Responding to the Election

I voted sticker Many of our students are deeply invested in the election results, and there’s likely to be a range of student (and faculty) responses to the outcome. In the days leading up to the election, and now the refusal of the administration to concede, it may be difficult for us to check our reactions, potentially including distress, distraction, or elation, at the door. For faculty, it’s not always clear how to navigate teaching in the midst of these events. Some faculty may elect to revise the course curriculum to connect to tumultuous events; others may decide that deeply engaging in the topic is not the right fit for their courses. However, we recommend taking the best approach for you while considering a few basic ways you can support students in these tumultuous times.

Should you engage in election dialogue in your class?

Factors to consider include whether:

The election connects to the course topic
You and your students feel equipped to navigate contentious discussions
You have built a supportive classroom community

If you decide not to engage in dialogue:

Even if you decide not to engage in this dialogue, it’s important to acknowledge this historic moment. From Georgetown University “Teaching Around the Election: Flexibility, Acknowledgement, and Other Strategies”:

“There are often good reasons not to use our classrooms as a space to collectively discuss or analyze social disruption. Upon serious reflection many of us may determine that—while extending flexibility—the best thing is to simply continue without delving into the elections in depth or directly taking up any of the other social elements that may be causing our students anxiety. In such cases, however, it’s best to first acknowledge the situation and its potential differential impacts. One lesson from the 2016 election is the frustration and even anger that students can feel when classes ignore significant social unrest, an approach that was often read as apathy and as another example of privileged academia trying to stand apart. With this election, we have a valuable teaching opportunity to model both transparency and our reasoning process for deciding to move on. Acknowledging the moment and explaining our decision to move on is an important means of honoring the dignity of our students, some of whom might disagree with our decision.”
—Center for New Designs in Learning & Scholarship

If you decide to engage in dialogue:

You may decide that it’s appropriate to delve into this topic because there is a clear connection to course, your course emphasizes dialogue, and/or you are skilled at facilitating difficult conversations. Here are some resources that can help you:

UVM Faculty Panel: Teaching in Tumultuous Times Video Link
Harvard University – Teaching in Times of Strife & Trauma is a list resources with actionable ideas:
- University of Michigan – Preparing to Teach About the 2020 Election
- Barnard Center for Engaged Pedagogy – Post Elections Discussion in the Online Classroom
- Georgetown University – Teaching Around the Election

Tips for Supporting Students

Be flexible, now more than ever

Stress impacts the ability to learn. We’ve seen that being flexible during the pandemic has been critical to student success, but now it’s even more important. On the night of the election, many students will not have slept so the next day they may be exhausted. Please consider reviewing your schedule for the week of November 2nd and consider how you can be flexible with due dates and attendance.

Know where students can get mental health support and share this information with them

Even if you’ve included support services in your syllabus, explicitly share them again. Not only does this help to normalize seeking support, it demonstrates consideration of your students’ wellbeing during this challenging time:

Center for Health and Wellbeing
https://www.uvm.edu/health
Counseling & Psychiatry Services (CAPS)
Phone: (802) 656-3340
C.A.R.E. If you are concerned about a UVM community member or are concerned about a specific event, contact the Dean of Students Office (802-656-3380). If you’d like to remain anonymous, you can report your concerns here: https://www.uvm.edu/studentaffairs

The Dean of Students Office offers resources to help you identify behaviors that could point to underlying issues and offer suggestions for guiding your conversations with students who appear to be struggling with anxiety, depression, grief and loss.