Newsletter February 19, 2026
cte.utah.edu

With this semester's early start in January, and spring break only a few weeks away, we're almost to midterm. How is that possible? 

In many courses, a midterm assessment helps give students (and instructors) a sense of how they're doing in the course, and it may be predictive of final course performance. Although these assessments often take the form of exams that may count for a large portion of the final grade, that isn't always the case or even necessary. Thinking of midterm as a stopping point for self-assessment can providing students with a low-stakes opportunity to reflect on their own learning, evaluate their progress toward specific projects or goals, and adjust their learning strategies accordingly. This could take the form of an in-class reflection activity, a survey, or simply a check-in discussion with students. Chikhalsouk et al. (2019) found that engaging students in self-assessment practices led to increases in student overall performance. Students may also view reflective assignments as an additional communication opportunity and source of support from their instructor (Guethler, 2023). 

Instructors can model this kind of reflective practice by conducting our own midterm assessments and then talking with students about our findings and our strategies for revision. CTE has prepared an Anonymous Midterm Course Feedback Survey that can be imported directly into your Canvas course — you can use it as is or edit it to add your own questions. Once imported and published, all you have to do is alert your students that it is there. If possible, give them time to do it in class to achieve maximum response rates. Then after your feedback window has closed, take some time to discuss your findings with your students and talk about what changes you can implement, and when, and why. 

Midterm grades are an optional grading tool available to faculty who teach undergraduate classes. These grades can help students better understand how they are doing in a class and make appropriate decisions around their continued enrollment, prior to the withdrawal deadline (March 6 for the Spring 2026 semester). If you would like to opt out of using midterm grading, no action is required.

Midterm grades will be viewable for students but will not be posted to their transcript and will not have any effect on GPA calculation.

How to Approve Midterm Grades

Midterm Grading will become available on February 23 until March 5.

Midterm Grades are posted through the same tool that final grades are posted through.

Go to cis.utah.edu click “View/Enter Grades”

From View/Enter Grades, select the term, and grade roster type:

Who? The entire U of U campus community: faculty, admin, staff, and students

What? Did you know that the U has made ChatGPT EDU licenses available for the campus community? Using ChatGPT EDU (instead of your personal ChatGPT account) provides more secure access to the tool, protecting your data. The U is temporarily offering expanded access to a wider range of ChatGPT EDU features, including: Canvas, Codex, Web search, Deep research, Image generation, Voice, Models GPT 5.2Thinking and GPT 5.2Pro, GPTs, and Projects. 

When? Now! It's available now! And so is ChatGPT EDU training provided by Digital Learning Technologies -- on Feb.  20 and 27 at 11am via zoom

Where? Access ChatGPT EDU through IT's service catalog

How? Read more about ChatGPT EDU, the limited offer for advanced features, and access information on the ai.utah.edu blogpost 

Action Required by March 20, 2026 for Summer 2026 to have textbooks ready for students. 

Get Course Materials Ready for Students in 2 Easy Steps:

Our records indicate that you have been assigned to teach one or more courses for Summer 2026 based on the records from the Registrar Office. We hope to work with you on relaying to students the full cost of attendance by listing the required textbook costs in the Class Schedule at the time of registration, regardless of preferred purchasing source. The online course Textbook Advisor will guide you through the textbook adoption process at the University of Utah. In addition, course material consultations are available along with Learning Experience Design Cards. If you’ve already submitted your textbook needs directly to the Campus Store, please disregard this message.

If you work with a department coordinator, please continue to do so. Otherwise, please watch for a personalized link to come from our textbook adoption collection software Verba Collect. If you have not received a personalized link you may request one. The process is designed to be intuitive, but for more in depth help, please reach out to Kim Kilpatrick at kkilpatrick@campusstore.utah.edu or 1-3158

To research your estimated cost or obtain a textbook sample, utilize VitalSource Sampling.

For a cost estimate on custom digital course-packs, contact Kim Kilpatrick at the Campus Store, kkilpatrick@campusstore.utah.edu; 1-3158.

Kind regards,

coursematerials@utah.edu

Almost every department on campus includes graduate student instructors in some way, whether as sole course instructors, TAs, lab section leaders, or other roles. Did you know that CTE offers graduate student training in pedagogy? We offer a 15-credit online graduate certificate in Teaching in Higher Education, and most of those courses can be taken individually. Courses are offered fall and spring. 

In Spring, our course offerings include a graduate special topics seminar in Teaching with AI. Spots are still open!

Join us for Tech Tips Tuesday! Every other week features Canvas or Accessibility related tools, and Adobe Express Learning Kit, you can use in your teaching or personal projects. Check out the schedule and drop in for the topics that inspire you!

University  Teaching Grants

March 6