WatSEE-aligned Actions
- Employ short ice breaker activities
- Co-create student engagement expectations in and out of class
- Discuss respective roles, scope of topics, intended learning path, and planned assessments
- Seek volunteers (no cold calling)
- Highlight student supports (e.g., AAS, SSO, Campus Wellness, WCC, , CCD, Academic Advising)
- Locate yourself and the limits of your knowledge
- Use inclusive language to avoid excluding certain groups of people or perpetuating stereotypes (e.g., based on gender, race, religion, ability)
- Provide materials from diverse perspectives
- Allow flexible participation
- Respect students’ privacy and confidentiality regarding disabilities and health information
- Embed community-building activities into your course
- Recognize that an academic accommodation is a legal responsibility, not a favour; it removes barriers that exclude students, and it does not reduce rigour or academic integrity
- Leave someone’s assistive devices in place (e.g., wheelchair, walker, cane, listening device), unless they make a request or grant permission
- When grading student engagement, consider that missing class may be a function of a disability and remaining quiet during class discussions may be a function of a disability or other factors (e.g., cultural norms)
- Prepare to address an identity threat, discrimination, or violence impacting your students (acknowledge incident and harm, connect students to support services, reiterate your support)
Resources
Accessibility at À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ
Ableism
Centre for Teaching Excellence
Early Engagement Quick Tips
Icebreakers for Online Classes
Universal Design: Instructional Strategies
Building Community in Large Classes
Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism
Anti-Racism Education Road Map
International Experience
Framework for anti-racism and intercultural competence (ARICC)
Open-source modules for developing intercultural competence
Strategies to become a better intercultural communicator
University Relations
UW Inclusive Communications Guide
Equity Accelerator