Does the first day really matter?

Dr. Timmons and Dr. Erickson teach different sections of the same large-enrollment introductory course. Step into a student’s shoes to observe their course introductions and reflect upon your own teaching practices for the first day of class.

This program is not available in-person or online at this time.

Group work doesn’t have to be a nightmare.

• Kai, Meg, and Cassidy are starting their group project together, but there are problems from the beginning. Learn how transparent assignments and groupwork facilitation can prevent interpersonal issues and provide a more inclusive working environment for all students.

"'I'm starting to wonder if I should even be here."

• Hear stories from Gene, Tori, and Claire about their experiences with belonging and belonging uncertainty in their education. Consider how small changes and psychosocial interventions during lectures can allow students to feel they belong in your classroom, at UVA, and in your field of research--and learn why belonging matters in the first place.

The 3x3 Series is curated with the intent to capture authentic and multifaceted narratives of the UVA experience. This series aims to make visible the experiences of folks who are often forgotten, overlooked, or silenced in larger conversations about systems and culture at UVA. Any UVA employee can access the filmed monologues for personal reflection here, and you can email uvaacts@virginia.edu for additional facilitation support when using these resources for dialogue in a group.

Learn More

This program is not available in-person or online at this time.

In development

What just happened? And what am I supposed to do about it?

• Developed by an ensemble of current UVA students, this program introduces skills in conflict/resolution, dialogue facilitation, and open communication for a university classroom. How can faculty prevent and/or intervene when harmful language that has been used? How can instructors acknowledge current events in ways that allow students to focus on their learning and grow as critical thinkers? How can community be built so that difficult conversations can take place across identity without centering majoritized identities and worldviews?

This program is not available in-person or online at this time.

Plenty of personalities, plenty of opinions, plenty of bias.

Meet Chris, a recently tenured faculty member who is chairing his first search committee. Chris has plenty to learn about facilitating equitable search processes that adjust to prevent bias--and he has plenty to unlearn, too. Follow along with this quirky search committee as they learn to align, intervene, and plan throughout their recruitment and hiring process.