Office of the Provost

Message from Provost Daire

Potential Impact on Instruction During the Week of October 7

Dear colleagues,

As we approach the one-year mark of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel and bear witness to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, we recognize that this may be a difficult time for many members of our campus community.

The ongoing crisis may be causing deep personal loss, along with pain, sorrow, and distress, as students process a range of emotions. It is essential that we approach them with empathy and understanding. Please read the October 2 email sent to employees providing guidance and resources for supporting students.

Planned walkouts

We recognize that students, faculty, and staff may choose to participate in expressive activity during this time. We’ve learned that the National Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) has planned a nationwide walkout for Monday, October 7. Here at UWM, a planned walkout is expected on Wednesday, October 9 at noon.

We want to provide guidance on how to handle these situations if they arise during your classes, whether initiated by students or instructors.

Classroom and Work Commitments

UWM fully supports faculty, staff, and student engagement in free expression, including peaceful protests. However, I would like to remind everyone that we should continue to uphold our professional responsibilities while exercising these rights. Faculty and staff are expected to fulfill their instructional and professional obligations. There should be no class cancellations or changes in expectations on attendance. Instructors also may not require students to participate in such activities as part of course expectations.

Impacts on Instruction

The list below is not intended to be comprehensive. Its focus is on providing a reference for UWM instructors in the case that a protest or other disruption impacts the classroom.

If a person disrupts your class meeting

If the observed behavior is dangerous/poses a potential or imminent threat, contact UWM Police via the emergency line (911 on Teams or 414-229-9911 or use Rave Guardian App).

If the person is a student: Instructors should address the behavior at the lowest level possible to stop the behavior (redirect the discussion, take a brief break, etc.). If the disruption does not cease, the instructor should ask the student to leave the classroom. If the student refuses to leave, call UWM Police at the non-emergency number (414-229-4627) for assistance. For more details, please refer to Behavior Cases Impeding Learning Process. In all instances, after the behavior has been addressed, please report it to the Dean of Students Office: Report It.
If the person is not a student: Ask the person to leave. If they do not leave, call UWM Police at the non-emergency number (414-229-4627) for assistance.

If your class is impacted by a walkout or boycott

Class should meet as scheduled, and your regular grading and attendance policy should remain in effect unless different guidance is provided by your dean’s office or central campus.

If, due to a disruption, you need to 1) cancel class, 2) change your course modality, or 3) change your course location

If after a consultation with your department chair, it is determined that your course cannot be held in its designated space, you have three options:

Not hold class. In this case, please communicate with students about your expectations regarding course content and syllabus modifications.
Temporarily adapt the course to online, asynchronous coverage (For more details, please refer to Online Contingency Options in the Event of Cancellation of In-Person Classes.)
Relocate your course physically. To do so, coordinate with your dean’s office and department chair to request relocation. Your department chair should reach out to the Registrar’s Office at roar@uwm.edu with the following information:

Instructor name
Course subject, number, and section number
Enrollment
Requirements for new location (e.g., projector)

In the event of a large-scale event (such as a major instructional building being closed), there may be insufficient options for moving classes. In those cases, you will receive further instruction about your options for canceling or temporarily moving online.

If you are impacted by online/social media harassment

If the harassment poses a potential or imminent threat or other criminal behavior, contact UWM Police: 911 on Teams or 414-229-9911 or via the Rave Guardian App. Call 414-229-4627 for non-emergencies.

Keep records of the harassment (notes, screen captures, etc.).
Contact abuse@uwm.edu and provide a description of the event(s), the relevant dates, and screen captures as relevant.  
Share your situation with your department chair.

Your report will be shared with the M365 and Information Security teams, who will also involve the UWM Police Department, Legal Affairs and Dean of Students, as needed. The teams can assist with IT related aspects (e.g., identifying sources of abusive communications, domain blocking). If the harassment involves UWM students or employees, please also contact the Behavior Intervention Team.

UWM is developing an institution-specific guide. In the meantime, here are excellent resources from other institutions:

If the campus is closed

If the campus must close due to a significant disruption (following the procedures outlined in UWM Procedures for Emergency Cancellation of Classes and Campus Closures Including Due to Weather), all instruction will move online. In that case, additional instructions will be provided by your dean's office or central campus.

If a student needs support

We may encounter situations in which individual students feel uncomfortable or unwilling to attend class. We encourage you to remain flexible and attentive to students’ needs, offering support where appropriate. If a student is struggling, we encourage you to check in with them, have them connect with a trusted campus mentor such as an academic advisor or success coach, and direct them to the following campus resources:

Dean of Students Office to connect students with campus resources, including when they’re facing challenges, need support, or want to file a report concerning behaviors, misconduct, etc. Can also address a range of matters around student well-being, concerning behaviors, misconduct, and activities that may pose a risk to the health or safety to students or the UWM community.
Hate/Bias Reporting Form for any student or employee who believes they have been subjected to, or who has witnessed, an incident of hate or bias.   
Student Health and Wellness Center offers several mental health and emotional support services for students, including counseling, “Let’s Talk” sessions, and a mindfulness space. 
Support U website for a list of various health, financial, and other resources and information.
UWM Police Department for any concerns related to campus safety.

If a staff member needs support

A staff member may feel uncomfortable or unwilling to go to the classroom. If you or a colleague feel this way, the next step is a conversation with your supervisor or department chair to discuss options. Some additional supports:

Seek assistance. Employees seeking support are encouraged to use UWM's Employee Assistance Program through Acentra Health. The program is free, confidential, and available 24/7 to all UWM employees and their families. Contact Acentra Health at 833-539-7285 or online at sowi.mylifeexpert.com (UWM password: SOWI).
File a report. As noted in the campus message last week, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects people from discrimination based on, among other characteristics, actual or perceived faith and ancestry. If you experience or witness discrimination covered by Title VI, you should report it either through a formal complaint or through a hate/bias incident report. This includes, but is not limited to, instances of antisemitism or Islamophobia.

If you need help navigating difficult conversations in the classroom

We encourage you to refer to the following resources that can help with managing difficult classroom conversations:

Guidance on classroom behavior:  UWM offers instructors a training video on behavior cases that impede learning (SAAP 1-5). The UWM policy is intended to help instructors handle behavior problems in the classroom.
Conflict Transformation Circles: UWM instructors are invited to participate in Conflict Transformation Circles – three sessions that focus on conflict styles, responsive strategies, and preparing for conflict. The sessions for instructors will meet on October 16 and 30, 12:30-2 p.m. The circles will focus on conflicts in the classroom or other instructional contexts. Find out more and register.   
Discovery Dialogues: UWM faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to learn more about civil dialogue and how to practice it well. Two in-person sessions – October 11 and 24 – are now open to faculty and staff. Find the full schedule and registration details. 
Guide to Navigating Difficult Dialogues in the Classroom: UWM’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning offers a resource webpage to help instructors facilitate discussions on sensitive topics effectively through active listening and understanding. Explore the guide for practical strategies to navigate classroom conversations. View it here.
Classroom & campus safety training: The focus of this training is to address students in crisis, disruptive students, and what to do in case of a violent incident. There are five more sessions this semester, and all faculty and instructional staff are encouraged to attend a session either in-person or virtually. Register for a training session.
Individual support: The Division of Community Empowerment & Institutional Inclusivity (CEII) offers technical assistance and professional development. Faculty and staff can request individual support to intentionally address challenges and opportunities in their departments/units/programs that will lead to increased equity and belonging. Fill out a service request form.

Free Speech

Free speech employee toolkit

UWM has created a toolkit for addressing questions and offering guidance on free speech, protests, political activity, and how to address student and employees’ concerns. The toolkit is available here: Free Speech Employee Toolkit.

Free speech, rights and limits website

The Free Speech, Rights and Limits website has been updated to provide the basics of free speech, expressive activity, harassment and discrimination, ways to report an incident, and support resources.

Free speech, rights and limits

Thank you for your commitment to our students and for fostering an environment where free expression can coexist with our educational mission.

With appreciation,

Andrew P. Daire, PhD
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs