Filterable, Volunteer Panelist Database for Course Instructors

AUG 2023 - PRESENT

TERPtalks is an intervention I delivered in response to a challenge I experienced with facilitating a faculty panel for UNIV 100 - a first-year seminar course that I instructed for 20 students majoring in biology, biochemistry, and nursing. 

The challenge we experienced was that the guest speakers who were assigned to my course were unsure how to answer a swath of questions that my students had related to research and medicine. 

This led me to consult with my colleagues in the College of CMNS about how we might match volunteers who want to be guest speakers for UNIV 100 in a way that recognizes the unique needs and questions that students in different course sections might have.

This dialogue culminated in my developing and delivering TERPtalks, a filterable database of volunteer guest speakers where UNIV 100 instructors could hand-select panelists for their course based on the volunteer's highlighted areas of expertise and availability.  

The database also opened up the traditional volunteer panel to graduate students and undergraduate leaders—whose perspectives I believe are integral to creating a speakers panel that is diverse and representative of the college research experience.

To protect the confidentiality of the volunteer panelists, I have not included a link to the database on AirTable—but please reach out if you have any thoughts or questions!