SYLLABUS

ratified: Academic Council as amended, Sept. 27, 1991, Academic Dean, Sept. 30, 1991
last update: 11/99
archived versions:

A current syllabus for each course is necessary to assure the integrity of the instruction program. A syllabus communicates to several constituencies what the course is all about.

Among these constituencies are students, prospective students, counselors, librarians, faculty colleagues, administrators charged with evaluation of academic personnel and programs, and extra-institutional licensure and accreditation evaluators. Each of these constituencies--but most importantly, students--need to understand the purpose, scope and expectations of the course.

Responsibility for syllabus preparation rests with each instructor for the course(s) he/she teaches. By the end of the first week of each semester, each instructor is expected to provide a copy of the syllabus to each student registered for the course. Well before then, four copies are also to be filed with the office of the Academic Dean.

Syllabi are to be prepared in a standard format, as follows:

I. File Data

• Department, course number and title, and number of credits. Name of instructor and semester/year for which prepared. Office hours of the instructor.

II. Descriptive Data

Course description as approved for catalog.

• Course objectives - if needed to clarify catalog description, a brief narrative statement of purpose(s) of the course. May be stated in terms of outcomes expected of student.

• Course content - may be narrative or outline depending of preference of instructor; should specify areas of knowledge to be explored and skills to be developed.

• Text(s) - required and recommended. Must include a list of reading assignments and their dates.

Collateral readings and/or bibliography - may be attached.

Attendance requirements and/or expectations.

Final date to drop [withdraw] from the course.

III. Evaluation Criteria

• Grading criteria - full indication of all expectations that will affect students' grades, including, where appropriate, the weights to be assigned various factors.

• Indicate when exams will be administered and what areas will be covered.

• Specify any penalties or expectations regarding late papers, late assignments, etc.

• Final Exams - Final examinations are required in all courses and should be administered during the week designated in the Academic Calendar. Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Academic Dean.

• Copies of all final examinations should be sent to the Dean's office for inclusion in the syllabus file.

• Gender-biased references are to be avoided in the preparation of syllabi and other instructional materials.

See also Curriculum Sheets / Course Content Objectives