Faculty Resources and Reminders
Dear Colleagues,
We hope you had a restful summer and a productive start to the new academic year. As our semester begins, we want to share a few important updates and reminders to help you successfully navigate the fall term while also planning ahead for the spring. Please take a few minutes to review the details carefully, as some items may require your attention or action in the coming weeks.
New Faculty and Faculty Meetings: We are joined this semester by more than 30 new faculty. All faculty are encouraged to attend the Faculty Meetings, which take place Fridays 2-3:30pm in Rapaporte Hall (with a Zoom option). For the most updated meeting scheduled, please visit the Faculty Affairs website.Course Approval Resources: Requests for new courses for Spring 2026 should be submitted via the Registrar’s form. Information on syllabus design may be found here.
Course Proposals for the Brandeis Core: Faculty who would like to submit proposals for courses to fulfill requirements for Foundational Literacies (OC, WI, DL, QR) and/or Global Engagement (DEIS-US and DJW) can find course criteria and proposal information at the Brandeis Core Resources for Faculty
Spring 2026 Registration: Registration for Spring 2026 courses will begin on November 21, 2025 and continue through January 26, 2026. Please see the Registrar's website for more information.
Open Call for AY2026-27 Course Proposals on Antisemitism: Full-time faculty from any field are invited to create and teach new undergraduate courses on antisemitism. We welcome courses of broad appeal that examine the historical, political, cultural and/or contemporary manifestations and implications of antisemitism. We are seeking courses to be taught at least twice in the next four years. Selected instructors will receive a $3,000 stipend for course design and development. An additional $1,000 will be available to support extracurricular activities, speakers or other programming that directly relates to the course. Read More.
Co-curricular Fund: The Cocurricular Fund is available to support student-centered programs inside and outside the classroom that enhance and expand educational activities for undergraduate students and/or offer opportunities for meaningful faculty-student interactions. The deadline for Spring 2026 events is January 08, 2026. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Please visit the Cocurricular Fund webpage for more information about eligibility, selection criteria, and application procedure.Absences: In accordance with the Faculty Handbook (III.c.2.b.ii,vi), faculty who must cancel classes or office hours due to unavoidable circumstances are expected to inform the department and, in consultation with the chair, make appropriate arrangements for make-up classes. In the case of planned absences for professional or other reasons, faculty are expected, in consultation with the chair, to follow established university approval procedures.
Inclement Weather: As ever, we ask that each instructor include in their syllabi their policy for days when campus is closed or when there is a delayed start or an early closing because of inclement weather (see Inclement Weather Policy). We recognize that every class is different and, as a result, inclement weather policies may vary from course to course depending on the material being covered, the pedagogy of the instructor, and the needs of students. Whatever your expectations/policies, it is important to communicate them to your students via your syllabi.
Student Accessibility Support (SAS): Students disclose disability accommodations to faculty via an accommodation letter from Student Accessibility Support. The letter signifies that the university has received appropriate documentation of the student's disability and that we have determined reasonable accommodations specific to the impact of the disability/condition. However, they do not apply retroactively to the time before the letter was sent to you. When faculty receive a letter from SAS and have concerns about whether an accommodation would fundamentally alter their course, they should consult the Reasonable Accommodation Guide (PDF) to help determine next steps in collaboration with SAS. If you need exam proctoring support for students with exam accommodations, you may fill out this request form. For further questions about how to implement academic accommodations, please check our Faculty FAQs or reach out to SAS directly at access@brandeis.edu.; when inquiring about a specific student, please name the student in your email.
Employee Support and Wellbeing: We hope you will also take time to care for yourselves. We encourage everyone to take necessary precautions and not to work or teach while sick. Please visit our Employee Support and Wellbeing website for resources such as the faculty and staff vaccination clinic, free physical fitness classes, and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through our provider KGA.
Our best wishes for a successful semester,
Carol A. Fierke, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Olga Papaemmanouil, Senior Associate Provost of Academic Affairs and Curriculum