As the first form of interaction betweeen students and instructor, the syllabus is a critical piece of communication that warrants thoughtful design. Research indicates that more engaging, student-centered syllabi have a positive impact on student perceptions of a course and motivation to engage with the instructor.

Learn about strategies for course design, including writing learning goals and organizing your course content

Office hours are an important part of students’ learning experience. Instructors can use the information on this page to plan and schedule office hours, and to communicate that information to students in the syllabus.

A diversity statement is a paragraph or section in institutional, department, or course language that welcomes the range of student identities, experiences, and perspectives, particularly those that have been traditionally marginalized. The diversity statement signals belief that all students belong, have value, and bring unique perspectives worthy of consideration.

Accessible and inclusive teaching assumes that student diversity is the rule, rather than an exception.

Strategies and tools for supporting student learning in the classroom

Resources and strategies for understanding diversity and creating inclusive classrooms

Additional teaching and learning resources for instructors

The Poorvu Center enacts a centralized digital education strategy for the University, one that includes: massive open online courses, blended degree programs, and online certificates.

These resources are designed to help faculty use Turnitin to improve student writing. Turnitin has only limited value as a plagiarism detector, and the incidence of plagiarism at Yale is generally quite low.

Teaching Excellence at Yale, previously distributed to all faculty during the academic year, highlighted teaching practices of individual faculty members from across departments and schools, supplemented with relevant research and resources that are available to instructors through the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning.