Resources for faculty and academic personnel at the University of Washington Tacoma

Tanya, Mentha and I have each received faculty requests for guidance, policy and resources supporting teaching and public expression in a politically-charged environment. We have gathered the following sites for your use both from in and beyond the University of Washington. 

CEI will host “Problems of Practice: Faculty Conversations about Classroom Conflict and Improving Climate," a discussion with faculty to review resources and discuss inclusive strategies for addressing difficult moments on January 31, 11 a.m. - noon. Additionally, each of us, or faculty and staff from our respective divisions, are willing to discuss particular questions or support facilitated discussions as needed throughout the year. 

With aspirations for a constructive and meaningful year,

Andy Harris
Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs                    

Mentha Hynes-Wilson
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Tanya Velasquez
Interim Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion

Pedagogy 

From the Teaching @UW site: 

• Creating an Inclusive Classroom Culture
• Facilitating class conversations in the wake of distressing current events
• Addressing Emotionally- or Politically-Charged News with Students

And from sites outside of UW: 

• Indiana University Bloomington, Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning: Managing Difficult Classroom Discussions
• Michigan’s Center for Research on Learning and Teaching: Resources about strategies for anticipating and responding to difficult discussions as well as classroom incivility. Specifically, the Guidelines for Discussing Difficult or High-Stakes Topics.
• From the AASCU American Democracy Project: Constructive Dialogue: Fostering Trust, Curiosity, and Deeper Learning in the Classroom
• Braver Angels, a program supported by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni
• UW Dialogue Initiative: University of Washington
• Resource from the Scholars Strategy Network: How Faculty can prepare to handle the post-election classroom
• Resources from AAC&U: Elections as Teachable Moments and Institute for Democracy & Higher Education

Student expression

• Student Affairs: Safe Expressive Activity at UW Tacoma

Public expression at UW

• The UW guidance on freedom of expression
• The UWT guidance on demonstration/protest