The UW Office of the Provost sent an e-mail to faculty and teaching assistants outlining concrete recommendations for sustaining “vibrant classroom discussions at a time when current events have produced sharp political differences among us.” The goal of the message was to equip all of our instructors with best practices to “establish… respectful class discussions in which students from across the spectrum may fully engage.” As we all wrap up the Winter Quarter and prepare for Spring, there might be a few ideas from that message to consider.
While designed for instructors, the Provost’s recommendations can be shared and practiced by all UW students—as we all have the capacity to foster inclusive learning environments. We at Core Programs have adapted and expanded upon these tips as you’ll see below. If you are interested in learning more, check out these resources curated by the UW Seattle Center for Teaching and Learning.
Engaging Each Other. Collaborate with your peers to come up with discussion guidelines that will help you down the road, if a discussion feels challenging or becomes heated. UW Professor Gino Aisenberg and doctoral student Ada Onyewueni provide excellent examples of guidelines for engagement from their course syllabi:
- Listen well without interrupting
- Practice being present to each member of the group
- Notice if you’re speaking a lot, then step back to make room for peers to speak
- Assume that you might miss things that peers see and see things that peers miss
- Surface your feelings in such a way that makes it easier for peers to surface theirs
- Regard your views as a perspective onto the world, not the world itself
- Reiterating these discussion guidelines periodically can help ensure that all students’ voices are heard
Creating Norms. Fundamental to any inclusive learning environment is honoring the belief that disagreement is okay, but disrespect is not. This is accomplished by setting up and practicing norms for intentional, respectful dialogue. Consider these practices offered by the University of Michigan:
- Criticize ideas, not individuals in your group
- Avoid blame, speculation, or derogatory language
- Avoid assumptions about members of your discussion group
- Avoid generalizations about social groups based on race, gender, sexuality, ability, religion, or citizenship
- Do not ask individuals to speak for their (perceived) social or cultural group
This Takes Practice. Creating intentional and respectful dialogues among peers takes consistent and sustained practice. There will be discomfort, yet in discomfort there is also the possibility of learning. As we work together, we will all make mis-steps in different ways and need to recover. There is a lot going on in any one person’s history and life, and it can help to give a generous read to see where a person might be coming from. Depending on how much energy you have in the moment, you can choose what to do with a conversation mis-step. Each day will be different. Consider what could work for you and your peers.
We hope that as the new quarter begins, you may try out something from these recommendations and see what works for you and your peers.
Best,
Kelly, Jaye, and Ziyan
Core Programs Team
Additional Resources
Watch a recent panel discussion on the meaning of free speech in the context of a public university called Speech and Counter Speech: Rights and Responsibilities, sponsored by the UW Race & Equity Initiative.
Take advantage of the winter chill — students can rent snowshoes from the Gear Garage for $7.50/day ($12.50/weekend).
The Student Technology Loan Program not only provides laptops and computing accessories, it also has audio, photography and videography equipment for loan, all for free!
Great studying music! Free access to more than a million tracks of classical streaming audio with Naxos Music Library. This UW-restricted resource is provided by UW Libraries.
I get a LOT of email (including this one, no offense), and I can’t keep up. How do I get off all of these email lists? Shouldn’t there be one place I can change my preferences? —Anonymous
I feel your pain, really I do. Unfortunately, just due to the sheer size of this university and the autonomy of various units, there is no one definitive, central place. However, if you focus on a few key sources, you should be able to drastically reduce your inbox.
- Click on “Manage subscriptions” at the very bottom of the Graduate School Digest newsletter, in the footer. It will take you to your email subscriptions, but only for the Graduate School. If you click on “View all email subscriptions for the UW,” you’ll be able to manage all your email subscriptions. However, the caveat is that this is only for emails and newsletters sent out through this particular software (Convio).
- Visit mailman13.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo for a list of all UW listservs.
- Some units may use another software other than Convio, such as MailChimp. You will have to manage subscriptions for those outlets separately. There should always be options at the bottom.
- Some emails may be coming from the Registar’s office, or Financial Aid, etc. You will not be able to get off of these lists.
- Some emails may be coming directly from your department or a professor. You’ll need to consult with the relevant unit.
- If you can’t get out at the source, take advantage of your email software: set rules and filters.
You should have control of how much communication you receive, of course, but I want to advise you to unsubscribe thoughtfully. There have been instances where students opted out at the parent level and then were frustrated they were not getting notices of funding opportunities, events, etc.
Ask the Grad School Guide is an advice column for all y’all graduate and professional students. Real questions from real students, answered by real people. If the guide doesn’t know the answer, the guide will seek out experts all across campus to address the issue. (Please note: The guide is not a medical doctor, therapist, lawyer or academic advisor, and all advice offered here is for informational purposes only.) Submit a question for the column →
Many of us will be spending the long weekend with loved ones—both biological and chosen. A time for sharing and holding space with family and friends is much-needed—not only because you have all been working so hard this quarter—but also because the current political climate has been difficult to bear (to say the least).
This time can also serve as a starting point for us to think beyond solely expressing gratitude—and beyond feeling despair—to in fact being self-reflective about initial ways to show up for social justice. And to put that self-reflection into dialogue with loved ones. Here are a few examples (not exhaustive by any means):
Learn. If you’ve been curious or interested in supporting communities most impacted by multiple oppressions—Black and Native communities, Trans and Queer communities, Muslim communities, People with Disabilities, and Undocumented families are just a few examples—an important first step is to learn about their diverse histories of community resistance and resilience in the United States.
Listen. Attend public events where the voices of marginalized communities are truly centered and amplified. Listen with humility. Sit with, rather than respond to, what might feel like a knee-jerk reaction to interrupt or be defensive—and just listen. Hear from multiple voices within a single community—as no individual can represent the whole. Here are concrete ways listening can be used to further social justice.
Dialogue. If we are to end systems of oppression like racism, sexism, transphobia, ableism, or xenophobia, conversations about these issues must be initiated within our own communities—amongst our own families and friends. I know what you’re thinking, “You want me to start a conversation about oppression with family during the holiday?” Not necessarily, because when and how you chat with family and friends depends on the context. We do know that ignoring the reality of oppressions will not make these issues go away. It is through the recognition of this reality that we can begin to move forward. And always remember that you can practice self-care during the holiday.
Take good care this weekend, and we applaud you not only for your commitment to intellectual and professional pursuits but for your community engagement as well.
With Respect,
Kelly, Jaye, and Ziyan
Core Programs Team
University Village, a huge outdoor shopping center just east of the Seattle campus, lists many student discounts, some exclusive to UW.