Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning

• Academic Standards and Expectations for Syllabi
• 2026-2027 Syllabus Checklist

• AI Guidelines for Employees
• Examples of Syllabus AI Policies at UWRF
• What is your AI policy? Communicate your guidelines clearly and talk about them with students, by Annettee Vee
• Using AI responsibly at the Universities of Wisconsin

• Canvas Plus Micro Course 2026-2027 

• 2026 Digital Accessibility Checklist
• Accessibility at UWRF
• Accessibility FAQs: How do I make my PDFs accessible?
• Digital Accessibility: Universities of Wisconsin
• Canvas: UDOIT Advantage and TidyUP Resources
• Self-Enroll for Digital Accessibility 101: Instructional staff Canvas course
• UWRF Digital Accessibility Champions (scroll down for a list of people across campus who are well versed in the digital accessibility of different areas)

• Online Teaching Institute (OTI)
• Online Teaching Foundations (OTF)
• Distance Education Qualifications Review Form

• Faculty College
• Evidence Based Teaching Fellows (EBTF)
• Wisconsin Teaching Fellows and Scholars (WTFS)
• Office of Professional and Instructional Development (UW)

• UWRF Sustainability and Academics
• UWRF Sustainability Faculty Fellows
• Key Competencies: Practical Approaches to Teaching Sustainability

The UWs Board of Regents have defined their commitment to academic freedom and freedom of expression, and expectations for those who violate these freedoms, in Regent Policy Document 4-21. This policy applies to all UW System students, employees, and visitors. Key elements of the policy include: 

“Academic freedom includes the freedom to explore all avenues of scholarship, research, and creative expression, and to reach conclusions according to one’s own scholarly discernment. Freedom of expression includes the right to discuss and present scholarly opinions and conclusions on all matters both in and outside the classroom. These freedoms include the right to speak and write as a member of the university community or as a private citizen without institutional discipline or restraint, on scholarly matters, or on matters of public concern. The UW System is committed to these principles and provides all members of the university community the broadest possible latitude to explore ideas and to speak, write, listen, challenge, and learn. 

Of course, different ideas in the university community will often and quite naturally conflict. But it is not the proper role of the university to attempt to shield individuals from ideas and opinions they, or others, find unwelcome, disagreeable, or even deeply offensive. Although the university greatly values civility, concerns about civility and mutual respect can never be used as justification for closing off discussion of ideas, however offensive or disagreeable those ideas may be to some members within the university community. 

The freedom to debate and discuss the merits of competing ideas does not mean that members of the university community may say whatever they wish, wherever they wish. Consistent with longstanding practice informed by law, institutions within the System may restrict expression that violates the law, that falsely defames a specific individual, that constitutes a genuine threat or discriminatory harassment, that unjustifiably invades substantial privacy or confidentiality interests, or that is otherwise directly incompatible with the functioning of the university. In addition, the institutions may reasonably regulate the time, place, and manner of expression to ensure that it does not disrupt ordinary activities. But these are narrow exceptions to the general principle of freedom of expression, and it is vitally important that these exceptions never be used in a manner that is inconsistent with each institution’s commitment to a completely free and open discussion of ideas.” 

Below are additional policies relevant to Academic Freedom with some highlighted clauses: 

State Administrative Code UWS 4.01 (2): “A faculty member is entitled to enjoy and exercise all the rights and privileges of a United States citizen, and the rights and privileges of academic freedom as they are generally understood in the academic community. This policy shall be observed in determining whether or not just cause for dismissal exists. The burden of proof of the existence of just cause for a dismissal is on the administration.” 

• Chapter UWS 4: Procedures for faculty dismissal and discipline in Title IX Cases 

Regent Policy Document 20-24: “Tenure is the keystone for academic freedom and excellence and is awarded for academic and professional merit. Tenure is an essential part of the guarantee of academic freedom that is necessary for university-based intellectual life to flourish.” …“Accordingly, faculty layoff will be invoked only in extraordinary circumstances and after all feasible alternatives have been considered. Additionally, faculty layoff shall not be based on conduct, expressions, or beliefs on the faculty member’s part that are constitutionally protected or protected by the principles of academic freedom.” 

• RPD 20-24: Procedures Relating to Financial Emergency or Program 

• Discontinuance Requiring Faculty Layoff and Termination 

Please also reference the UWRF Freedom of Expression webpage, containing information for students and employees on free speech and our commitment to upholding First Amendment rights. The following related campus Administrative Policies may also be useful:  

• Administrative Policy AP-01-129 Expressive Activity on Campus 

• Administrative Policy AP-01-103 Use of University Facilities 

• Administrative Policy AP-01-112 Social Media Policy 

• Administrative Policy AP-01-125 Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation 

• How is political activity addressed in the classroom? The ability to exchange, consider and challenge different ideas is central to the educational process. Instructors are entitled to academic freedom. This means that they have broad discretion to conduct research and publish results. It also means that instructors have broad discretion in the classroom when discussing the subject of the course they are teaching. UW-River Falls courses are designed for students’ learning and intellectual growth. Courses are not appropriate spaces for political advocacy. 

• Can instructors talk about political issues in the classes they teach? Course activities – including discussions – should be designed to help students achieve course learning outcomes. In many courses, the discussion of political issues is not germane, and so should be avoided. In some circumstances in certain courses, the discussion of contentious political issues may be relevant to course learning outcomes. In such cases, instructors may choose to have students debate those issues, and they may decide to share their own views for pedagogical purposes (e.g., modeling civil discourse). In doing so, instructors should be mindful of the power differentials at work. Instructors’ sharing of their own political views should neither be nor give the appearance of being for purposes of advocacy or persuasion. If political issues are to be discussed in a course, instructors are responsible for ensuring that all points of view on the issue are welcome in the discussion. See subsection e. below for tips on helping direct difficult discussions. 

• How does academic freedom apply to instructors and instruction? Academic freedom affords instructors broad discretion when determining and engaging in topics of discussion during the courses they teach. This includes, for example, choosing course readings, designing course activities, and creating course assignments. This does not include expression of views on matters not germane to course content or advocacy based on the instructor’s personal political views.  

• How do I know if a topic is “germane” to the academic content of a course? The academic content of a course is determined and approved through the university’s course proposal governance process and is reflected in the course description and required course content and learning outcomes.  

• Can instructors limit discussion of political and/or controversial issues? Yes. Instructors are allowed to impose content-neutral restrictions on the time, place and manner in which students may engage in discussion during class. Instructors may also limit the subject matter that may be discussed in a course. This means instructors can dictate the time and length of a class discussion and its general subject matter. They can also choose to lecture without interruption, not permitting questions or encouraging discussion. 

  In courses where political and/or controversial issues are not germane to the subject matter, instructors may decline to allow discussion of them. When difficult or controversial events occur, instructors may wish to acknowledge the potential impact of those events and, as appropriate, remind students of relevant University support resources before shifting to focus on course material. However, in many courses, the discussion of political and/or controversial issues and events is not germane, and so should be avoided. 

  In the event a political or controversial issue or event is relevant to the course material and learning outcome an instructor designates a period of time for class discussion on that topic, students may express opinions on the subject matter of the class even when some, or many, disagree with those opinions. Instructors maintain discretion to assess the academic quality of student comments and control the discussion parameters. In addition, students may not engage in speech or expressive conduct that disrupts the class or other University functions. 

• Can an instructor cancel, reschedule, or relocate a class session for a political event? No. Class sessions are to be offered at the dates and times and in the modality and location indicated in the official schedule of classes. In some cases, observation of a political event (e.g., a rally on campus) may be germane to course material, but instructors may not require students to participate in any political event or activity as part of course activities or assignments. 

• Can instructors encourage students to vote or engage in other forms of political activity? Instructors may encourage students to vote or generally to be politically active. Instructors may not, however, use their position to influence or attempt to influence the content of students’ political activity by, for example advocating that students vote for a particular position or that they attend and participate in a particular demonstration or protest. 

• What should employees and students know regarding their involvement in political activities in general? Please review the UWs Guidance on Political Campaign Activities page.  

These kinds of requests should be referred to our designated Public Records Custodian, Dave Ruhland, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration. Learn more about management of Public Records within the Universities of Wisconsin.

If anything needs to be redacted, the Public Records Custodian will do that per the scope of allowed disclosure exemptions as defined by Wisconsin Public Records Law 19.36. 

External requests regarding your materials or information may also represent IT security threats. Make sure you are aware of campus resources provided to protect you and your information.