*NOTE we are waiting on ratification of the new Agreement to determine the status of this program moving forward. The information presented here is historical, drawing from the 2012-2016 Agreement.
The goal of the Peer Observation Program (POP) is to provide an opportunity for faculty peers to hold reflective conversations about teaching, to pursue the values of the Seattle Community College District, and to ensure its vision. The POP protocol establishes specific conditions and prescribed roles to ensure that conversations among colleagues occur in respectful, inclusive and democratic ways.
Annual Peer Observer Training dates for Fall 2016
- North 11/1/16, 12:00-2:00pm, Room ED0840C
- Central 11/2/16, 1:00-3:00pm, Room BE4151
- South 11/3/16, 2:00-4:00pm, Room RAH214
All Peer Observers must attend ONE of the yearly training sessions in the Fall. Peer Observers can attend training at any campus.
Returning Peer Observers (who received the full training in 2015) are only required to attend the second hour of training.
New Peer Observers for 2016-17 must attend a complete training session.
Campus Peer Observer Leads
Please contact your campus lead and/or review the information on this web page if you need more information about the program.
- North: Betty Williams 206.934.4571
- South: Analea Brauburger 206.934.5136
- Central/SVI: Jaime Cardenas 206.934.4348
View: Peer Observers Program Guidelines
View: Memorandum of Understanding on payment of stipends
View: Peer Observers Program Training PowerPoint
Peer Observers Questions and Answers:
Q: What is a peer observer?
A: Peer Observers receive a $500 stipend per year for observing up to 5 other faculty members teach. Both peer observer and teacher to be observed participate in the process; it is not administratively evaluative and the observation notes stay between the two parties.
Q: Who can be a peer observer?
A: Full time and priority hire faculty are eligible to be peer observers.
Q: How do I become a peer observer?
A: At the end of each Winter quarter, the district office will send out to each campus their allotted number of peer observers. There is a total of 125, of whom up to 50 can be priority hire part time faculty. During Spring quarter, the Vice President of Instruction and the Faculty Senate President meet to determine the distribution of peer observers to each division. Unit administrators notify faculty of the opportunity and give 30 days for faculty to indicate interest. Faculty in the division select the observers before the end of Spring quarter.
Q: What am I required to do as a peer observer?
A: Once you have been selected, you are required to attend the training, usually in October. After the training, and throughout the year, you will observe up to five other faculty. This will vary by program, number of faculty, comprehensiveness of the evaluation, etc. but the intent was to try to complete three to five observations in the year.
Q: If it is $500 for up to five observations, does that mean I will receive $100 per observation?
A: No, the stipend is a fixed amount for up to five observations.
Q: Who picks the people to be observed?
A: You can choose who you observe, though often the Peer Observer Lead on your campus will help facilitate the couplings. Your Dean or Director may have a list of people who would like to be observed, as well, though remember that these observations are not to be given or reported on to the Deans.
Q: When will I be paid and how?
A: At the training, you’ll receive certification of attendance. Turn that into your Unit Administrator who will generate an Employment Notification Service Record Change (ENSRC) form. You should see a line on your paystub that says “Stipend” and the amount of $300. The Agreement says you will be paid by the end of Fall quarter (if your documents are submitted by December 1st). The final $200 will be paid at the end of Spring quarter if you have observed one or more (up to five) times. The AFT Seattle believes we should abide by the Agreement.
Q: If I was a peer observer last year, can I be one again?
A: Certainly – each term of a peer observer is one year, but we don’t have limits on the number of terms! And training is required each year you are a peer observer.
Q: What is the benefit?
A: The peer observer guidelines were developed with a clear intent – to improve teaching through faculty to faculty support. The process is unique; it is in many ways a new paradigm – one that assumes competence, a desire to improve, and the value of peer support. Plus, it is a little extra money.