation. The Consultant will confirm the date, time, and location via email, copying the CETL Director as a backup Consultant in case of emergency.
During the observation, the Consultant observes as unobtrusive as possible.
4. Debrief
Following the observation, the Consultant writes an objective post-observation report. Comments should be supportive and constructive. The pair meet within a reasonable timeframe to discuss the post-observation report. The Instructor receives a copy for their files.
The Consultant notifies the CETL Director that the consultation is complete.
I want to schedule a Peer Faculty Observation
Please complete the online request form during weeks 1-10 of each fall and spring to get started with this program.
Contact the Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning to volunteer to be a Peer Faculty Consultant
