Dear Instructional Colleagues,
Welcome to fall semester 2025. As you continue to prepare for the start of classes, here are some campus-level instructional resources and reminders.
New & Updated Resources
- Course Syllabi – Find recently updated syllabi resources to help guide syllabi creation and updates.
- Providing Flexibility to Students – Get help determining when and how to provide flexibility to students during times of disruption and how this differs from required accommodations.
- Working with TAs – Explore best practices, key considerations and practical resources to support your work with teaching assistants.
For a more comprehensive collection of pre-semester teaching resources and events from across campus, visit the Center for Teaching, Learning & Mentoring’s Prepare to Teach webpage.
Resources for Supporting Students
- Supporting International Students, Please Consult – Campus continues to support international students navigating visa issues. Since immigration issues are nuanced and specific to individual students, please connect with your department chair and school/college instructional academic dean before you offer any alternatives to in-person instruction to students.
- Student Wellbeing – There are many ways to support students’ well-being. If you become concerned about a student, first consider reaching out to them 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); and/or refer the student to University Health Services.
- Disability Accommodations – Find resources for instructors from the McBurney Disability Resource Center. The McBurney Connect Instructor Portal includes a list of your ‘Student Accommodation Letters’ as well as a Limited Flexibility Plans Module to help you set reasonable parameters for flexibility accommodations. Post your syllabus to Canvas and enter Textbooks in Faculty Center as early as possible to help students prepare for the semester.
Existing Guidance, Policy Reminders
- Religious Observances, Academic Calendar – If you haven’t already, please review campus guidance about religious and election day observances. Explanation and examples of putting these policy requirements into practice are linked in the guidance.
- Generative AI – Find generative AI guidance and resources for instruction including upcoming events and sample syllabus statements summarizing expectations for students’ use of AI in courses.
- Navigating Classroom Dynamics & Disruptions – Consult this guide to help anticipate and respond to a range of challenges that may arise in the classroom.
- Guidance on Political Activity and Advocacy on Campus – Please be aware of these guidelines for political campaign and public advocacy activities including specific information about instructors’ rights and responsibilities.
- FERPA Resources – Visit the Office of the Registrar’s recently refreshed FERPA for Employees webpage to review your responsibilities and best practices for protecting students’ education records. The page includes links to FERPA training in Canvas and a new decision tree that can help you determine whether and when to share student data.
- Teaching and Learning Data Use – UW–Madison is committed to the ethical and responsible use of data to support and advance student learning. Review the university’s Teaching and Learning Transparency Statement.