Fostering Sustained Student-Faculty Engagement in Undergraduate Education

The Higher Education Quality Council offers recommendations for institutional policy and practice to enhance student-faculty experiences, focusing on the quality of interactions, fostering sustained engagement, and mentoring relationships. The report is timely given the changing higher education environment and the importance of faculty in contributing to positive student outcomes.

Format: Hardback
Length: 228 pages
Publication date: 01 December 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Expanding definitions and measures of student-faculty experiences to encompass the quality of interactions and fostering sustained student-faculty engagement and mentoring relationships is crucial in higher education. This expansion goes beyond the mere frequency of interactions and recognizes the importance of meaningful connections that contribute to students' academic and personal growth.

To achieve this, institutions must prioritize policies and practices that promote positive student-faculty interactions. Faculty members play a vital role in creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment, and they require support and development to enhance their teaching skills and abilities.

Recommendations for institutional policy and practice include fostering a culture of collaboration and dialogue between faculty and students, providing opportunities for professional development and mentorship, and promoting diversity and inclusion in the classroom. Faculty development professionals can play a key role in designing and implementing these initiatives, ensuring that they align with the institution's mission and values.

The timing of this research is particularly relevant as higher education environments continue to evolve. Shifting student demographics, changing institutional environments, evolving environments for institutional accountability for student learning and success, changing faculty roles, and shifting classroom and program modalities all require faculty to adapt and respond effectively. By prioritizing student-faculty experiences, institutions can ensure that students receive the support and guidance they need to succeed.

In addition to these broader recommendations, the research also includes topical chapters on mental health, students from immigrant families, and faculty mentoring post-covid. These chapters highlight the specific challenges and opportunities that these groups of students and faculty face, and provide insights into effective strategies for supporting their success.

Overall, this research provides valuable insights into the importance of student-faculty experiences in higher education and offers practical recommendations for institutional policy and practice. By fostering positive interactions and relationships, institutions can create an environment that supports students' academic and personal growth and prepares them for success in their future endeavors.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032392509