After a two-year hiatus of a Texas Wesleyan tradition due to the pandemic, faculty pop-ins have returned and were re-introduced in hilarious style. "Popping in" to classes with a large bag of popcorn, University President Frederick G. Slabach surprises professors with the Engaging Educator award for going above and beyond for their students.

In a unique twist to the typical pop-ins, Dr. Alison Simons, associate professor of sociology, presented the idea to reverse the roles and pop in on President Slabach while he was teaching as part of a social norm-breaking experiment.

"Breaching experiments are part of how we teach social norms in sociology," said Dr. Simons. "I ask the students each semester to come dressed to class in something they would not normally wear to school, then we discuss how they feel. The majority are uncomfortable and feel as though people have been staring at them as they have been walking through campus. This then gives us the opportunity to discuss social norms of places and situations and how we know what appropriate behavior is, how these change with places and time and where we learn what is acceptable in different situations and environments.

"It is an interesting learning experience for our students, and I thought I would try one that the class could participate in — and that is where the idea to reverse the roles and do a faculty pop-in on President Slabach came into play."

"I knew that Dr. Simons' students were conducting a social experiment," said President Slabach. "But I had no idea that I was going to be playing a role in the social experiment. It was a lot of fun and was a great way to start the class with levity. I am excited to bring back the faculty pop-ins this academic year and look forward to being the one popping in on deserving faculty."