Faculty & Staff Collaboration

If your course syllabus includes a group or individual presentation component, you may wish to recommend or require a practice session at the Speech Center. It is important to inform the students as early in the semester as possible so they can plan their schedules and reserve a convenient appointment time.

Faculty and staff members are also welcome to visit the Speech Center for their own practice purposes. Practice sessions have included preparation for upcoming conference paper presentations, examination and review of lecture style and delivery, practice prior to Board and Alumni gatherings, and speeches recorded when one cannot be at the event in person but wishes to make an announcement or pay tribute.

Requesting an Assigned Speech Fellow

If you are planning to teach a course that is speech-intensive, you might be interested in working with a Speech Fellow, a student consultant assigned to a specific professor for an entire semester. Fellows often conduct class visits, work with individual students or groups at the Speech Center, and develop a working relationship with the professor to keep them informed of students' progress. Using the form linked below, let us know the purpose(s) and evaluative criteria for your communication assignments, your goals and expectations, and your anticipated enrollment. Faculty interest will be met on a first-come, first-served basis. 

How to utilize this service:

  • Complete the Fellow Request form, and send us your assignment instructions and syllabus. We recommend submitting requests toward the end of each semester so that fellow assignments can be confirmed over winter/summer breaks. 
  • Meet with your speech fellow(s) at the start of the semester to discuss assignment expectations.
  • Share the names of your speech fellows with your students and ensure they know where to access our appointment calendar and how to prepare.
  • Encourage students to book their appointments early and well in advance of their presentation date(s) so they can make the most of their appointments.

Requiring Students to Meet with Speech Consultants  

If your course includes an oral assignment, your students may benefit from a visit to the Speech Center to help them prepare. If meeting with speech consultants will be a required component of one or more of your assignments, but you do not need an assigned fellow, please submit the form linked below.

How to utilize this service:

  • Complete our Plan-to-Assign form and send us your assignment instructions.
  • Provide information about this requirement in your syllabus.
  • Students are encouraged to make their appointments at least three weeks in advance of the practice session. Many students are reserving practice times six-eight weeks in advance in order to secure the times most convenient for their schedules.
  • A student's practice session should precede the classroom presentation by a week or more. It helps to remind class members that the date of the Speech Center appointment will be noted as a sign of responsible preparation in advance for the oral assignment in class. An appointment a week in advance also makes possible a second appointment if the student wishes to schedule one.

Requesting a Tour of the Speech Center

If you would like to request a time for you and your students to visit the Speech Center as a group, please contact Speech Center Director Linda Hobgood. Unless otherwise requested, class visits typically last around 30 minutes and include a brief overview of our services and time to explore the Center and ask questions.