Required Elements
University and state policy dictates that all syllabi be made available to students by the first day of class and include the following:
- The course number and title
- The instructor's name, office location, and office hours
- Instructor's office location and hours are not required on the publicly posted version of the syllabus.
- If there are teaching assistants for the class, their names, office locations, 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.
- An overview of the class, including prerequisites, the subject matter of each lecture or discussion, as well as the academic/learning goals for the course and how they will be assessed
- Grading policy, including the means of evaluation and assignment of course grades, including whether plus and minus grades will be used for final course grades, and whether attendance will be used for determining the final course grade
- A brief descriptive overview o f all major course requirements and assignments, along with the dates of exams and assignments that count for 20 percent or more ofthe class grade
- 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
- Final exam date and time (when available)
- The class web site, if any
- A notice that students with disabilities may request appropriate academic accommodations from the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, Services for Students with Disabilities, 512-471-6259, http://ddce.utexas.edu/disability/
Suggested Elements
A notice regarding academic dishonesty. UT Honor Code (or statement of ethics) and an explanation or example of what constitutes plagiarism (Link to University Honor Code: http://catalog.utexas.edu/general-information/the-university/)
A notice regarding accommodations for religious holidays. (Sample statement "By UT Austin policy, you must notify me ofyour 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, you will be given an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time after the absence.")
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.
- Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL): 512-232-5050
- Link to information regarding emergency evacuation routes and emergency procedures can be found at: www.utexas.edu/emergency