For faculty who would like to address with their classes the conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd but who are unsure how to communicate with students, the below statement is provided as a template. Any and all are welcome to use this exact wording or to revise to tailor to your class and your teaching approach. The message was drafted by ECC's Teaching/Learning for Inclusivity, Diversity, and Equity (TIDE) group.

A Google Doc version of the below message, which can be downloaded, email is also available.

Communication that Faculty Might Send to Students

I’m writing because the conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd, and all of the historical and recent events that George Floyd’s death invokes, may be weighing heavily on members of the class and on the ECC community.

I recognize that George Floyd’s horrific death, amidst other racial violence and amidst the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, has likely made it exceptionally difficult to be a student. I also recognize that the events may be especially difficult based on experiences with personal and systemic racism and violence. There may be deep feelings hope and promise as well as anger, frustration, confusion, and flat out exhaustion. It’s okay if you are experiencing a variety of feelings, and it’s okay to be silent for a moment to process.

I sincerely hope that everyone in this course has opportunities to process, on your own or with others, your reactions and experiences. Please remember to take care of your physical needs (eating, sleeping, connecting with others), and please try to consider how you are feeling.

Campus Resources

For all students, ECC has a group of trained Wellness Professionals who are available to help support mental and emotional well-being. To schedule a free appointment with an ECC Wellness Professional

• Schedule online by logging onto your Access ECC Portal and under the ECC Apps you, click on "Schedule a Wellness Services Appointment" button

• Or call 847-214-7390

• And/or email them at studentwellness@elgin.edu.

Additionally, the ECC group, Multicultural and Global Initiatives Committee (MAGIC), will be hosting online opportunities for members of the ECC committee to reflect and share together about the trial, the verdict, and our nation’s recent racial violence.

I encourage you to, if you have not already, read the statement that ECC President Dr. David Sam communicated this past summer, shortly after George Floyd’s death.

Office Hours

Finally, my Office Hours times are: INSERT OFFICE HOURS INFO

Students are welcome to discuss non-course related topics, especially if any students would like to generally check in.

Resources to Share with Students

• ECC Wellness Services

• ECC Student Life

Resources To Further Support Faculty

• Recommendations and Resources for Supporting Students Before, During, and After the Chauvin Trial, from the University of Minnesota

• Managing Difficult Classroom Conversations, from the Indiana University Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning

• Ten Tips for Facilitating Classroom Discussions on Sensitive Topics

• How to Talk About Traumatic Events and Tragedies, from the University of Minnesota Department of Education

Questions? Additional Thoughts, or Resources to share? Please contact Tyler Roeger, Director of CETL, at troeger@elgin.edu.

Welcome to the online space of the Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL). Here, you'll find information on CETL workshops and other events and have access to numerous electronic resources, including links to articles on varied teaching practices and to sample course documents, like assignment sheets. Direct any questions or suggestions to Tyler Roeger, Director of CETL, at troeger@elgin.edu.

Some of the resources on this site that are designed to support faculty in online and hybrid instruction, specifically, include

• Online Teaching Toolkit.

• Communications from VP of TLSD

• Distance Learning Office's D2L Tutorials Page

• Brightspace's D2L Essentials Page

• The ECC Remote Hub

For additional questions and suggestions on online teaching in a remote setting, contact Tyler Roeger, Director of CETL, at troeger@elgin.edu.