“Take Your Professor Out” (TYPO) is the newest initiative of the Student Government Association (SGA) which aims at bettering student-faculty relationships. Aligning with the university’s goals, the SGA, under the presidency of Nick Smith, is prioritizing building connections between students and faculty outside of the traditional classroom setting. The Stute had the opportunity to interview Smith, who believes that the TYPO program is one step in the right direction, as it allows students to approach their professors first and get to know them as people, rather than instructors, over a meal.
When asked about the thought process behind creating TYPO, Smith shares how the current landscape of student and faculty interactions is very one-sided. Right now, faculty are encouraged to connect with students through holding office hours or inviting them to departmental lunches with other students. While this is good, Smith wants students to also have a chance to approach their professors. This is where the idea for TYPO was born. Other colleges have also implemented this idea and found success, which is why the SGA is eager to trial-run this.
In response to how he foresees TYPO aiding the future of student-faculty relations, Smith breaks it down into three parts.
- Curating curiosity among students pertaining to the work and background of their professors
Many professors have interesting backgrounds and insane career trajectories that have led them to where they are now, and they often don’t get to share their experiences with their students. Through the TYPO, Smith hopes students can elevate their understanding of their professors and naturally get their questions answered. “This sort of exchange would allow a student to learn about their professor’s research and possibly participate in research with them or ask questions related to an industry that the student is interested in pursuing a career in,” Smith states.
- Shifting the culture so that students are more comfortable in approaching their professors
While this is a trial run of the program, it is the greater goal of the university and the SGA to work towards creating a culture where students are reaching out to faculty more on their own. “TYPO makes student-faculty interactions a double-sided effort which levels the playing field,” Smith says.
- Creating meaningful and sustained relationships between students and faculty alike
The end goal of TYPO is to create a natural progression towards a mentorship-type bond that is a mutually beneficial relationship.
The process of actually taking your professor out for a meal is very simple and is accessible to every undergraduate student. Once a student fills out the form and is selected, they are awarded a Pi Kitchen voucher for their appointment with their professor. The student is then instructed to contact their professor to decide on a date and time for the meal. Lastly, as the program is in its very early stages, Smith explains how he would like every participating student and faculty member to provide feedback regarding the process, their experience, and what they got out of it. The SGA President believes this to be a crucial step in making this a larger-scale program. “I am super excited and we already have some interest. I hope a lot of people apply.”
