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SUS Syllabus Checklist

CSI Staff

Staff Writer

Center for Support of Instruction

Category: » Semester-checklist » Sus-checklist

SCHOOL OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES SYLLABUS CHECKLIST

For use in review and development of a class syllabus.

These components of an effective syllabus should be included in all classes of the University Maryland University College, School of Undergraduate Studies. Please use this checklist to ensure that your syllabus is complete. In all matters, we strongly encourage you to contact your Academic Director or Assistant Dean for advice.

Faculty Contact Information

_______ Name

_______ Address (Optional)

_______ Phone number(s) (Optional. May include departmental telephone number.)

_______ E-mail address(es)

_______ Times when students may contact you

_______ How often students can expect you to check your e-mail, or within the online classroom
Teaching Assistant (T.A.) Contact Information (if the class has one)

_______ Name

_______ E-mail address(es)

_______ Times when students may contact the T.A.

Course Information

_______ Heading (University of Maryland University College)

_______ Course number, section, title, term, dates (including location, days, and times for
local classes)

_______ Required material(s) -- title(s), author(s), edition(s)

_______ Recommended materials (optional) with an explanation of how they may be used (for example, additional background for assignments, extra credit assignments)

_______ Course description (from UMUC catalog), goals, objectives, prerequisites

_______ How class activities and requirements support course goals, objectives, and UMUC cross-curricular initiatives

Schedule Information (Dates)

________ For the date of each class meeting, please specify: the subject matter or topics to be covered (e.g., lectures, field trips, guest lecturers). Be sure to include the pre-class readings and other non-graded assignments due.

________ Graded assignment due dates, preferably highlighted in bold or capitalized (e.g., homework, quizzes, papers, projects)

________ Exam dates, preferably highlighted

Grading Information (Assignments)

________ Description of key elements and criteria for research and writing assignments, group
work, oral presentations, problems, case analyses, quizzes, exams, and other
important class assignments

________ Course requirements (exams, quizzes, projects, papers) and the proportion each counts towards the final grade. Ensure that weights total 100%.

________ The final exam comprises 20-40% of the course grade.

________ Explanation of the content and format of each requirement, including exams (specifically state whether the exams are open or closed-book).

________ If teaching online, explanation of how online conferences will be graded

________ Grading scale and standards

________ Whether extra credit will be offered

________ Have the assignments been updated from use in previous semesters or other courses? Do they contain the correct information for this course and this semester?

Note: Please do not change the announced grading policy except in very special cases.
Policies

_______ Your policies regarding late work and return of final exams. (Note: if you do return exams, you must retain copies of each marked exam for six months.)

_______ Policy on makeup exams:

“Students are expected to take all exams when scheduled. In the event of
illness or extraordinary circumstances, the student must contact the faculty member and provide documentation to request an exception and approval to take a makeup exam. If the request is not approved, the exam grade will be recorded as a zero. Failure to register for a proctored exam is not an approved reason to request a makeup exam.”

_______ Your class participation policy. A grade may not be given for attendance. However, you may grade active class participation when integral to the learning process.
_______ Statements regarding UMUC's policy on academic integrity and grades of Incomplete.
_______ A statement about the UMUC policy of requiring students to produce photo
identification before taking an examination
_______ The following UMUC policy for students with disabilities:

"If you are a student with a disability who needs accommodations in this course, you must register with Veteran and Disabled Student Affairs. You will need to provide documentation of a disability and its impact on the course in order to receive accommodations. Please contact Veteran and Disabled Student Affairs at
301-985-7930 or 800-888-UMUC, extension 7930 or by email at vdsa@umuc.edu."

Additional Components

_______ If teaching online, explain the instructor's role in the online discussions in the conference area. For example, describe whether students should expect the instructor to respond to each student’s posting, to several students' postings in a single posting, or to individual postings plus a summary response to the entire class at the end of the week.

_______ Unique class procedures or structures, such as cooperative learning exercises, panel presentations, case study methods, class journals or learning logs, etc.

_______ If teaching face-to-face, explain how the supporting WebTycho classroom will be
used. Describe and distinguish between the required and optional uses of the
online classroom.

_______ The amount of time and work students should expect during the semester (for example, the number of hours per week). (Optional)

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