Actions Requested
Digital Accessibility Support - Action Required by Dec. 22
L&S units need to select how they'll participate in the university's Digital Accessibility Initiative by December 22. You can either designate a Digital Accessibility Liaison for your unit or opt for college-level coordination through ITS and IDC. Both options provide access to campus resources and support for meeting federal accessibility requirements. Please see the
December 16, 2025 message.
Inventory of Wiscard Readers used for Exams and Attendance
Campus is preparing to transition to a Digital Wiscard. This transition will affect instructors who use Wiscard readers for exam proctoring or attendance at student-facing events. Existing Wiscard readers will not work with new digital Wiscards. TLA is conducting an inventory of existing Wiscard reader devices to guide the rollout of replacements. We would like to identify the number of Wiscard readers used specifically for exam proctoring (verification of student identity and attendance) and at student-facing events. Please do not include readers used for other purposes.
It may be necessary to ask instructors directly about their use of Wiscard reader devices.
Please enter details of Wiscard readers used in your department for exam proctoring and attendance tracking in this
Google Sheet by
Dec 30, 2025.
L&S Teaching Mentors
We are looking for the very best of your graduate student instructors! Up to 16 L&S graduate students will be selected as L&S Teaching Mentors to help facilitate the annual L&S Fall TA Training and to provide mentorship to new TAs.
Please submit up to three nominations for the L&S Teaching Mentors Program by Feb 12, 2026 at 5 pm.
For nomination instructions, selection criteria, restrictions, and the nomination form, please visit our website:
Teaching Mentor Nominations.
Spring 2026 TA Trainings
Please share the information below about Spring 2026 trainings with TAs in your program, as appropriate. Note registration deadlines, in bold.
For new TAs:
New TA Training by L&S
Fri, Jan 23, 2026
This training is strongly recommended for TAs new to their role at UW, or those who have been unable to attend a previous training. Participants will register in advance to access an asynchronous Canvas course and choose either a morning or afternoon in-person session. Each 3.5 hour workshop has identical content and participants should select one to attend. TAs will leave the training motivated and equipped to be effective and inclusive teachers.
FERPA Training
TAs must complete an online training course on student privacy rights. The course is accessible to anyone with NetID credentials through the
FERPA Training website. Visit
FERPA Overview for additional information.
Graduate Assistants Equity Workshops
These trainings are required for TAs to be reappointed for more than one semester. More information and dates of upcoming workshops are available here:
Graduate Assistants Equity Workshops.
For all TAs:
Chinese Names Pronunciation Workshop
Fri, Jan 30, 2026, 9:30 - 10:30am
In this workshop, TAs will learn essential Chinese pronunciation tips and leave with the skills they need to say their students' names right the first time.
For Comm B TAs:
Reminder: Communication B TA Training
To help teaching assistants and course instructors plan and teach Communication-B courses, the university offers a sequence of three training workshops during fall semester.
The training includes two sessions:
- Mon, Jan 12, 9:00am to 12:15pm, Helen C. White Hall, Room 6191
- Tues, Jan 13, 9:00am to 12:15pm, Helen C. White Hall, Room 6191
