Fall 2024 campus instructional guidance and resources

Dear Instructional Colleagues,

Welcome to the start of fall semester 2024. I’m writing to provide some broad instructional updates, resources and reminders.

With each new semester, I find myself eagerly anticipating all the exciting new opportunities while also gearing up for the likely complexities and challenges. This semester, in particular, I’m thinking about opportunities (and some challenges) related to encouraging civil discourse in our classrooms and on our campus, helping not only our students but all of us hone our skills in engaging respectfully across difference. Find instructional resources on this and other topics – new, updated and existing – below.

New & Updated Campus Instructional Guidance

  • Political Activity and Advocacy Guidance – For both instructors and students, this new resource provides guidelines for political activity and public advocacy including specific information about instructors’ rights and responsibilities. Please also bookmark, the Free Expression at UW–Madsion website, where you can find a link to a mandatory free expression module for incoming students and, soon, an updated policy on expressive activities (such as campus protests).
  • Preparing for and Responding to Teaching Challenges – This new guide can help instructors anticipate and respond to a range of challenges that may arise in the classes they teach.
  • Generative AI – As the generative artificial intelligence (AI) space continues to evolve, so do our generative AI guidance and resources. It’s especially important to include a statement in your course syllabi summarizing your expectations for students’ use of AI – view some examples from UW–Madison instructors.

Resources from Campus Units

  • Prepare to Teach – Find “Prepare to Teach” resources compiled by the Center for Teaching, Learning and Mentoring including a pre-semester checklist, events and more from across campus.
  • Teaching and Learning Technologies – Look into upcoming remote training sessions on campus-supported teaching and learning tools.
  • Libraries – Get customized Libraries support for you and your students including resources to help students develop critical research skills, find and evaluate quality sources and avoid plagiarism.
  • Center for Campus History – Check out a collection of curricular resources (some available in Canvas) including teaching guides that provide resources about historical moments of discrimination and resistance at UW–Madison.
  • Teaching Academy – Explore Teaching Academy resources and opportunities including the annual Fall Retreat.

Resources for Supporting Students

  • Student Wellbeing – Concerned about a student? First consider reaching out to discuss their needs and offer flexibility in the course, if possible. You can also contact your department chair, supervisor or school/college academic dean’s office; the Office of Student Assistance and Support (OSAS) (formerly the Dean of Students Office); and/or refer the student to University Health Services.
  • McBurney Disability Resource Center, Disability Accommodations for Students –  Explore resources for instructors including an Instructor Guide to Student Accommodations, FAQs and the updated McBurney Connect Instructor Portal (new to the portal is a Limited Flexibility Plans Module to help instructors set reasonable parameters for Flexibility accommodations).

Existing Campus Guidance, Policy Reminders