Student Affairs Take Your Professor Out/Take Your Staff Member Out

What is the TYPO Program?

The Take Your Professor Out (TYPO) programs provide funding for Amherst students, faculty, and staff to dine together off-campus. They enrich the Amherst community by giving students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to spend time together outside of class and work. 

There are three types of programs: 

1. First Year TYPO: first-year students invite their professor to dinner
2. TYPO-X: sophomores, juniors, and seniors invite their professor to dinner
3. TYSO (Take Your Staff Out): students invite Amherst College staff out to dinner

How does it work?

In order to participate in TYPO/TYPO-X/TYSO, students organize themselves into groups of no less than two and no more than six, and arrange a mutually agreeable time to dine with their professor/staff. Students may attend or host one outing per semester and each outing can only consist of one professor/staff member. 

Students need to be currently enrolled in a class taught by that professor (although they need not be in the same class as each other). Each dining experience is allotted up to $25 per person, plus a 20% tip (alcohol is not included).  If your meal exceeds the amount allotted, your group will have to pay the difference.   Any additional invitees from outside Amherst College are permitted to join at their own expense. Students will receive funds on a AmexGo, a virtual credit card.

It's customary to leave a tip when dining out. However, outing tips must be limited to 20% of the total bill. Funds are limited, and over-tipping reduces the funds available for other outings. Your total purchase order amount includes the tip and the restaurants should include it when presenting the final bill to the group.

Note: This program is made possible through a grant, and as such, there are specific parameters that need to be adhered to. Outings must be approved and issued an approval form and a detailed receipt for the dining purchase must be provided to studentaffairs@amherst.edu within 24 hours of the restaurant visit. Reimbursements will not be granted for failure to follow these parameters.

How do I ask my professor to a TYPO?

Professors love the Take Your Professor Out program and will truly appreciate receiving an invitation.

The best way to initiate an invitation to a professor is through an email. Here is an example of what that might look like:

Dear Professor _______,

I hope you are doing well! I am reaching out to invite you to dinner as a part of the Take Your Professor Out program. This is a program that provides funding for Amherst students, faculty, and staff to dine together off-campus.

[Insert names of students here] and I would love the opportunity to talk with you over dinner at ________. If this is something you would be interested in, please let us know! Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,
__________

If they agree, decide upon a day/time that works best for everyone in the group (including the professor). The day must be at least three business days away from the current date.
 

What to expect at the meal?

You might be worried about finding things to talk about, but don’t worry! Start with some small talk, and then your professor will likely have some questions to ask you. If not, simply allow the conversation to flow naturally. 
Don’t feel like you need to prepare anything. This is meant to help you connect with your professor on a deeper level outside of your class.
Feel free to ask your professor questions, but steer away from questions related to your class. 
 

How can I request a TYPO/TYSO?

In order to participate in TYPO/TYSO, students organize and arrange a mutually agreeable time to dine with a professor/staff member. Students may host or attend one outing per semester. To request an outing students must fill out the TYPO/TYSO Request form at least three (3) business days in advance of their outing.

Please note: We will work to accommodate as many TYPO/TYSO requests as possible. There may be times when the date requested is not available at the restaurant, so please consider a backup date. Also, if we reach our allocated budget, then we will not be able to approve continued requests.