Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

Course Syllabus Guidelines

Every regularly scheduled academic course, regardless of delivery method (e.g., traditional, media-enhanced or Web) must have a syllabus that is distributed to students enrolled in the course in an appropriate written format. The syllabus should be posted electronically in the Blackboard site for the class or be handed out on the first day of class, and no later than the second day of class of the semester. If handed out in hard-copy form, it is recommended that it still be posted on Blackboard.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Criteria for Accreditation require that a syllabus be placed on file in the department for each course taught and that students must be provided written information about the goals and requirements of each course, the nature of the course content, and the methods of evaluation to be employed.

Syllabi inform students about what is expected of them to meet course requirements and regardless of the course type or delivery method should include:

1. Course title, number and description including credit hours and prerequisites (if any);
2. Name of and contact information for the instructor(s);
3. Course goals or objectives, requirements and methods of evaluation;
4. Class meeting schedule – dates, times and location(s);
5. Grading system including plus minus grades, class attendance policy – especially if attendance affects the students’ grades and make up exam policy;
6. Required and optional texts and other course materials;
7. Calendar of major course events and deadlines (e.g., due dates and exams, including the final exam); and
8. Information about or links to university information about academic deadlines, religious holidays, attendance, academic honesty and disability services.