2025 Fall Quarter updates

Dear instructors, 

We write to share several updates as you prepare for the Fall Quarter.

Syllabus Statements

A single, student-focused page now displays all Northwestern syllabus statements. We recommend that you include the following in your syllabus: 

Northwestern University Syllabus Standards 

This course follows the Northwestern University Syllabus Standards. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with this information. 

Fall 2025 Academic Calendar

Classes will begin earlier this fall than they have in the past and, for some programs, Thanksgiving break does not follow the usual pattern. This decision was made to avoid beginning the academic year during the religious holiday of Rosh Hashanah, and we adjusted to still allot the appropriate time for teaching and learning. We will return to a typical start date and Thanksgiving break next year. Find the full academic calendar on the Office of the Registrar website.

Academic Accommodation for Religious Observance

As described in Northwestern’s Policy on Academic Accommodations for Religious Observance, students should not be penalized for class absences due to religious holidays. Undergraduate students requesting an academic accommodation for a common midterm exam (a midterm that takes place outside of the regular class meeting time) or final exam should complete this form managed by the Office of the Provost. Should undergraduates in your class submit a request through the Office of the Provost form, we will follow up with you to discuss options for appropriate academic accommodations. Please remind students that they must request academic accommodations for religious reasons before the end of the second week of the quarter, Friday, Sept. 26.

Pedagogical Resources

Northwestern offers a variety of pedagogical resources for instructors as they prepare their courses. We encourage you to explore resources related to teaching in the age of generative AI. Generative AI 101, a popular intensive program for faculty, will return in December. Instructors and students can access Copilot, Microsoft’s large language model chatbot, at no cost. The Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching provides additional AI resources as well as updated guidance on how to effectively communicate courses expectations to students.

Academic Resources for Students

Students may be unaware of the many academic support services available, at no additional cost, to assist them in reaching their learning goals. We encourage you to promote these opportunities. For undergraduates, Academic Support and Learning Advancement (ASLA) offers tutoring and study groups for 30+ courses, as well as academic coaching and robust online resources for students and faculty. For support with written assignments of any kind, The Writing Place provides peer consultations for both undergraduate and graduate students.

This year, Northwestern is launching Books for ’Cats 2.0, which provides eligible first- and second-year students course materials for all courses in which they are enrolled at no additional cost. Students may pick up course materials at the Northwestern Bookstore. Please ensure that you have submitted your book orders for fall courses through the Northwestern Bookstore with the Barnes and Noble portal. If you encounter any issues submitting your course materials, you can email the bookstore at norrisbooks@northwestern.edu.

Academic Flexibility for Student-Athlete Travel

Northwestern student-athletes are an important part of our academic community. As described in our Guidance on Academic Flexibility for Student-Athlete Travel, they are required to travel as part of their commitment to their team. Athletics will inform you about athletic travel commitments for students in your courses prior to the start of the quarter, and student-athletes will follow up with you regarding specific course conflicts. We ask that you provide flexibility to address missed class time for student-athletes in ways that promote their academic continuity and fit the learning goals you have established for all of your students.

Student Arrival and Engagement

For instructors of undergraduate students, we want to remind you of the Undergraduate Policy on In-Person Arrival and Course Engagement, which specifies that undergraduate students enrolled in courses with in-person class meetings are expected to be on campus and in attendance no later than the end of the first week of the quarter, and must plan to remain in attendance until the end of the quarter. Should students make requests that fall outside of these requirements, you may refer them to the policy. Many graduate and professional programs have similar expectations for their students. Be sure to familiarize yourself with them. Schools, programs and their admission staff are in touch with students who may be concerned about timely arrival, including international students, and are advising them about options as these dates draw nearer. As always, reach out to your school dean’s office with questions about student arrival and participation.

Thank you for all you do as a Northwestern instructor. We wish you an engaging and productive Fall Quarter.

Sincerely, 

Jaci Casazza
Assistant Provost and University Registrar

Karen Smilowitz
Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education