A SYLLABUS MODEL

Because college course syllabi are playing an increasingly important role in the State of Ohio’s mandated process of reaching consensus on course equivalencies to create Transfer Assurance Pathways among the state’s tax-supported institutions of learning, it is important that they convey necessary kinds of information.

Syllabi also play a key role in the implicit “contract” between the instructor and studentsand serve to achieve consistency in instruction, expectation, and performance. The syllabus is also central to helping resolve any disputes that may arise between the instructor and a student.

In order to better appreciate expectations for syllabi, during the 2003-2004 academic year a review was undertaken of relevant policies in place at neighboring institutions, including Cleveland State University, Cuyahoga Community College (main campus and western campus), John Carroll University, Kent State University, Lakeland Community College, and the University of Akron.

During the 2004-2005 academic year, the Ohio Board of Regents called upon the College to submit various instructor syllabi to determine if courses were being taught in conformity with the College’s official Course Description with Student Outcomes documents. This practice will become even more common now that the State of Ohio has established TAG documents as the basis of determining course transferability and applicability.

The following Model Syllabus Template offers good assurance that any instructor’s syllabus completed in accord with it will meet the expectations of the Ohio Board of Regents for determining course equivalency.

MODEL SYLLABUS TEMPLATE

1. GENERAL COURSE IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION

This section should include:

  • College name
  • Course name and number
  • Term, days, and hours for class sessions
  • Classroom location or mode of delivery
  • Instructor information: office location, posted office hours, phone and email addresses
  1. COURSE INFORMATION

This section should include:

  • The course description as it appears in the college catalog
  • Listing of any pre-requisites for admission to the course
  • Expected performance outcomes as they appear in the Course Outcomes Document (in the event the Course Outcomes Document has not been updated, outcomes statements should be translated into language suitable to measuring student performance)
  • (these may also make reference to standards established by professional societies)
  • (outcomes are ideally stated in three discrete sections: knowledge, skills, and dispositions)
  • Bibliographic information on the required text as well as for any required supplementary texts
  • If your course is a service learning course or includes a service learning component, please include the official definition of service learning in your syllabus.
  • Service learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates community service with academic instruction while focusing on critical thinking, reflection and civic responsibility.
  1. RATIONALE FOR THE COURSE

This section should include a brief statement of the basic aims (goals) for the course and/or of the instructor’s general expectations

  1. COURSE SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNMENTS

This section should include:

  • Dates when various topics will be covered
  • (topics should include all those listed on the Course Outcomes Document)
  • Dates when reading assignments are due
  • Dates for exams, presentations, papers, projects
  1. GRADING PROCEDURES

This section should include:

  • Point or percentage value assigned to various components of the course(tests, quizzes, projects, papers, homework, participation, etc.)
  • Scale for determining grades, if this is different from the standard College scale
  • Description of rubrics to be used in evaluating various types of assigned student performance
  • (actual rubrics may be presented to students closer to the time they begin preparing the relevant assignment)
  1. COLLEGE AND CLASSROOM POLICIES

This section should include:

  • College policies:

a. The College policy on students with special needs (see LCCC catalog)

b. The College policy governing academic dishonesty (and in particular theissue of plagiarism)(see LCCC catalog)

c. Midterm Grades and the FAW (Failing Administrative Withdrawal) grade1

d. Withdrawal guidelines

e. FERPA restrictions/guidelines (see LCCC catalog)

f. A statement relative to the Student Code of Conduct (see LCCC catalog)

  • Suggested wording: Faculty members are charged with responsibility for building and maintaining a classroom atmosphere conducive to learning. Disruptive, disrespectful, or obstructive behavior will be dealt with in terms specific to this syllabus and in accord with the LCCC Code of Student Conduct. Students may refer to the LCCC Catalog for complete details regarding these policies.

g. A statement about the Campus Code of Conduct (see LCCC Catalog)

  • Suggested wording: LCCC students, faculty, staff and campus visitors are prohibited from engaging in activities that are outlined in the Campus Code of Conduct. Students may refer to the LCCC Catalog for complete details regarding these policies.
  • Instructor policies---useful policies might cover:

a. Make-up testing

b. Late assignments

c. Attendance and participation requirements2

d. Guidelines for written work

e. Expected classroom decorum

f. Subject to change clause

  • suggested wording: This syllabus does not constitute a contract. To maintain the integrity of the course, the instructor reserves the right to change this syllabus and any of its contents at any time during the course by notifying students verbally or by written addendum.

g. Administrative Withdrawal3

Suggested wording:

  1. Midterm Grades

You will receive a midterm grade in this course which represents your progress at the midpoint of the term. The intent of this grade is to help you understand how you are doing, so you can take steps to improve your grade, if necessary. This grade is only for your information, and with the exception of the FAW (Failing Administrative Withdrawal) grade, it will not appear on your transcript. You can see your midterm grades online through your MyCampus account. Please contact me if you have questions concerning your midterm grade.

Student Participation and the FAW Midterm Grade

Success in this course requires you to commence attendance and participate in course activities regularly and continuously. You are expected to participate in the class by completing and submitting required course activities such as homework assignments, exams, essays, group projects, and other coursework. Students who do not participate in class for <two consecutive weeks* prior to the midterm, who fail to turn in required coursework during that period, and who fail to withdraw themselves from the course may be administratively withdrawn with an FAW midterm grade at a 0% refund of tuition and fees. This grade will appear on your transcript and impact your GPA just as an F would. Note:Students will not be issued an FAW grade for turning in coursework that fails to earn a passing grade. Please contact me if you have any extenuating circumstances that prevent you from actively participating in the course.

*Instructors should determine a period of time that seems reasonable to them. Two weeks is used here as a suggestion.

Important Notice for Students Receiving Financial Aid

Your financial aid payments depend on your commencement of attendance and active participation in this course throughout the term. If you are receiving financial aid, I urge you to read and understand the college’s policy which can be found in the college catalog:

  1. The class instructor will report the commencement of student class attendance after the census date of the class session. In a distance education context, documenting that a student has logged into an online class is not sufficient, by itself, to demonstrate academic attendance by the student. The class instructor must demonstrate that a student participated in class or was otherwise engaged in an academically related activity, such as by contributing to an online discussion or initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a course-related question. The class instructor will determine what constitutes commencement of attendance and should record their policy in the class syllabus.

If a student enrolls in a class and is reported as not attending by the class instructor, the student will be automatically dropped from the class. Although the class will not appear on the students official transcript, the student will be responsible for all tuition and fees associated with the class.

Sample attendance language for an online course:

Commencement of attendance in this course will be recorded for those students who complete Week 1 Discussion Board Postings AND send an email through the course page to the instructor with their contact information. Week 1 Discussion Board postings are due by Sunday, <insert date> 11:00 PM. Students who do not complete Week 1 Discussion Board postings by <insert date>will be recorded as Not Attending. Students will not be permitted to complete this assignment or enter the course after <insert date>.

  1. Administrative withdrawals are only considered when an extenuating circumstances (that can be documented): 1) interfere with a student’s ability to attend class—resulting in an inordinate number of absences, or 2) prevent a student from meeting the established course withdrawal deadline. A petition for an administrative withdrawal from a course must be submitted in writing. Documentation that substantiates the reason for the request must be attached to the petition. Original documents that have been issued by a third-party institution (medical documents, court documents, a statement from one’s employer, etc.) are considered to be acceptable forms of documentation. Documentation should be signed, dated, and written on the institution’s letterhead. All documentation will be returned once the request has been processed.

The following items constitute acceptable forms of documentation (including but not limited to):

  • Court documents
  • Medical documents
  • Signed and dated statement from one’s employer/supervisor (written on letterhead)
  • Signed and dated statement from one’s physician (written on letterhead)
  • Document issued by a third-party institution (i.e. – school, hospital, company, etc. written on letterhead)
  • Documents that have been faxed directly to LCCC from the issuing institution

The following items constitute unacceptable forms of documentation (including but not limited to):

  • Written note from a relative, friend, neighbor, co-worker, etc.
  • Documents that have not been signed/dated or not printed on letterhead
  • Documents that do not establish a connection or relationship to the individual requesting the administrative withdrawal (i.e. – medical document that does specifically indicate that student serves as primary caregiver for patient, etc.)

An administrative withdrawal will not be granted if the documentation does not substantiate the reason that was presented as the basis for the request. Approval of the request will be at the discretion of the Dean of the Division from which the course originates. Additionally, it should be noted that the submission of a request for an administrative withdrawal, does not guarantee that the request will be approved.

Disability Services

The following are examples of statements that you are encouraged to include on course syllabi as a means of informing students with disabilities about services available to them at the college. If you require more information, please feel free to contact this office.

  1. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for students with physical, sensory, systemic, cognitive, learning, and psychiatric disabilities. Contact the instructor regarding the necessary steps that must be taken to set this up.
  1. Students with disabilities: as required by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, appropriate accommodations will be made for students with documented disabilities. If you have a disability requiring accommodation in this class, please notify the instructor as soon as possible. This information will be kept confidential.
  1. Students who have any disability that might affect their performance in this class are encouraged to seek assistance from the instructor at the beginning of the semester.
  1. If there is any student with a disability condition that requires accommodation in this class, please feel free to come and discuss this with me.

When a student responds to this statement, make note of their concern and refer them to Disability Services in CC234 – extension 4058.