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Required Elements

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 
    • 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, since this may be a violation of FERPA
    • URL for course Web site (if any) 
  • Course Description
  • Assignments, Assessment, and Evaluation
    • A brief descriptive overview of all major course requirements and assignments
    • Description in detail of grading policy and criteria (how many quizzes, tests, papers; weighting of each; 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 20% or more of the course grade
    • Date and time of final exam when available 
    • A list of required and recommended materials, such as textbooks, image collections, audio and audiovisual materials, supplies, articles, chapters, and excerpts, as appropriate, identified by author, title, and publisher. 
  • 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://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd.
    • 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/.

Suggested Elements

  • 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.
    • Explanation or example of what constitutes plagiarism
  • 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. 
  • 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.
  • 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.
    • Familiarize yourself with all exit doors of each classroom and building you may occupy. Remember that the nearest exit door may not be the one you used when entering the building.
    • Students requiring assistance in evacuation shall inform their instructor in writing during the first week of class.
    • In the event of an evacuation, follow the instruction of faculty or class instructors.
    • Do not re-enter a building unless given instructions by the following: Austin Fire Department, The University of Texas at Austin Police Department, or Fire Prevention Services office.
    • Link to information regarding emergency evacuation routes and emergency procedures can be found at: www.utexas.edu/emergency 
  • Response time for emails
  • Evidence-Based Practices: Based on research findings concerning best practices in course design, we recommend that you include in the syllabus statements addressing these critical topics. 
    • Course Description
      • Formal (catalog) description
      • Clearly spell out what will be used to interface with the students in your class (for example, Blackboard, CLIPs, instructor’s personal Web site, etc.). Instructors use different resources, so identify them for each class. (See the sample statement Use of Blackboard in Class below.)
      • Location of instructor’s course packet and price 
      • Supplies needed (calculators, disks, CDs, lab supplies, art supplies, clickers, etc.)
      • Information on how to access e-reserves 
    • Classroom Policies
          • As a group of diverse individuals with various backgrounds including those influenced by ethnicity, gender, sex, physical abilities, religious and political beliefs, national origins, sexual orientations, and more, we will strive to learn from each other in an atmosphere of positive engagement and mutual respect. Language and behavior designed to belittle and/or humiliate one another based on our individual backgrounds damages this atmosphere, and its use will not go unchallenged. We stress that this policy does not discourage the contribution of any and all opinions to the classroom environment, but rather is designed to encourage an environment of civility and mutual respect.
      • List of critical dates for class administration (last day to drop without penalty, exam dates, etc.)
        • Last day of the official add/drop period (fall 2011: Aug. 29) 
        • Last day to drop a class without possible academic penalty. (fall 2011: Sept. 21)
        • Academic Advising dates (Oct. 20-21, 24-26)
        • Spring 2011 registration (Oct. 24 – Nov. 4)
        • Final exams (fall 2011: Dec. 7-10, 12-13) – (Final exam date for your specific class(es) are available at http://registrar.utexas.edu/students/exams/)

Other Syllabi Resources for Instructors

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