Who are Faculty Fellows?
A dyad of faculty from diverse disciplines who host a Fellowship of Philosophers group for the sake of modeling critical thought for and among a specified diverse group of students.
What do Faculty Fellows do?
The Faculty Fellows create a space for students where pertinent issues are discussed, thinking and reasoning are sharpened, and love for truth is cultivated.
- Cultivate a hospitable atmosphere where gracious conversation occurs around difficult issues.
- Work with a fellow faculty member, of a different discipline, to model critical thought and gracious interaction for students.
- Co-host dinner gatherings for Fellowship of Philosophers (FoPs) once per month (dinner reimbursed by T2I) for the full academic year.
- Co-host on campus meetings for FoPs once per month for the full academic year.
- Develop a mentorship/discipleship connection with identified Wandering Philosopher(s) from within one’s given FoP by meeting with that student one-on-one once per month beginning in the Spring of an academic year.
- Provide oversight and guidance at monthly Spring “Coffee House Forums” hosted by Wandering Philosophers
- Complete brief google form on progression of each FoP.
- Share experiences as a Fellow with the Critical Thinking Director and QEP Implementation Committee at the end of each semester.
What do Faculty Fellows receive?
- Consulting about pedagogy, instructional design, assessment and instructional technologies to support critical thinking development.
- Relief of one assigned committee meeting per month.
- Stipend paid during the current academic year.*
- Literature to support the critical thinking development of students through gracious conversation. A primary text is provided after one’s nomination to be a Faculty Fellow, to be read over the summer in preparation for the fall when the new Fellowship of Philosophers begin.
- Discretionary budget to engage and bless students within one’s FoP.
How will Faculty Fellows be prepared?
Once chosen through the College’s nomination process for Faculty Fellows, as outlined in the QEP document, the faculty member will have the opportunity to accept or deny the Faculty Fellow role. If accepted the Faculty Fellow will be prepared through various facets to provide healthy facilitation of an atmosphere for students where pertinent issues are discussed, thinking and reasoning are sharpened, and love for truth is cultivated.
- Attend an orientation/training led by the QEP Director** on how to successfully lead group discussions for critical thought and gracious communication. Components of the training include, but are not limited to:
- Discussion based not lecture based formats
- How to engage the students that may be more reticent to speak up
- How to manage the group so that all are empowered in their particular thought and leadership styles
- When and why to play the devil’s advocate
- What encouraging critical thought for graciously impacting the world looks like within verbiage, tone, and relationship
- Modeling healthy disagreement as a key component to the Faculty Fellow role
- Be provided with a text to read over the summer regarding pedagogy which supports the critical thinking processes and development of students in higher education.
What is a typical Fellowship of Philosophers outline?
- Welcome.
- Article / Topic / Concept discussed.
- The discussion element will have been previously provided to FoP students. FoP students are asked to come prepared with what they perceive to be opposing thoughts and underlying themes of the article, topic, or concept.
- QEP Director** will provide options of an article, topic, or concept, however the Faculty Fellows may choose their own as well.
- Faculty Fellows ask the following questions for students to discuss based on the identified concepts of the particular gathering: (1) Who are we?, (2) Where are we?, (3) What is wrong?, (4) What is the solution?, and (5) What time is it?
- Asking the final question, ‘What time is it?’ clarifies the shape of worldview thinking and keeps one from losing the important ‘this-world’ dimension of critical thinking.
- Concluding thoughts.
- Decide on date/time of next gathering.
- Complete brief google form sharing how the particular FoP progressed.
**QEP Director will eventually be replaced by a Critical Thinking Director