Responding to Tragic Events in the College Classroom

As a parent of a 9- and 10-year-old, I was distraught by the news of yet another mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas this past May. The morning after, I addressed the incident with my kids in as age-appropriate language as I could muster and reluctantly sent them to school. I tried my best to focus on my day at hand; however, I kept wondering what my kids were hearing at school, what they were feeling, and at the same time grappling with my grief over this tragedy.

In my first meeting, the facilitator began by addressing the incident and allowing space for faculty and staff to respond or remain silent. At this time, some colleagues voiced anger, sadness, despair, and calls for action. While an agenda had been prepared, the facilitator understood that moving forward with "business as usual" without addressing this tragedy would have been useless, and instead allowed us time to grieve together as a community. This experience was an important reminder of how emotionally charged events can creep into our work and learning spaces whether we plan for them or not.

In a 2007 survey [PDF], students named the least helpful and most problematic response by faculty to critical events as a "lack of response." When a tragic, violent, or emotionally-charged public event occurs, it can be hard to know as instructors if—and how—we should address them in class. But silence is often as loud as words. At the very least, acknowledgement of these events is appreciated by students and can help provide them with an opportunity to process what happened, as well as recognition that it may affect their ability to concentrate and learn.

If you are still processing the event, feel emotionally triggered, or simply can't find the words to address it with the class, acknowledging the event and observing a moment of silence may be a good option. Here are some additional strategies that may also be appropriate:

Engage students in discussion

Discussions about these events can be an important opportunity to help students develop emotional intelligence, consider viewpoints different from their own, and discuss highly charged topics in a productive way. If you have not done so already, it is important—especially when discussing topics that elicit strong emotional responses—to share or create guidelines or ground rules for engaging in respectful discussion. Additionally, using structured or semi-structured discussion strategies can ensure more balanced participation and provide time for students to reflect before speaking.

Provide time for reflective writing

If you feel ill-equipped to lead a discussion about a particular issue, providing a short amount of time for students to reflect on the event in writing is another option. Writing can provide time for both you and your students to grapple with any feelings about the event. These assignments can also normalize those feelings, build class community and rapport, and help students clear their minds and move forward with the lesson if you choose. Depending on the event, you may want to provide reflective writing as an option that is not collected or graded, offering students to share it with the class if they want.

Direct students towards resources and support

Some students may be seeking additional assistance beyond your classroom. It's always good to remind students of the support and resources provided to them through the University. Drexel's Counseling Center offers both individual and group services. The Office of Equality and Diversity also offers ongoing programs that often respond to timely events. University chaplains provide religious and spiritual counsel to all members of the Drexel community, including faculty, professional staff and students. If you share these resources with students in class, it can be helpful to follow up with an email or Blackboard announcement providing a reminder and links to these resources.

Drexel faculty and staff seeking additional support processing tragic events are encouraged to use the Employee Assistance Program. To think through how you can create inclusive spaces for productive conversations about tragic events in your classes, you can also make an appointment with the Teaching and Learning Center for a one-on-one consultation.