Trauma-Informed Teaching & Learning Guidelines

Principles	Suggested Practices
Safety of Wellbeing	Establish community agreements and a netiquette policy Provide continuous feedback using low-stakes assessments Be aware of the ways that our actions and policies as faculty could, intentionally or unintentionally, inflict harm or trauma on students through our language, unexamined assumptions, grading, etc.
Know Your Students	Be familiar with your students’ demographics and needs Be aware of students’ traumas and current life situations Offer space for students to process and share experiences with peers and/or you as instructors
Clear Expectations & Boundaries	Provide clear student expectations with grading, submitting assignments, and participation in class Offer students choices of topics when requiring reflection assignments or projects on traumatic subjects Respect the limits of your expertise — assign work within the scope of your competency
Inclusivity	Provide multiple ways to access course content — including with technology-enhanced options Create opportunities for students to voice their ideas and opinions on different platforms Integrate and invite sharing of personal experiences related to course content
Collaboration	Be present in class and actively engage with students Provide frequent opportunities for group work for assignments or projects; be mindful of how much time is spent outside of class Create an open space for students to collaborate on activities to activate problem solving skills
Empowering Students	Encourage students to take risks, learn from their mistakes, and freedom to leverage personal experiences Offer students choices in topics of inquiry and debate Challenge students to consider their identities as community changemakers and promote social justice
Sociocultural Diversity	Adapt your curricula to address current issues of diversity and oppression, acknowledging the agency of groups actively challenging oppression Acknowledge assets that students bring to their learning Foster inclusive excellence — finding common ground among diverse communities — and celebrate diversity
Resilience	Acknowledge yours and your students’ growth and change Solicit feedback from students and use it to improve current course delivery in response to learning needs Be proactive in recognizing when students are struggling

Campus Resources Available to USF Faculty

Department or Division	Contact
Tracy Seeley Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE)	Email: cte@usfca.edu Phone: (415) 422-2110
Educational Technology Services (ETS)	Email: ets@usfca.edu
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offered by CONCERN	Log into CONCERN for consultations Manager’s Guide to Workplace Trauma (PDF) Phone: (800) 344-4222

Campus Resources Available to USF Students

Department or Division	Contact
Center for Academic and Student Achievement (CASA)	CASA Virtual Front Desk (via Zoom) Schedule an Appointment (select CASA) Email: casa@usfca.edu Phone: +1 (415) 422-5050
Student Disability Services (SDS)	SDS COVID-19 Announcements Email: sds@usfca.edu Phone: +1 (415) 422-2613
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)	Daytime Phone: +1 (415) 422-6352 After Hours/Emergencies: +1 (855) 531-0761 If you are having a life-threatening emergency, please call 9-1-1.
Health Promotion Services (HPS)	Schedule a Zoom Appointment Email: hps@usfca.edu Phone: (415) 422-5797
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)	Email: isss@usfca.edu Phone: +1 (415) 422-2654
Learning, Writing & Speaking Centers (LWSCs)	Schedule an Appointment (select Learning, Writing, & Speaking Centers) Email: lwsc@usfca.edu Phone: +1 (415) 422-6713