Faculty/Instructor Resources and Support — Autumn 2024

Free speech, academic freedom and freedom of expression

Ohio State is steadfastly committed to protecting the First Amendment right to free speech, academic freedom, and freedom of expression on its campuses. The Campus Free Speech Policy, adopted in May 2023, supports this commitment.

Ohio State believes in academic freedom where the exchange of ideas by students and instructors creates a campus environment where all viewpoints are welcome and respected. In accordance with university rules, faculty have the freedom to discuss in classrooms, in their own manner, material that is relevant to the subject matter as defined in the course syllabus. At the same time, they have responsibility to encourage free discussion and inquiry, and students must be given a broad latitude to speak, write, listen, challenge, learn and discuss in classrooms and learning spaces.

Freedom of expression is also central to our values as an institution of higher education. Ohio State supports the rights of its students, faculty, staff, volunteers, visitors, community partners and program participants to exercise their freedom of speech and expression in a way that is lawful, respectful and productive. The university encourages everyone to participate in public discourse and exercise their democratic rights through voting, advocacy and civic engagement. 

The Freedom of Expression website is an online hub for support resources, policies and other information to help everyone participate in public discourse and exercise their rights. It includes Ohio State's University Space Standards, updated with input from students, faculty and staff to improve clarity and add detail. The website also now includes more comprehensive information about reserving space and better connects to relevant support and policy resources. 

To maintain neutrality that assures academic freedom and freedom of speech and expression, Ohio State refrains from taking institutional positions on matters that extend beyond the university. When statements are issued, the university uses a framework to evaluate making institutional and leadership statements to ensure decisions are made based on consistent factors.

Navigating this election season inside the classroom

Faculty and instructors are encouraged to support Ohio State's motto of "Education for Citizenship" by helping to spread the message of non-partisan civic engagement to students and other faculty. With a high-profile election around the corner, many individuals are reaching out to our campus to mobilize voter registration. 

OSU Votes is a non-partisan, student-led initiative in the Office of Student Life that works to register, educate and encourage other students to vote. Should you choose to discuss voter registration and education in your classroom, OSU Votes can provide resources and facts on the voting process and voter registration.

The university has guidelines regarding political activity, which can help faculty and instructors understand how to exercise their constitutional rights without creating the appearance of endorsement for a particular candidate or cause.

Election Day asynchronous learning pilot

University Senate passed a resolution calling for a university-wide day of asynchronous learning on Nov. 5, 2024, as a one-time pilot trial to support student participation in the general election.

Instructors whose classes would otherwise have met in person or virtually on Nov. 5 will, in lieu of meeting, assign asynchronous classwork (e.g., reading, writing, a problem set, an asynchronous online lab, or other homework) to be determined by the instructor.

While it is expected that most classes scheduled to meet that day will proceed asynchronously, instructors may elect to have labs and clinical classes continue to meet in person or virtually if necessary for compliance or other compelling educational purposes, as determined by the instructor. Instructors choosing to hold class synchronously on Nov. 5 for one of these exceptions will highlight this meeting requirement on their syllabus and will notify their respective academic unit leader (department chair or college dean) by the first week of autumn semester. Graduate exams (e.g., preliminary, candidacy, and thesis/dissertation exams) may also continue to meet as scheduled on Nov. 5.

Listen. Learn. Discuss.

At Ohio State, one thing we all have in common is that we chose to be part of this community. We can use this common ground to engage with each other in a respectful and caring way even — and especially — when we disagree. Listen. Learn. Discuss. is a developing Ohio State initiative that will help students, faculty and staff draw connections and form skills to create a wide, but still nimble, path that teaches and promotes more productive and respectful dialogue. We expect members of our communities to create an environment where trust and respectful dialogue are the expectation — not the exception.

The new Listen. Learn. Discuss. website serves as a centralized online resource for courses, workshops, and events that give the university community opportunities to navigate difficult conversations, whenever and wherever challenging conversations take place — in the classroom, on the Oval, or in the workplace. The website includes an event calendar, through which university community members can submit opportunities related to the topic or the practice of civil discourse.

Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning

The Drake Institute has prepared new instructional resources, including a toolkit for navigating conflicts and disagreements, which are normal components of the learning process that can arise in the context of teaching. The Drake Institute supports all university instructors through its programming and resources, which include instructional consultations available to all who would like to discuss ideas, questions, challenges and concerns around teaching. 

Religious accommodations

Ohio State has had a longstanding practice of making reasonable academic accommodations for students’ religious beliefs and practices in accordance with applicable law.

Students must be in early communication with their instructors regarding any known accommodation requests for religious beliefs and practices, providing notice of specific dates for which they request alternative accommodations within 14 days after the first instructional day of the course. Instructors in turn shall not question the sincerity of a student’s religious or spiritual belief system in reviewing such requests and shall keep requests for accommodations confidential.

With sufficient notice, instructors will provide students with reasonable alternative accommodations with regard to examinations and other academic requirements with respect to students’ sincerely held religious beliefs and practices by allowing up to three absences each semester for the student to attend or participate in religious activities. Examples of religious accommodations can include, but are not limited to, rescheduling an exam, altering the time of a student’s presentation, allowing make-up assignments to substitute for missed class work, or flexibility in due dates or research responsibilities. If concerns arise about a requested accommodation, instructors are to consult their tenure initiating unit head for assistance.  

A student’s request for time off shall be provided if the student’s sincerely held religious belief or practice severely affects the student’s ability to take an exam or meet an academic requirement and the student has notified their instructor, in writing during the first 14 days after the course begins, of the date of each absence. Although students are required to provide notice within the first 14 days after a course begins, instructors are strongly encouraged to work with the student to provide a reasonable accommodation if a request is made outside the notice period.

Incorporating generative artificial intelligence (AI) into your work

Ohio State’s new AI website – ai.osu.edu – provides useful information on what the university is doing so far and how faculty and instructors might use AI in their own work and classes. As a collaborative effort of several departments across the university, the site is a central point for faculty and instructors to find helpful information from the Committee on Academic Misconduct, the Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning, and the Teaching and Learning Resource Center. It also offers links to training via BuckeyeLearn to help faculty and staff get acquainted with generative AI.

Additional resources for undergraduate classes

Norman Jones, vice provost and dean for undergraduate education, has compiled additional reminders and resources for undergraduate class instructors.

Additional support partners

Teaching and Learning Resource Center — helps Ohio State educators enhance their teaching skills and support student success. The center provides learning strategies and examples, learning opportunities from across the university, and extensive documentation on Ohio State’s eLearning toolset.

Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) — creates an environment that is equitable, fair and just. OIE coordinates the university’s response to all complaints of protected class discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) — supports employees and their families on a wide range of challenges, responsibilities and concerns. Ohio State offers many everyday resources to help make life a little easier and less overwhelming. Employees have access to up to five free counseling services, resource locators to help find child or adult care, tools to improve your financial wellness, legal services, travel and entertainment planning assistance, support to find cleaning services, on-demand professional development courses, and much more. 

Thank you for your commitment to serving our students and the university community in the new semester ahead.