We are sending this message to offer some teaching resources to help us navigate the classroom in the current time. The pain felt by so many of us, our students, and our staff, is palpable. And we know that the horrific events of the world do not end at the borders of our campus and, undoubtedly, find their way into our classrooms, residence halls, and community spaces.  

We know that our classrooms are often a natural place of dialogue and want to provide you with some resources. We also want to emphasize that we deeply respect your choices when it comes to engaging in these discussions in your classes, including the choice not to engage in these discussions. Thank you to CTRL for providing these links to helpful internal and external sources: 

Addressing Social Unrest, Hate-Based and Traumatic Events | CTRL Faculty Resources (american.edu) 
Guidelines for Discussing Incidents of Hate, Bias, and Discrimination | CRLT (umich.edu) 
Navigating Heated, Offensive, and Tense (HOT) Moments in the Classroom (columbia.edu) 

We are hearing from our students that they would appreciate (and could use) some flexibility around deadlines or participation policies. Many of our students are emotionally drained and currently uncomfortable discussing these events in larger group settings, like the classroom. We know that students will be asking for understanding when it comes to missing/late work or missing class. These requests can be difficult to manage, and we appreciate your efforts. 

We also know that you are navigating your own emotions and grief, and we want you to be aware that we are here to offer our support.