About the Teaching Collective

The Teaching Collective was started in 1977 as a means to empower undergraduates in their own education and the education of their peers. Over the years, the students and faculty who constitute the Collective have been responsible for the evolving content and teaching of "Introduction to Feminisms," a heavily-enrolled entry-level Women's Studies course.

It is impossible to overstate the impact of peer-learning and peer-teaching on Women's Studies students. For the members of the Teaching Collective, the opportunity to work with the faculty who relate to them in a non-authoritarian way is an affirming experience. Moreover, because they select the teaching materials for the "Intro" themselves, and facilitate the course to their undergraduate peers, the sense of empowerment they feel cannot be measured in quantitative ways.

The entire selection process is designed and managed by members of the Teaching Collective, with input from the Department Chair. Selection is based on a written application and interviews with members of the current Collective. Final approval by the Department Chair is required.

The call for application is usually made during the month of March in all sections of the "Intro" course as well as other Women's Studies courses.

For more information, please call the Women's Studies Office at 518-442-4220 or email us at wsoffice@cas.albany.edu