Have you considered applying for Faculty Development Leave? It could provide you the perfect opportunity to write a book, conduct research, create a new class or write a grant proposal. If you have been thinking about creating an innovative class infused with active and collaborative teaching and learning techniques, the Faculty Development Leave route is for you. Take a look at the policy and contact the Center if you are looking for some additional assistance. "Studying is still largely an independent endeavor," says Jonathan D. Becker, an assistant professor of educational leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University. Is that what you have found as well? The scholarship on this topic was thin but I did find research on peer effects that suggests that college students benefit when they take classes with or study with high-performing students (Winston & Zimmerman, 2004). If you are teaching an undergraduate class, it is understood that you will have expected learning outcomes. Do you also include these expectations when you are teaching a graduate-level class? There is an interesting discussion on this very topic. As the semester winds to a close, I hope that you and your students have enjoyed a productive term. Be sure to remind your students that you are looking forward to using their feedback via the course evaluations to improve your teaching. Also remember that the Center is here if you receive scores or comments that cause you to rethink your teaching methods. Committing ourselves to continuous improvement allows us to grow as educators.