Ever want them to walk a mile in your shoes? Students, faculty and staff will have a one-time chance to try it on Friday, March 5 from 8 a.m. until noon. That is when ?Trading Places? is coming to the University of Central Arkansas. Students will get the opportunity to see what it is like on the other side of the desk while faculty and staff will go to class – as students.
The UCA Association of Future Alumni is sponsoring Trading Places. The concept of faculty, staff and students exchanging places is popular on several college campuses. Alumni Services Director Jan Newcomer said her alma mater, University of Louisiana at Monroe, does a similar program each year called the ?Big Switch.?
?The concept is exactly the same as Trading Places, students get to experience for half a day what it is like to be a university president or dean or faculty member. Often ULM students would say after participating that they better understood and appreciated their faculty members and what it takes to teach a class or the role a dean plays.?
AFA members are currently selling tickets to students for the chance to trade places with one of their favorite faculty or staff members. Tickets are $1 each or $5 for six tickets. Tickets may be purchased from any AFA member or by emailing uca_afa@yahoo.com.
On Friday, Feb. 27 in Buffalo Alumni Hall, the selection process will be made and students will get to find out just what position they get to experience. At this meeting both groups will get to exchange information about what exactly is expected of them on Trading Places Day.
Students trading places with faculty members will be asked to present a lecture or other in-class activity developed and given to them by the faculty member they are switching with. In addition, students will be asked to attend any meetings or participate in any other activities that a faculty member would routinely do that morning.
In exchange, faculty members will head to the classes of the students they are trading with to take notes and participate in class discussions. Staff members will also attend classes for the students who in turn will be experiencing staff members? perspective of university life. About 50 faculty and staff will be asked to become involved. Individuals will receive a UCA ?Trading Places? shirt for participating.
?So far we have had a good response from the individuals we have asked to be a part of Trading Places. President Hardin, the vice presidents as well as the Provost and deans are going to be a part of it. Coach Conque and several faculty and staff members have also signed on,? said Melissa Nix, president of AFA.
Student response to Trading Places has been positive also. The chance to be a university president or professor seems to have caught the imagination of many.
?While students understand that no major decisions would be made, such as dismissing classes early or lowering tuition, the opportunity to lead a university or teach a class even for a short time is intriguing to many. It is taking it one step further than traditional job shadowing,? Nix stated.
At noon that day, a luncheon will be held in Buffalo Alumni Hall for all participants of Trading Spaces to exchange experiences.
For more information, or if you would like to participate in Trading Places, contact the Office of Alumni Services at 450-3130 or email jann@uca.edu.
