Have you had an instructor at UWM who has made a difference in your education? Someone who challenged you, supported you, or inspired you? Every semester, the Thank an Instructor initiative collects thank you notes from students and alumni across the university to share with instructors. The Thank an Instructor form provides an opportunity for UWM students and alumni to submit a note expressing appreciation for a teacher who made a difference in their education.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Messages collected through Thank an Instructor are shared with faculty at the end of each grading period. Students interested in submitting a thank you will be able to do so in the last two weeks of any semester. Please be aware that thank you notes do not replace student evaluation of instruction, so be sure to take the time to complete course evaluations as well. Faculty receiving notes should consider the note an official university communication and add the note to their teaching portfolios or review materials.
To send a thank you expressing your appreciation, please complete the online form at the bottom of this page. You may choose to remain anonymous or include your name. After review, the message will be added to a formal letter and sent to the instructor, each semester after the final exam period ends. You may also elect to have your thank you message posted on the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) website.
Students, both undergraduate and graduate as well as alumni are welcome to submit thank you messages.
NOTE: Your email address will only be used to send you a copy of your submission or for CETL staff to follow-up with any questions. It will not be included in the thank you letter.
If you have any questions about the Thank an Instructor initiative, please email cetl@uwm.edu.
There are several avenues to provide feedback to instructors. We encourage you, if able, to talk with your instructor about any concerns that you may have. If you would like help in thinking about how to have that conversation, we encourage you to reach out to the University Ombuds Council who can assist.
If your instructor does a survey looking for feedback earlier in the semester, we encourage you to share any concerns there as well. If you are looking for a way to report a bias incident, we encourage you to report an incident. For any additional supports or complaints, we encourage you to reach out to the Dean of Students Report It comprehensive reporting system.