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Welcome to the Weekly UTLC Newsletter:
Week of September 22

Teaching Tips: Contextualizing Midterm Grades

Being transparent with students about how and why midterm grades matter is part of the continuous feedback that we can offer students about if they're meeting the learning outcomes for a course. However, you may find that students need context for their midterm grades.

It is helpful to remind students that this grade is a snapshot of their current performance in the class. If they’re doing well, but let up on what they’re doing, then their grade may decline. On the other hand, if they’re doing well and continue to let that success motivate them, they may continue to do well. The midterm grade is just a picture of the right now.
If their grade is not where they would like it to be, students should contact you about how to improve. They can draw on campus resources including the Communications Lab, the Academic Achievement Center, and the STEM Help Center. Students may need encouragement to seek out help (Fong et al 2023).
Also, please remind students that a grade is not a value judgement or a judgement on them as a person; it is a measurement of their current performance in the class versus assignment and syllabus standards. Research shows that perfectionism is a driving force for college students, which can stymie learning and growth. Reminders that all a grade measures is how students are currently doing in a course can help curb this tendency.

Anyone can do well in a class if they put forth the effort and seek out assistance as needed! Encouragement is part of developing growth mindsets in students, which are essential for learning.

Thank you for providing this essential feedback to our students! Midterm grades are due by October 9 and the window for submission opens September 28 (this is slightly later than the last couple of years). You can find information on how to submit grades on the Registrar's website.

Course Evaluations Pilot

We are pleased to continue piloting the Anthology Course Evaluation System. Users report that that the system is easier to use for both faculty and students; that it's more mobile friendly; that the reporting is more robust; and that evaluations are easier to complete in class (for those teaching in-person), raising response rates.

If you would like to participate in the pilot for Fall 2026, please fill out this form by Monday, October 26 for full term and POT2 classes. Please send any questions to Joyce Clapp, jfclapp@uncg.edu.

VOISES Panel

Join the UTLC and the Office of Intercultural Engagement for a conversation about student experiences in the classroom and beyond. Back by popular demand, this student panel is scheduled for October 1st at 2 pm and focuses on AI use. VOISES panels provide a venue for faculty to hear the perspective of students about their experiences on campus. These moderated panels give faculty the chance to ask questions while reflecting on ways they can support student success and learning.

Please register to receive full event details and location.

Community Engagement Discussion Group

The University Teaching and Learning Commons, the Institute for Community and Economic Engagement, and the University Community Engagement Council are pleased to collaborate and sponsor the Fall 2026 Community Engagement discussion group. Instead of discussing a single long text, we will provide long form, short form, and multimedia resources, and look forward to discussing community engagement and teaching with you.

This group is open to faculty, staff, and graduate students. Please register, and we'll send you a calendar invite. And, don't keep us a secret; please spread the word!

Mark Your Calendars

We're pleased to partner with the University Libraries for our fall coffeehouse on Thursday, October 29, from 9am to 11am! Formal announcement to follow.

Also, mark your calendars for our Fall Biergarten, 4:00 to 5:00 pm on Wednesday, December 2, at the Weatherspoon Art Museum! More details to follow.

Please register to receive full event details and location.

Now Recruiting: Become a Faculty Fellow for Accessibility

ITS Learning Technology has two openings for the Faculty Fellows for Accessibility program for the 2026-2027 academic year. This opportunity allows faculty to collaborate on campus accessibility initiatives, work with colleagues to promote accessible teaching practices, and support inclusive learning experiences for all students. Each position includes a $4000 stipend per semester. Interested faculty can learn more by viewing the 2026-2027 Accessibility Faculty Fellows announcement.

UTLC Social Media

The UTLC is now active on social media. Follow us on Instagram (@utlc.uncg), Facebook (UNCG UTLC), and LinkedIn (University Teaching & Learning Commons) to stay informed about weekly teaching tips, upcoming events, and resources that support teaching and learning at UNCG.

Resources for You: Faculty Engagement & Development Opportunities

The UTLC has many online resources available for you, including self-paced training options, resources for Generative AI, and teaching guides. We also have new syllabus resources, including an updated syllabus template.

Check out these upcoming opportunities from the UTLC and other partners on campus. Additionally, the university workshop calendar has opportunities

Ongoing Opportunities

Self-Paced Training Options| Online, research-based workshops cover a range of essential topics.
UNCG Libraries Webinars | Research and Application Webinar Series (Spring 2024 recordings) | Zotero Webinar Series (recordings)
New to Teaching | Access this Canvas site to learn about how students learn, preparing for class, grading, office hours, engagement, active learning, and more.
Safe and Trans Zone Training on Canvas | Enroll in this self-paced online course to complete Safe Zone 1.0, 2.0, and Trans Zone if you cannot attend an in-person workshop.
Web Accessibility 101 | This asynchronous, self-paced course focuses on the fundamentals of making online content accessible.

Tech Tip: Gradebook Filters

Are you looking for a way to see context for midterm grades? Canvas Gradebook filters allow instructors to focus on specific sections, assignment groups, modules, or student groups, making it easier to identify patterns and trends. Check out this guide from Instructure for more details or follow these steps.

Open your Canvas course and select Grades.
Click Apply Filters in the Gradebook.
Choose a filter such as Sections, Modules, or Student Groups.
Review student performance within the selected category.
Use filters to identify patterns, trends, or areas where additional support may be needed.
Clear or adjust filters as needed to continue exploring your Gradebook data.

Open Office Hours & Training with ITS

Open Office Hours with ITS: Learning Technology’s Instructional Design Team: Tuesdays 10am–12pm

Drop in for a conversation with an instructional designer! We can assist with course and assessment design, discuss teaching questions, and help with Canvas, Teams, and other learning technology.

No registration is needed; you can just join online.

Information Technology Services has a robust training schedule for the fall. In particular, we'd like to draw your attention to Canvas & Critique: Give Good Feedback in Less Time, September 24 at 10am.