Suggestions for a Well-Informing Course Syllabus

(The Obvious) Basic Information

• Full number and title of course
• Full name and title of instructor
• Office and phone contact information
• Names and contact information of any others involved in course, such as
• TAs, discussion group leaders, guest instructors, etc.
• Course Description in clear language
• Arrangements for Persons With Disabilities

Specific list of course requirements

• Reading - text and other
• Class attendance and participation
  • Clarity about what " class participation" means is especially important:
    • *student asking instructor questions?
    • *student answering instructor's questions?
    • *student responding to other students comments? Other?
• Seating requirements, if any, especially as they affect the taking of
• examinations
• Lab participation
• External requirements: field trips, lecture/concert attendance, etc.
• Discussion group participation
  • papers/projects
  • examinations

Absence and excuse policy

• Policy regarding make-up examinations
• Time limits on scheduled examinations
• Indicate any flexibility in the above requirements, and how the changes are negotiated

Clear statement of grading system

• Points? Letter grades with numeral values?
• If points on an exam or project are then translated into a letter grade by the instructor, then worked through a percentage application at the end of the semester, the method for doing so must be made very clear.
• Any curve applied and how it works
• Clear statement of "dropping" or substituting portions of requirements
• and relationship to grading
• If any adjustments are made at the end of semester, how are they done,
• what is the rationale?
• When, where, how grades announced
• Opportunities for discussing grades
• Grade consequences for missing deadlines
• Any portion of the course that is required to pass the course, such as taking the final exam, must be specified.

Academic Conduct Policy Statement

Course schedule

• As much specific detail as feasible
• Relationship of readings to lectures/class activities

Rules

• Regarding classroom procedure, if relevant
• Regarding use of materials in class, in labs, or during examinations
• Related to writing assignments
  • Length requirements
  • Acceptability of handwritten work
  • Requirements of grammar and style, including participation and spelling, and any grading implications
  • Requirements of supporting material for answers or solutions on quizzes, homework, lab reports, or exams

General Observations

• If students are to be held responsible for knowing about oral announcements of requirements during progress of course (a risky procedure), they should be forewarned in writing.
• If changes are made in the syllabus, especially related to requirements, grading, or deadlines, these should be distributed in printed form, with effort made to reach all students in course.
• If you, or your department, have a system for catching up with students who do not meet prerequisites or other requirements for the course, it is well to warn them in writing that this can happen, and that it may require their disenrollment at a potentially inconvenient time.
• In scheduling exams or other written material, keep in mind that students should have an opportunity to receive some grade evaluation in the course before the withdrawal deadline.
• If it is known that the university final examination schedule has your exam scheduled for an evening hour at the same time as another course in which some of your students could be enrolled, it is helpful to call that to their attention, as well as the page in the Timetable regarding priorities in such cases, and state what your arrangements are in the event of such a conflict.