BACK
 

SYLLABUS CREATION

You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.  

As you plan your courses, take a few minutes to reflect on what you should include in your syllabus.  By having an organized syllabus, you can let students know what is expected of them in your class, and how they can be successful.  Consider the syllabus as a contract between the students and yourself, the instructor.  Your policies for grading, late work, and attendance should be clear.  Give specific dates for assignments and topics to be covered.

Two important requirements for syllabi are student outcomes, and a statement regarding accommodations for students with disabilities.  All course syllabi must have the student outcomes listed as stated in the course outline.  If you need to know what the student outcomes are for your course, contact the Instruction Office.  

CHECKLIST OF CONTENT
Your name
Contact information, college's phone, your voice mail extension, and at your option, email, office hours, home phone.
Course title and number, meeting days and times, room location
Prerequisites for the course
Accommodations statement for students with disabilities - required, see suggestion below
Student outcomes - required
Description of the course from the college catalogue
Course goals and objectives
Required purchases: texts, workbooks, lab materials (include ISBN and year published)
Major assignments:  due dates and descriptions
Final exam place, date, and time
Grading standards and criteria
Your policy regarding late assignments
Your attendance policy
Topics to be covered in sequence with dates
Reading/outside assignments with due dates
Absence Policy
Library Information
Additional information as it pertains to your course:
    Why would a student want to take this course?
    Space for names and telephone numbers of at least two classmates.
    Important dates to remember (add/drop, withdraw, CR/NC, campus holidays)
    Policy regarding academic dishonesty
    Will the course be primarily lecture, discussion, or group work; or a combination?
    Your teaching philosophy, and thoughts about the discipline and course.
    What will the exams assess?
    Degrees and certificates related to your area

Sample DRC statement, contact the DRC for more ideas:
Students with disabilities who may need accommodations for this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) early in the quarter so that reasonable accommodations may be implemented as soon as possible.  Students may contact the DRC in room A205 or by phone at (530) 541-4660 ext. 249 (voice) or (530) 542-1870 (TTY for deaf).