Below are the required and suggested elements of course syllabi. It is also good to put this information (specifically anything with a hyperlink) on your course's Blackboard or Canvas site.
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University and state policy dictates that all syllabi be made available to students by the first day of class and online (see Syllabi and CV Submission for instructions). All syllabi must also include the following:
- Instructor (and TA) Information
- Course title, course number, unique number (available in the Course Schedule), course time, and semester
- Class location
- Your name, office location, phone number, e-mail address, and office hours
- Instructor's office location and hours are not required on the publicly posted version of the syllabus (i.e. the one you submit for online posting)
- Teaching assistants’ names, office locations, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and office hours
- Listing of office locations and hours for TAs should not be included on the publicly available version of the syllabus (i.e. the one you submit for online posting), since this may be a violation of FERPA
- URL for course Web site (if any)
- Course Description
- Overview of class, including prerequisites and subject matter of each lecture or discussion
- Academic learning goals and objectives for the course and how they will be assessed
- Find help with developing these at http://ctl.utexas.edu/node/270
- Prerequisites or co-requisites
- Assignments, Assessment, and Evaluation
- A brief descriptive overview of all major course requirements and assignments
- Description in detail of grading policy and criteria
- The number of quizzes, tests, and papers, the weighting of each, the amount of homework, etc.
- Attendance and tardiness policy and whether class attendance is used in determining the grade
- Exam dates, due dates for homework, projects, etc. that count as 20% or more of the course grade
- Date and time of final exam when available
- Spring 2014 final exam times are available at http://registrar.utexas.edu/schedules/142/finals; if you plan to use your course's final exam time, notify Ben Fest at b.e.n@austin.utexas.edu as soon as possible so that he may schedule an appropriate space
- A list of required and recommended materials, such as textbooks, image collections, audio and audiovisual materials, supplies, articles, chapters, and excerpts identified by author, title, and publisher
- If this course is for Theatre & Dance majors, be sure to include the policy about Proof of Attendance Receipts as well as the specific way(s) in which attendance will impact their grades
- See the Proof of Production Attendance ReceiptsPolicy page for more information and a sample statement
- If you are the instructor for TD301 (Introduction to Theatre), it is the policy of the Department of Theatre and Dance that your students are required to attend one department production during the semester; as such, this requirement must be listed in the syllabus for this course
- How this attendance is worked into the coursework and how it impacts students' grades is up to the instructor
- The Proof of Attendance Receipts maynot be used as verification of attendance for the non-majors in these courses
- Documented Disability Statement
- Students with disabilities may request appropriate academic accommodations from the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, Services for Students with Disabilities at 471-6259 (voice) or 232-2937 (video phone) or http://ddce.utexas.edu/disability/.
- Sample statement:
The University of Texas provides on request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. At the beginning of the semester, students who need special accommodations should notify the instructor by presenting a letter prepared by the Service for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Office. Disabilities range from visual, hearing, and movement impairments to Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, psychological disorders (bipolar disorder, depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, etc.), and chronic health conditions (diabetes, multiple sclerosis, cancer, etc.). These also include from temporary disabilities such as broken bones, recovery from surgery, etc. For more information, contact Services for Students with Disabilities at (512) 471-6259 [voice], (866) 329-3986 [video phone], via e-mail at ssd@austin.utexas.edu, or visit: http://ddce.utexas.edu/disability/.
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- Notice regarding academic dishonesty
- Honor Code or statement of ethics
- University of Texas Honor Code: The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the university is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and community.
- Sample statement:
- Academic dishonesty, including plagiarism, is an offense which we and UT take very seriously. The penalties for academic dishonesty in this course will begin at (whatever minimum penalty you determine) and can be as severe as suspension or expulsion from the University. A link to the Scholastic Dishonesty Information from the Dean of Students is located on the course Blackboard site.
- Academic dishonesty, including plagiarism, is an offense which we and UT take very seriously. The penalties for academic dishonesty in this course will begin at (whatever minimum penalty you determine) and can be as severe as suspension or expulsion from the University. A link to the Scholastic Dishonesty Information from the Dean of Students is located on the course Blackboard site.
- Explanation or example of what constitutes plagiarism
- Web site for more information: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/services/instruction/learningmodules/plagiarism
- Honor Code or statement of ethics
- Religious Holy Days
- Sample statement:
- By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of your pending absence at least fourteen days prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, an examination, a work assignment, or a project in order to observe a religious holy day, I will give you an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time after the absence.
- Sample statement:
- Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL)
- Sample statement:
- If you are worried about someone who is acting differently, you may use the Behavior Concerns Advice Line to discuss by phone your concerns about another individual’s behavior. This service is provided through a partnership among the Office of the Dean of Students, the Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC), the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and The University of Texas Police Department (UTPD). Call 512-232-5050 or visit http://www.utexas.edu/safety/bcal.
- Sample statement:
- The following recommendations regarding emergency evacuation from the Office of Campus Safety and Security (512-471-5767, http://www.utexas.edu/safety/):
- Occupants of buildings on The University of Texas at Austin campus are required to evacuate buildings when a fire alarm is activated. Alarm activation or announcement requires exiting and assembling outside.
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