The Side-by-Side Teaching Initiative follows the model from ArtsBridge America, a national network of similar programs at 22 universities throughout the United States.

BYU students majoring in an area of fine arts:  visual arts, music, dance, theater arts, media arts may apply to teach collaboratively with an elementary classroom teacher who has an interest in and commitment to implementing and integrating arts education.

Through collaborative planning and teaching, the art scholar offers arts expertise and skills, while the teacher offers classroom management and teaching expertise. Bringing the art form to students while sharing talents, ideas, and experiences in a context of equality and trust characterize the side-by-side program.