UT TOWER Fellows program adapts post-COVID-19

The College revised its UT TOWER Fellows program to account for post-COVID-19 preferences. Modifications embrace an elevated variety of semesters and attendance of non-sequential semesters. 

The UT TOWER Fellows program permits completed adults to work together with youthful college students and be taught from College professors on campus. As fellows couldn’t attend in-person courses or occasions throughout the pandemic, this system grew to become extra versatile and ‘pleasurable’ to some fellows, fellow Catherine Sansbury mentioned. 

“Throughout Covid, all the things was so the other way up the entire world simply grew to become extra versatile. So (this system) grew to become extra versatile,” fellow Janet Allen mentioned.

Gaylen Paulson, Affiliate Dean and Director of Texas Govt Training, mentioned these modifications prompted some fellows to return for 3 or 4 semesters as a result of they loved this system.  

Paulson mentioned COVID-19 slowed this system down, however he thinks they’ve beat the challenges. He mentioned this system goals to just accept 25 fellows every semester. 

Sansbury didn’t assume COVID-19 affected her expertise in this system.

“Sure issues weren’t in individual as a lot, however they actually tried laborious to make it as pleasurable, fascinating and profitable, regardless of the worldwide pandemic,” Sansbury mentioned.

Sansbury mentioned she joined this system to study movie. She helped create a pitchbook for a screenplay, raised cash for the film and have become an affiliate and govt producer.

“People who find themselves TOWER fellows are in a position and keen to be extra than simply classmates but in addition mentors,” Allen mentioned. “You understand, assist with a category, a connection or a networking alternative.” 

Paulson mentioned intergenerational studying is without doubt one of the program’s key advantages. For instance, fellows might flip to interns who would assist them use know-how throughout the pandemic.

“We weren’t navigating on our personal,” Sansbury mentioned. “There have been pupil interns you would textual content … and also you finally discovered via their help.”

Paulson mentioned college students additionally be taught from fellows since fellows are sometimes individuals with deep expertise and backgrounds in numerous areas returning to campus with suggestions and methods.

“I like this system as a result of there was loads of different issues I might be doing,” Sansbury mentioned. “I felt actually privileged to have the ability to interact with so many unbelievable educated professors and different like-minded lifelong learners in this system and attending to know the scholars.”