As a course instructor, you play a key role in a student’s education and success. Student Success strives to be a resource for you as well. Through online resources, professional development series, and connection to other resources on campus, we are all working together to support the success of our students.

Being a Mentor

Students often look to instructors for support beyond the course, such as career/field advice, research opportunities, personal and/or academic difficulties. As a mentor, you can assist students in navigating campus policies, resources, and opportunities. Encourage students to utilize the many resources available to them on campus.

Teaching Excellence & Student Success

Effectively designing, organizing, and implementing your course is a key component of teaching excellence. The Institute of Teaching Excellence & Faculty Development (TEFD) supports the professional development of faculty and instructors across all career stages and disciplines with programs and resources focused on student-centered teaching, course and curriculum design, faculty mentoring, intercultural competency, scholarly writing, leadership, and more. Link:

Another key component to approaching and implementing your course is student success—understanding our students today, the leading indicators of their success, and the resources on our campus designed to support students. Student Success offers a Success@UMass Development Series designed to discuss and consider these aspects of student success as well as offer resources and training on promoting academic skill development and leveraging technologies to promote student success.

Academic Alert

The UMass Academic Alert initiative strives to partner with instructors to identify students experiencing academic difficulty and connect the student with resources to support their success both in and out of the classroom.

Academic Honesty

At times, you may find yourself with a case of student academic dishonesty. The Academic Honesty policy and procedures, published annually in the academic regulations, offers both an informal resolution and formal charge option for instructors. An informal resolution attempt is always preferred prior to submitting formal charges. Instructors in need of guidance in these situations are invited to contact Academic Honesty to discuss the policy and options for moving forward. Additionally, we encourage you to consider and communicate (via a syllabus) the expectations set for the students in your course related to citing sources, group work, deadlines, etc. Link: umass.edu/honesty