Mellon Teaching Support Network

• The Teaching Support Network (TSN) is made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and is co-sponsored by the Office of the Dean of the Faculty (DOF) and the Center for Leadership, Teaching, and Learning (CLTL).
• The purpose of the TSN is to provide developmental peer observation opportunities, reciprocal sharing of instructional challenges and strategies, and general pedagogical support to promote high quality teaching at Skidmore College.
• Each semester during the grant period, the TSN will facilitate ten faculty-to-faculty matches to enable productive and focused partnering around issues related to teaching. Matches will be created based on: (1) complementary teaching schedules that allow for classroom observation if desired; and (2) cross-disciplinary pairings that foster fresh perspectives. 
• Faculty member pairs are expected to meet 2-3 times over the course of the semester to work on the pedagogical challenges they have jointly identified; these could include peer observation in the classroom (or, in the case of remote learning, Zoom).
• This process is not part of any formal personnel process. It is intended to provide opportunities for professional growth across disciplinary boundaries, and to offer a framework for robust interactions around the importance of teaching.
• All participants will receive a $500 stipend.
• Please contact Janet Casey, Associate Dean of the Faculty, with any questions or concerns.