December 2, 2021

Thank you for your work, and reminders for winter quarter (Message to Seattle campus instructors)

This message was sent to all instructors at the University of Washington’s Seattle campus.

Dear Colleagues,

As the end of autumn quarter approaches, I want to thank you for the remarkable work you have been doing to integrate what you learned in a fully remote environment with what is now a largely in-person one. President Cauce and I appreciate the ways in which so many of you have been — and continue to be — understanding and supportive of our students. Student Life and the Counseling Center have compiled resources to help you support students’ mental health, including ways to identify warning signs and navigate challenging situations. Additionally, please share with your students the link to Husky Health & Well-Being, a portal to medical services and 24/7 mental health support for students on the Seattle campus.

Looking forward, we anticipate that winter quarter will be similar to autumn, with instruction being largely in person, consistent with this policy. And as you prepare for winter quarter, the UW Curriculum Office, in collaboration with the Faculty Council on Academic Standards, has posted syllabus guidelines and resources, including language concerning policies regarding medical notes and religious accommodations. We urge all instructors to include their policies for accommodation in their syllabi well in advance of the first day of class, and to also provide detailed descriptions of their teaching modalities (remote, hybrid or in-person) so students know what to expect. Instructors should coordinate with their own unit leadership on accommodations to ensure consistency, fairness and compliance with University policies.

As always, the Center for Teaching & Learning offers ongoing instructor support. Additionally, the UW Resilience Lab’s Well-Being for Life and Learning Guidebook provides instructors with strategies and resources for supporting students.

I encourage you to take time for yourselves between quarters so that you can be refreshed before welcoming our students back for winter quarter. We are pleased that vaccination rates among our students exceed 98 percent, and as of yet we have no documented cases of virus transmission in instructional settings. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to keep our community safe and healthy while giving our students a great UW education.

Sincerely,

Mark A. Richards
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Professor of Earth and Space Sciences