College of Education Policies

Syllabus Checklist

Please use this checklist to determine whether your course syllabus includes all the information it should.

• Instructor's Name
• Instructor's Office Address
• Instructor's Office Hours and Other Contact Information
• Instructor's Telephone Number
• Instructor's Email Address

If the instructor is a teaching assistant, include information for the Course Supervisor.

• Course Supervisor's Name
• Course Supervisor's Office Address
• Course Supervisor's Office Hours
• Course Supervisor's Telephone Number
• Course Supervisor's Email Address

• Name of Department
• Location of Departmental Office
• Preferred Contact Information for the DEO

• College policy on student complaints and dispute resolution. See Student Complaint Procedures
• College policy on student academic misconduct (plagiarism and cheating). See Policy on Student Academic Misconduct
• Statement on accommodations for students with disabilities. See July 2007 memo from Provost's Office, Student Disability Services, and Assisting Students with Disabilities: A Guide for Instructors
• University policy on Sexual Harassment

• Goals and objectives for the course
• Grading procedures, including whether plus/minus grading will be used
• Expectations for attendance, assignments, and examinations
• Policy on testing and assignments for ESL speakers, if any
• Policy on testing and assignments for students whose religious holidays preclude taking tests or turning in assignments at the specified times. (If possible, tests should not be scheduled when students will be attending religious celebrations.) See Statement on Religious Diversity and the University Calendar (Section O). Dates of some major religious Holy Days can be found at IU Bloomington Religious Holidays Calendar.
• Dates and times of any exams scheduled outside of class time
• Date and time of final exam
  

• Schedule of topics, readings, and course materials or other description of course content
• Resources for obtaining additional help, such as tutors, teaching assistants, tutorial laboratories (if any)
• Schedule of topics to be covered (organized for each week)
• Methods of instruction (e.g., lectures, discussions, etc.)
• Textbooks and other required reading in correct bibliographical form for discipline
• Description of policies regarding informing students about sensitive or potentially disturbing information or activities
• Information specific to class (e.g., field trips, materials, fees

RECOMMENDED: Statement of the value of diversity for this class.

The following section, quoted from a faculty syllabus, might be a helpful example as you craft your own language for inclusion in your syllabus.

Respect for Diversity: It is my intent that students from all diverse backgrounds and perspectives be well-served by this course, that students' learning needs be addressed both in and out of class, and that the diversity that students bring to this class be viewed as a resource, strength and benefit. It is my intent to present materials and activities that are respectful of diversity: gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, culture, perspective, and other background characteristics. Your suggestions about how to improve the value of diversity in this course are encouraged and appreciated. Please let me know ways to improve the effectiveness of the course for you personally or for other students or student groups.

In addition, in scheduling exams, I have attempted to avoid conflicts with major religious holidays. If, however, I have inadvertently scheduled an exam or major deadline that creates a conflict with your religious observances, please let me know as soon as possible so that we can make other arrangements.

updated July 2007

POLICY & PROCEDURE QUESTIONS: Contact Judy Brewer.