Teaching & Learning Tip #5: Supporting Our Students Through Challenging Times

September 19, 2017

Teaching & Learning Tip #5: Supporting Our Students Through Challenging Times

Though the situation continues to be fluid and quite confusing, we wanted to send along information on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) for this week’s teaching and learning tip.  Please see these helpful student resources provided by Tessa Pitre and Laura Hahn in the English Department:

Our role in supporting our students is to help them navigate this difficult time – to acknowledge and help them manage the anxiety they are likely feeling.  In a message to faculty last week in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Dean Lisa Bond-Maupin noted “the complexities of our students' needs and experiences.”  She went on to give some excellent advice as to managing these complexities:

I understand as a long-time faculty member myself how difficult it can be to determine how to best support our students within our roles and in our classrooms. I wish someone had told me that it is okay to let students know that I am not sure how best to be there for them - that I don't fully understand what they are going through or what the answers are - AND that I care about what they are experiencing.

Other notable activities to be aware of on campus include Scholars Without Borders in the Multicultural Center. They are a great resource, and will also be providing free DACA renewal legal help.  

Finally, look for the October 3rd First Dialogue in the Diversity Dialogues Series, Defending DACA: A Dialogue on What Now?

Resources for Faculty

Please feel free to share any additional information with the CTL.  We will post these and other resources on our website at: Creating Change for Equity/Resources

See past tips at: CTL Teaching & Learning Tips