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November is one of the hardest months in academia because we’re a few weeks away from finishing, but we still have a lot to get done. Students often experience heightened stress and may feel the season blues. Small teaching choices can help them feel supported and stay engaged (and can be good for you too!) Columbia’s Center for Teaching and Learning offers tips like these:

As this month brings busy schedules and added pressures, make space to talk about mental health and remind students where they can find support, like the Counseling and Psychological Services. We're also always a resource for you! 

Join the UTLC and the Office of Intercultural Engagement for a conversation about student experiences in the classroom and beyond. This student panel is scheduled for November 10 at 2 pm and focuses on first-generation student. VOISES panels provide a venue for faculty to hear students' perspectives on 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.

The Alumni Teaching Excellence Awards offered by the University recognize and celebrate faculty members who demonstrate outstanding teaching, mentorship, and instructional innovation. Nominations are open to everyone (alumni, students, staff, and faculty alike) making this an inclusive opportunity to acknowledge educators who have made a meaningful impact. The awards include several categories (matched to faculty rank and appointment type) and provide a way to shine a light on those who elevate the learning experience through both traditional and blended/online formats. For full details on eligibility, nomination procedures, and past recipients, you can visit the official site.

Nominations must be submitted by 5 pm on Tuesday December 1, 2026 through the nomination form. 

Please join on Wednesday, December 2 for our fall end of semester Biergarten, hosted by the Office for Faculty Excellence and Faculty Senate! Please come celebrate the end of the semester with colleagues from across campus. This event welcomes all UNCG faculty, instructors, and staff to an opportunity to gather informally with colleagues and relax with a variety of hors d'oeuvres and beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options will be served).

This is a casual, drop-in event, so please feel free to attend for as long or as little as you are able. We will be at the Weatherspoon Art Museum and hope to see you there!

We are hoping to have an approximate headcount, so if you have a moment, consider RSVPing. This is just a tentative headcount, not a hard RSVP. Thank you!

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.

Are you looking for a simple way to make assignment expectations clearer for students? Canvas Availability Dates can help students see exactly when an assignment opens, when it is due, and when submissions close. Canvas treats these dates differently: the Due Date tells students when their work is due, while Available From and Until control when students can access and submit the assignment.

Here’s a quick step-by-step to get started:

Check out the Instructure guide on due dates and availability dates for more information.

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 The Comeback Kit: Managing Make-Up Work in Canvas, Monday November 9 from 2 to 3pm. There is also I Wish I Had Known: Canvas Time-Savers, November 18 from 2 to 3pm and Copy Smart, Stress Less: Canvas Course Import Best Practices, November 24 from 9am to 10am. We have a lot of great support coming up as you prepare for the spring and wind up this semester!