Syllabi Resources (2020-2021)

Dear Colleagues,

I hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy.  I know this has been an extraordinarily busy summer and you are being called upon in so many ways, both personally and professionally.  I want to acknowledge and thank you for the tremendous and critical work you are doing in support of our mission.

Today, I write to share a few resources to help as you prepare your courses.  In the coming weeks, you’ll receive more information about central opportunities to “try out” technology in our pooled classrooms, participate in training events, and other resources to support our return.

Course Resources 
This fall, norms for the conduct of classes and for student classroom behavior are necessarily different than in the past.  The attached guidance addresses issues arising from these new norms in addition to the traditional topics we ask that you include on syllabi each year.  For your convenience, we are pulling this all together along with dates of important religious holidays.  You can find a list of the attachments at the end of this email.

Additionally, with the upcoming federal election on November 3, the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement has compiled resources for integrating inclusive election-related content into courses through PowerPoint slides, syllabus language, sample assignments, approaches to Election Day, and more.

Student Resources and Support
It is important that the University communicate to students through multiple channels regarding issues of sexual assault, bias, and mental health, and the campus resources available to them. Additionally, many of us receive requests from students for academic accommodations for a variety of issues. Such accommodations are important to help students in need maximize their success, especially during difficult times. I encourage you to include this information on your course syllabi and on your course websites.

I also want to take this opportunity to remind you, as faculty, that if a student comes to you to discuss or disclose a sexual assault or other sexual harassment, you are required to report that conversation to the appropriate university personnel.  You should report either to your Department Chair or directly to Ms. Jessica Kennedy (jwkennedy@wustl.edu), the University’s Title IX Director.

Health and Safety
One critical component to our success this fall is being vigilant about meeting the university’s health and safety guidelines.  We all, myself included, must complete the Return to Campus Training and complete the self-screening app before coming to campus.  To complete the screening app, visit WashU COVID-19 Screening for campus access and log in with your WUSTL Key.

Again, I thank you for your ongoing collaboration and commitment to providing an outstanding learning environment for our students amidst uncertainty and seemingly continuous change.  I recognize how much effort this requires, and I sincerely appreciate your patience, resourcefulness, and care for others as we enter into a semester of unprecedented change.

Yours,

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Beverly Wendland
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Washington University in St. Louis

Attachments:
1. Campuswide Minimum Course Standards for Fall 2020
2. Academic Accommodation Request Chart
3. Syllabi Resources for the Danforth Campus:

  • COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols
  • Reporting Sexual Harassment
  • Confidential Sexual Assault Resources
  • Academic Accommodations
  • Bias Reporting
  • Mental Health
  • WashU Cares
  • Center for Diversity & Inclusion
  • Preferred Name and Gender Inclusive Pronouns
  • Military Service Leave
  • Important Dates (Election and Religious Holidays)