How do you choose who teaches at PUGS?

We choose instructors and courses based on the following criteria:

  • Do we think the potential course will draw enough interest, both from existing PUGGERS and the wider Portland community?

  • We do think the potential instructor can teach the course aligned with PUGS pedagogy of participant-focused, discussion-based learning?

  • Has the potential instructor taken a PUGS course already? We heavily prefer people who have committed to the community as a learner before wanting to teach a course.

How would you describe the teaching style?

Pedagogy matters. PUGS is about learning and community. Although every instructor brings themselves to teaching, we want there to be a consistent feeling of participatory learning happening in every workshop and course.

Instructors are encouraged to see themselves more as facilitators and question-askers than “expert” content providers. This means creating space for facilitated discussions, hands-on activities, group work, self-discovery through writing, and other reflective exercises.

Do I need a degree to teach at PUGS?

Nope. When we sent out a survey to our community in 2019 to ask what qualities they look for in a PUGS instructor, not a single respondent mentioned the need for a credential.

What our instructors do all have in common is expertise on their topic of choice and passion for building community.

Who owns my course materials?

You do! PUGS does not own your course slides, homework, or other materials shared in class.

Can I teach a course through PUGS and also independently or through another school/venue?

Absolutely. We ask that instructors not teach the same course, at the same time, targeting the same audiences, so that we don’t compete with each other. That said, we want PUGS to be part of your teaching journey. Our instructors are amazing people and plenty have gone on to teach elsewhere, including their own schools! We want to support you, not limit you.

What course format(s) are most common?

Courses typically meet once a week for 4 weeks, and classes are between 90 and 120 minutes long. These courses are generally held on weekday evenings, and some times on weekend mornings.

We also have daylong and half-day courses.

What support can I get from PUGS?

We want your PUGS course to be successful, which means we have support you throughout the process. We are experts in the best practices of pedagogy. We will help you with course development through the marketing process to the elements of course production, hosting, and participant experience.

What kind of course materials do I need to produce?

For the most part, the way you run your course is up to you. However, students expect homework to be assigned before and discussed in class.

How do I market my course?

Building registrations for your course is much easier when you have a community, mailing list, or audience you’re already connected to. As a PUGS instructor, you're responsible for getting students to sign up for your course. Our team is here to support you with promotional tips, sample copy, and strategic suggestions to help spread the word effectively.

On our end, we support your marketing efforts by featuring courses in the PUGS newsletter, which reaches thousands of enthusiastic PUGGERS once or twice a month. We also do our best to connect instructors with local press and radio opportunities around Portland to help spread the word even further.

What is an average class size?

Class size is generally around 10-15 students. Some instructors cap the course at a lower number for a variety of reasons. First-time courses can be smaller, as small as four people. We work with instructors to get the word out about their course to ensure every course is a vibrant, worthy experience for everyone.

OK, how much will I get paid?

PUGS splits the net revenue (gross revenue minus rent and credit card fees) evenly with instructors. We believe in profiting with, not from, instructors. Our 50% of the net goes to building the community and logistics, operations, marketing, partnership development, and longer-term course planning. If there is leftover, we will distribute profit-sharing to instructors at the end of the year.

We have an equitable Pricing Policy, which means students pay for courses based on their income. That means that revenue from a PUGS class can be variable. We hope you’re eager to teach people across the income spectrum.

Courses with smaller class sizes net smaller revenue for both PUGS and instructors. This sometimes happens with first-time courses, even though a first edition of a course requires the most effort from everyone. We view it as an investment in the future success of your course and the beginning of a (hopefully) long-term relationship.

Apply to be a PUGS instructor

Do you have questions that we didn’t cover here? Please reach out to us here.