Timely Guidance for Faculty

Dear Colleagues:

The upcoming election is an important political process in which I hope we all participate. Members of our community have reached out looking for guidance on how to create welcoming and inclusive environments that encourage dialogue and debate. Below you will find a number of helpful resources to support your work in the weeks and months ahead.

Resources are available to help you facilitate productive classroom interactions. The Center for Educational Innovation has provided curated resources on Teaching During the Election Season. If you wish to speak with an educational consultant about how to facilitate or respond to student interactions, you can reach one by emailing [email protected]. As always, we expect that students abide by the Student Code of Conduct and that faculty members recognize and enact the principles of Academic Freedom and Responsibility.

Given the extraordinary challenges of 2020, and this semester in particular, students are likely feeling a great deal of stress. The Provost’s Council for Student Mental Health suggests that faculty and instructors refrain from high-stakes assessments or assignments and provide flexibility with course expectations during the first week of November. Additionally, faculty can help students by acknowledging their own stress and modeling self-care strategies. For professional support, faculty and staff can reach out to the Employee Assistance Program or other community resources. Students should contact Boynton Mental Health or Student Counseling Services.

For those who wish to connect with faculty colleagues, the Academy of Distinguished Teachers is hosting two discussions. The first is “Language in a world of controversy: Is what you say what they hear”? (October 28) and the second is “Post-election moods: Coping with the post-election fallout “(November 12). Interested faculty can sign up to receive links for these events or contact Chris Bremer. Shortly after the election, the University will host several forums focused on communicating across differences, organized by the bipartisan group Braver Angels and led by Professor Bill Doherty. For those who want to organize their own small groups, guidance can be found here.

We hope you will join us to continue the important work of strengthening our civil society. Thank you for your leadership of our community and your care for each other and for our students.

Sincerely yours,

Rachel T.A. Croson
Executive Vice President and Provost

email sent to all Twin Cities faculty, instructors, and academic/administrative leaders on October 21, 2020