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The first weeks set the tone for the entire term. Use these quick steps to build community and keep things running smoothly:

✔️ Manage your waitlist. On the first day of the term, the automated waitlist closes. You’ll need to issue overrides in Banweb. Learn more about waitlists.

✔️ Track student attendance. Federal guidelines require documentation. Review the Faculty Guide to Initiation of Attendance.

✔️ Introduce yourself. A simple welcome message—whether via email, video, or even a photo—helps students connect with you right away. Browse email templates for the start of the term.

✔️ Check that your course is accessible. Our guide, How to make accessible Canvas courses, walks you through the steps to ensure every student can access your course. Be sure to review each document, slide deck, and video before sharing them this term. For an overview of Title 2 digital accessibility changes, visit our Digital accessibility changes for PSU faculty webpage.

For urgent support this week, book a virtual appointment with our Faculty Support staff! We can help answer your accessibility questions, troubleshoot course technology issues, discuss your teaching-related ideas or goals, and more. Just choose a half-hour slot, tell us what you’d like help with, and we’ll confirm with a meeting link. 

Thursday, April 2, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Vanport Building, Room 432

Join OAI for a hands-on session on accessible syllabi! Creating clear, accessible structures and links ensures all students can engage with your course, including those using assistive technologies or neurodivergent learners. 

Essential Tech & Teaching Guide

Supporting students by creating accessible course materials has never been so vital. Our comprehensive guide will help you meet your students where they are and navigate the new legal requirements along the way.

Canvas Tech Guide

Presenting your syllabus to students within Canvas can feel a bit overwhelming at first; there are simply so many options. In this step-by-step guide, you will find not only how to add your syllabus, but where to put it, and why it matters.

Canvas Tech Guide

Discussions are among the most common course activities in Canvas. If you aren’t  familiar with the new Checkpoints feature in Discussions, our contextual guide will show you a renovated way to scaffold students through conversations in Canvas.

Meet Kari Goin Kono, our Senior UX Designer who has spent 12 years at PSU helping faculty create courses that work for every student.

In this month's staff spotlight, she shares what's driving her focus on digital accessibility this year — and one simple practice that can make a real difference in your classroom from day one. Find us on Instagram to read her full feature!

Wednesday, Apr 8, 9:30 AM–3:00 PM | Smith Memorial Student Union, 327/328

PSU’s second InnovAIte Symposium will take place on Wednesday, April 8th, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Smith Memorial Student Union ballroom. InnovAIte Academy participants will showcase their AI projects through poster sessions, lightning presentations, and table demonstrations. The event will include a panel, a guest speaker, and networking with campus stakeholders interested in AI.

More information is available on the InnovAIte Academy website, and questions about the Symposium can be sent to innovaite@pdx.edu. We look forward to seeing you on April 8th!

On every Page, Discussion, or Assignment, select the Check Accessibility icon  (the person inside a circle) in the Rich Content Editor. The tool instantly identifies most accessibility errors on the Canvas page.

Use a clear, consistent Module structure. This helps students, including those with cognitive disabilities, find materials without having to navigate through the Files area.

Ensure text has proper contrast (for example, avoid light gray text on a white background). Canvas's built-in Accessibility Checker will check for sufficient contrast.

When you’re building Pages or Modules, make sure to update the title or link text to something meaningful.

by John Warner; Meets 12:00-1:00PM, April 10-June 5, 2026

Join colleagues for a book talk about how generative AI is changing teaching and what it reveals about commitments to student learning.

Meets 12:00-1:00PM, April 17-May 29, 2026

Join colleagues to explore insights from PSU New Majority student interviews and what they teach us about helping more students thrive.

Thursday, Apr. 2, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Wednesday, Apr. 8, 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM

Wednesday, Apr. 8, 12:45-1:25 PM

Friday, Apr. 10, 9:30 AM–3:00 PM

Wednesday, April 15, 1:00 PM–1:30 PM

Thursday, April 30, 12:00 PM–1:00 PM

You receive this email because you are an instructor at Portland State University and supported by our office, The Office of Academic Innovation. Writing to you from the Smith Memorial Student Union is your team of teaching support staff. Do you have a teaching question? Get in touch.

The Office of Academic Innovation
Portland State University