Fall 2026 start of term message series for instructors
August 2026
Last but not least, some policies to help you start off strong this semester
August 21, 2026
Do you know what to do if ... ?
A few policies to help you start the semester with confidence
Refresh your memory of the TEACH Act
Copyright law can be complicated, and fair use permissions are even more so.
Refresh your memory about copyright
And, refresh your memory of the university's policy before classes begin.
Review SBU's policy on copyright
Let's figure out FERPA
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) helps protect our students' information. It's a big deal, and it can be tricky to know what you can and can't share, and with whom.
We can all protect academic integrity
If you think there might be academic dishonesty happening in one of your classes, make sure you know what to do. There are slightly different processes in place for undergraduate and graduate students.
Academic integrity: Grad student edition
Academic integrity: Undergrad process
Note: If you are on East Campus, check with your school for your policy.
Know before you go: Critical incident management
The critical incident management required syllabus statement helps create an informed, secure, and safe environment. But keeping our community safe extends into labs, offices, and shared campus spaces.
- Review emergency exit routes for the spaces you'll be in this semester, including classrooms, labs, and offices.
- Make sure you're signed up for SB Alerts, and remember that the SB Advisories page has the latest on severe weather and other campus updates.
- If you direct a lab or studio, please make sure students understand mandatory protocols, such as proper PPE use and safe equipment handling, before their first hands-on session. A quick refresher helps ensure a secure environment for our students, colleagues, and visitors.
As always, we encourage you to be more than the minimum
We're all here to support our students' learning, and there are explicit expectations about instructors' responsibilities. You're probably doing all of it already, but if you're curious you can explore the full list in the Catalog.
Review minimal responsibilities
Check out what's new in Brightspace
August 20, 2026
Now in Brightspace: Syllabus uploader and screenreader
Upload your syllabi with Concourse
Concourse allows you to upload your syllabus to Brightspace and lets you see who views it, how many times, and the most recent time they looked at it.
And, as a bonus, if you share your syllabus as a Word document, CELT will make it an accessible PDF and send it back to you so you can upload it to Brightspace. This is first come, first served, so send us your syllabus today.
Eventually, Concourse will be able to help you build your syllabi by pulling in required syllabus statements and information from PeopleSoft. For now, we're starting with the syllabus upload function.
Experiment with a Brightspace screen reader
"See" what your courses are like for your visually impaired learners using ReadSpeaker. Click the "Listen" button at the top of each Brightspace page to test the accessibility.
ProTip: Have a communication backup
Our colleagues in DoIT work tirelessly to keep our IT systems running seamlessly, but sometimes things happen beyond our control. If that happens, we recommend that you have a backup in place to connect with your students, just in case.
- Use SOLAR to download class rosters
- If you use Google, ask DoIT to create a Google group so you can reach your students quickly and easily.
- If you use Microsoft, SBM IT can help you set up a group in Microsoft Teams.
- Download your Brightspace gradebook regularly so you always have an updated version available.
Set yourself up for excellence with CELT
August 19, 2026
At Stony Brook, excellent teaching matters
It takes time and effort to become an excellent instructor, and we're here to help you reach your goals. The pedagogy experts at the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching are available to advise, guide, and support you, no matter what you want to work on.
Make your syllabi work for you, and your students
Your syllabus sets your expectations of your students, helps them understand what they will learn in your class, and ensures that you're all on the same page when it comes to how the course will progress.
We have a syllabus toolkit with updated, accessible templates that have required syllabus statements already built in and frameworks so you can focus on course content, not formatting.
AI: If, how, and when?
It's your choice, but CELT is here for you
It's entirely up to you. And we're here if you'd like help working through all the complex challenges and opportunities generative artificial intelligence creates for teaching and learning.
Review the Statement of Values on AI in Teaching and Learning
If and as useful, you may want to review the university's Statement of Values on AI in Teaching and Learning. The statement was developed last year by the AI Teaching and Learning Advisory Council's faculty, staff, and student members.
Review the Statement of Values
Keep working to make your courses accessible
The federal Title II digital accessibility deadline was extended to April 2027, but our commitment to making Stony Brook a fully inclusive environment hasn't changed. Any new course materials you create for this year, or reuse from previous years, should be built or updated with accessibility in mind. Remind yourself of what you learned last year, and think about what skills you can build next.
Remind yourself about accessibility
Explore CELT's self-paced guides
If you have 15-30 minutes, that's all you need to go through one of CELT's self-paced resource guides. They can guide you as you create learning objectives and syllabi, build digital accessibility skills, and assess student learning.
Looking to redesign your assessments?
CELT supports your course assessment needs through workshops, consultations, and online resources.
Last but not least: Join us for CELT events
There's always something happening at CELT, and you're always welcome to join in.
CELT's experts are also available to meet with you individually or to come to departmental meetings to talk about particular topics of interest to you and your colleagues.
Tech tools tailored to your teaching
August 13, 2026
Technology tools to support you in the classroom
Explore the refreshed teaching and learning guide
The Division of Information Technology refreshed its teaching and learning guide. The guide highlights campus tools and technologies to support you as you create high-impact classroom experiences and engaging course content.
A few tools are highlighted below, but there are many more for you to explore now and throughout the year.
Explore all Brightspace can do for you and your students.
Brightspace has a lot to offer. It can even simplify your life as an instructor.
It's a one-stop shop to:
- Send messages to your students.
- Allow students to submit assignments.
- Access assigned readings and textbook activities.
- Help your student keep track of their course progress, including missing and upcoming assignments.
If you have a moment, explore how Brightspace can help you manage your courses.
Teaching in a new room? Unsure of its tech?
Connect with DoIT's Classroom Technology team. They can walk you through your classroom's technology tools and even visit it with you so you can test it all out.
Check in with your students quickly.
Vevox is our campus-wide polling solution, available for free to everyone with a NetID. Build a poll in Zoom, Google Slides, PowerPoint, or Brightspace. Use it to check students' understanding, take attendance, or simply make sure they're with you.
Get feedback and support student group work
Insert questions into course videos and documents, set up and support student group work, and create opportunities for peer review and group feedback. Feedback Fruits is a great way to get students to interact with content and each other.
Have an idea for a new tool?
Reach out to EngageIT. This advisory group works with departments that want to find out how to use existing or new technology to accomplish a specific goal. They can help you address a current need, or think about something you might need later on.
Circle these dates on your calendar
August 12, 2026
Let's sync up our calendars
Please be aware of academic dates and deadlines
The Registrar's Office maintains calendars of key academic dates and deadlines that you can import to your calendars, if you're a Google user.
Add the Undergraduate Calendar
Key academic dates to help you get started
- August 24: Classes start.
- September 4: Late registration ends.
- September 16: Undergraduate progress reports open.
- October 12-13: Fall break.
- October 23: Last day for undergraduates to select GPNC options.
- November 2: Advanced registration begins.
- November 25-26: Thanksgiving break.
- December 4: Last day to apply for December 2026 graduation.
- December 7: Last day of classes.
- December 8: Reading day.
- December 9-17: Final exams. Please review the university's policy on final exams.
- December 17: Fall term ends.
Help ensure our students can pursue their education and practice their faith
You play a vital role in upholding our shared commitment to our diverse community. Please take a moment to review the information and calendar of major religious holidays that fall on days when classes are in session.
View the Guidance and Holiday Calendar
Please remember:
Expectations of students: Remind your students they are responsible for telling you as early as possible if they will require flexibility for their religious observances.
Make-up Requirements: As much as possible, please avoid scheduling exams, presentations, or major assignment deadlines on religious holidays. When this is unavoidable, offer your students an equivalent opportunity to make up for missed work.
If you have questions or need advice, please reach out.