The University is encouraging all faculty to teach 100% online through Jan. 28. Please note, faculty are not required to and do not need to offer dual-mode instruction (teaching in person while simultaneously broadcasting to remote students) during that time. Furthermore, you do not need to take any additional steps for approval to transition your course to 100% online instruction through Jan 28.
If you have specific questions or need 1:1 support with pedagogy or instructional technology, please submit a request here, or sign up for Office Hours with Julie Schell.
Please remember to check in on your students’ health and wellness this semester. CoFA has a dedicated CARE counselor available for faculty and staff who may need to talk about concerns for a student, especially students who may be in distress.
In addition, the following workshops to support remote instruction will be offered. Sessions will be recorded.
- Online and Remote Teaching Refresher: Tuesday, Jan 11, 2–3:15 p.m.: Register Here
- Hybrid Dual-Mode Basic Do’s and Dont's: Wednesday, Jan 12, 11–12:15 p.m. Register Here
Please refer to CoFA's Spring 2022 Semester Start Memo, the information is provided through the link or read below:
Spring 2022 - COFA Semester Start Guide
- https://t.e2ma.net/message/ztcklg/rn68gib
- https://t.e2ma.net/message/7d4fxc/v01r6bk
- https://t.e2ma.net/message/7dkcxc/b1o66bk
Syllabus Information and Help
- Upload your syllabus to Canvas and to this shared Box folder by the first day of class.
- These are the requirements of all syllabi: UT Austin Syllabus Requirements
- These are the templates from UT Austin: UT Austin Fall 2021 syllabus templates
- These are the CoFA recommendations: CoFA Syllabus Language Recommendations
- CoFA strongly encourages all faculty include clear statements about their instructional mode in their syllabus. Please do reach out to students as soon as possible to help them understand how and when the class will meet.
- Dr. Schell offered a helpful session this summer on Creating Your Online/Hybrid Syllabus. Please find the box link to the recording along with her slides.
Syllabi Requirements
The policy and information on House Bill 2504, which requires the public posting of course syllabi and instructor-of-record curricula vitae, is available on the Provost's website.
The Faculty Innovation Center outlines required content and offers some additional tips on an effective syllabus. Sample syllabi are also available from Academic Affairs.
The General Information Catalog also posts Class Syllabi Required Information:
As specified in the GIC, to the extent practicable the syllabus provided to students on or before the first day of class must include the following information:
- Course number and title;
- Instructor’s name, office location, and office hours (note: office location is optional for the public version);
- Names, office locations, and office hours of any teaching assistants (note: do not include in the public version);
- Overview of the class including prerequisites, subject matter of each lecture or discussion, and learning outcomes for the course and how they will be assessed;
- Grading policy, including the means of evaluation and assignment of class grades, including whether plus and minus grades will be used for the final class grade and whether and, if so, how attendance will be used in determining the course grade;
- A brief descriptive overview of all major course requirements and assignments, along with the dates of exams and assignments that count for 20 percent or more of the class grade;
- A list of required and recommended course 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 Canvas site or website, if any; and
- A notice that students with disabilities may request appropriate academic accommodations from the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement (DDCE), Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at http://ddce.utexas.edu/disability. (Suggested wording available here.)
- Note that instructors should not use the syllabus to limit in any way a student’s right to receive or deliver an accommodation letter or to request accommodation. Concerns about a particular student’s situation may be discussed with the director of SSD.
Instructors of undergraduate courses are required to submit a course syllabus and curriculum vitae to their departmental office or dean's office (in non-departmentalized colleges/schools) by the first day of classes each semester. The administrative units must upload instructor CVs and syllabi of undergraduate courses to the University's public website no later than seven days after the first day of classes. Faculty members who utilize Canvas should separately upload syllabi to the learning management system. Listing of office location, office hours, and teaching assistant information is not required for the publicly available version of the syllabus. Making undergraduate course information available to the public is mandated by HB 2504, passed by the 81st Texas Legislature (2009).
The following syllabus disclosures are not part of the GIC requirement. But they are often included in syllabi and are considered important for students as they engage with and navigate your course and the university. You are strongly encouraged to provide the following in your syllabus.
- Academic Integrity Expectations, which could include:
- A Statement of Policy on Academic Integrity and other guidelines such as rules relating to assessment, as described here;
- A link to the UT Austin Standards of Conduct;
- Explicit guidance on allowed and forbidden collaboration and/or support, for each type of assessment in your syllabus;
- Teaching Modality Information to clearly explain how each class meeting and office hours will be conducted. Modalities could include fully online (asynchronous or a combination of synchronous/asynchronous learning), in-person (requires in-person attendance), or hybrid (online plus optional in-person class time).
- Confidentiality of Class Recordings – If class recordings are to be made available to the class (via Zoom, Panopto, or any other means), UT Legal has indicated that the following language should be included in the syllabus:
“Class recordings are reserved only for students in this class for educational purposes and are protected under FERPA. The recordings should not be shared outside the class in any form. Violation of this restriction by a student could lead to Student Misconduct proceedings.”
- Flag Courses – Instructors teaching courses that carry one or more of the Skills and Experience Flags are requested to include the wording found in this link in their syllabus.
- Other Recommended Disclosures
- Required Devices – Any devices, especially computers or other electronic devices, that are needed to succeed in the course;
- Asking for Help – How best to access or ask questions of the instructor (and teaching assistants) outside of class time;
- Making Up Missed Work – Policies and procedures around makeup assignments;
- Names and Personal Pronouns – Pronouns used by the instructor and teaching assistants, as well as encouragement to indicate their own names and pronouns.
- Other temporary syllabus additions that may be requested from time to time by the Provost’s Office (e.g., those related to COVID)
The following additional information and disclosures may be helpful to students and could be included in the syllabus at instructor discretion. In the interest of length, you may prefer to provide links, where applicable, rather than the full text.
- Statement of Learning Success – For example:
“Your success in this class is important to me. We all learn differently, and everyone struggles sometimes. You are not, ever, the only one! If there are aspects of this course that prevent you from learning or exclude you, please let me know as soon as possible. Together we’ll develop strategies to meet both your needs and the requirements of the course. I also encourage you to reach out to the student resources available through UT, and I am happy to connect you with a person or Center if you would like.”
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – For example:
“It is my intent that students from all diverse backgrounds and perspectives be well served by this course, that students’ learning needs be addressed, and that the diversity that students bring to this class can be comfortably expressed and be viewed as a resource, strength and benefit to all students. Please come to me at any time with any concerns.”
- Title IX Disclosure regarding availability of support and state law reporting requirements, as provided here;
- Getting Help with Technology
This support will vary by department, unit, and course modality, making it confusing for students. A statement such as the following, tailored to your context, would help students who encounter difficulties: “Students needing help with technology in this course should contact the ITS Service Desk or <your local support unit(s)>.”
- Classroom Expectations
- Class attendance – Your expectations for attendance, with the rationale and the consequences for not attending if there are any. (Note that attendance that is included in grading is a required disclosure, above.)
- Class participation – Your expectations for participation, with the rationale and how they can succeed. (Note that participation that is included in grading is a required disclosure, above.)
- Behavior expectations – Guidelines and ground rules for appropriate behavior. You can reference a class-specific code of conduct (some instructors ask students to write this during the first week of class) or, more formally and officially, Section 11-400 of the Institutional Rules in the GIC .
- Professional standards – The professional standards that may apply to the subject being studied in your course.
- Content Warning
To let students know that a course contains materials or subjects that are potentially inflammatory or disturbing, an instructor may wish to include wording similar to the following:
“Our classroom provides an open space for the critical and civil exchange of ideas. Some readings and other content in this course will include topics that some students may find offensive and/or traumatizing. I’ll aim to forewarn students about potentially disturbing content and I ask all students to help to create an atmosphere of mutual respect and sensitivity.” Source
Further helpful discussion of content warnings can be found at this page.
- University Resources for Students
- Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). This is a required inclusion, above. It is repeated here to contribute to completeness of this list.
- Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC). For example:
“All of us benefit from support during times of struggle. Know you are not alone. If you or anyone you know is experiencing symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, academic concerns, loneliness, difficulty sleeping, or any other concern impacting your wellbeing – you are strongly encouraged to connect with CMHC. The Counseling and Mental Health Center provides a wide variety of mental health services to all UT students including crisis services, counseling services with immediate support and well-being resources. Additionally, CARE Counselors are located within the academic schools and colleges. These counselors get to know the concerns that are unique to their college’s students. For more information on CMHC, visit cmhc.utexas.edu or call 512-471-3515.” - University Health Services (UHS). For example:
“Your physical health and wellness are a priority. University Health Services is an on-campus high-quality medical facility providing care to all UT students. Services offered by UHS include general medicine, urgent care, a 24/7 nurse advice line, women’s health, sports medicine, physical therapy, lab and radiology services, COVID-19 testing and vaccinations and much more. For additional information, visit healthyhorns.utexas.edu or call 512-471-4955.”
- Sanger Learning Center. For example:
“Did you know that more than one-third of UT undergraduate students use the Sanger Learning Center each year to improve their academic performance? All students are welcome to take advantage of Sanger Center’s classes and workshops, private learning specialist appointments, peer academic coaching, and tutoring for more than 70 courses in 15 different subject areas. For more information, please visit Sanger Learning Center or call 512-471-3614 (JES A332).”
- Student Emergency Services (SES). For example:
“Student Emergency Services in the Office of the Dean of Students helps students and their families during difficult or emergency situations. Assistance includes outreach, advocacy, intervention, support, and referrals to relevant campus and community resources. If you need to be absent from class due to a family emergency, medical or mental health concern, or academic difficulty due to crisis or an emergency situation, you can work with Student Emergency Services. SES will document your situation and notify your professors.”
- Sharing of Course Materials Prohibited – Anyone concerned about the unauthorized sharing of their course materials through online sites should add the following warning to their syllabus. This is helpful to the office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity by having it explicitly communicated that you do not want this to occur.
“No materials used in this class, including, but not limited to, lecture hand-outs, videos, assessments (quizzes, exams, papers, projects, homework assignments), in-class materials, review sheets, and additional problem sets, may be shared online or with anyone outside of the class unless you have the instructor’s explicit, written permission. Unauthorized sharing of materials promotes cheating. UT is aware of the sites used for sharing materials, and any materials found online that are associated with you, or any suspected unauthorized sharing of materials, will be reported to Student Conduct and Academic Integrity in the Office of the Dean of Students. These reports can result in sanctions, including failure in the course.”
- Religious Holy Days – Whether or not it is included in the syllabus, the statement below is university policy as presented in the General Information Catalog. Some faculty members find it helpful to be more explicit about the temporal elements of the policy by specifying a minimum period for advance notice and for completion of the assignment. Whether or not notification is provided in the syllabus, the accommodation must be made, and it must be “reasonable.”
“A student who misses classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the observance of a religious holy day should inform the instructor as far in advance of the absence as possible so that arrangements can be made to complete an assignment within a reasonable period after the absence. A reasonable accommodation does not include substantial modification to academic standards, or adjustments of requirements essential to any program of instruction. Students and instructors who have questions or concerns about academic accommodations for religious observance or religious beliefs may contact the Office for Inclusion and Equity. The University does not maintain a list of religious holy days.”
- Names and Pronouns – Further discussion around this topic can be found at the UT Austin Gender and Sexuality Center. Syllabus wording might include something like the following example:
“Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender, gender variance, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student’s chosen (not legal) name, if you have provided one. If you wish to provide or update a chosen name, that can be done easily at this page. I will gladly honor your request to address you by your chosen name and by the gender pronouns you use. Please advise me of your pronouns early in the semester so that I may make appropriate notations in my records.”
- Land Acknowledgment – You may find suggested wording to “demonstrate respect for the historic and contemporary presence of Indigenous Peoples in Texas and, particularly, in the greater Austin area” at this page.
- Carrying of Handguns on Campus – Texas’ Open Carry law expressly prohibits a licensed to carry (LTC) holder from carrying a handgun openly on the campus of an institution of higher education such as UT Austin. Information about Campus Carry can be found at this link.
Depending on the instructor’s preferences, the following verbiage about Campus Carry could be used in their syllabus:
“Students in this class should be aware of the following university policies:
- Individuals who hold a license to carry are eligible to carry a concealed handgun on campus, including in most outdoor areas, buildings and spaces that are accessible to the public, and in classrooms.
- It is the responsibility of concealed-carry license holders to carry their handguns on or about their person at all times while on campus. Open carry is NOT permitted, meaning that a license holder may not carry a partially or wholly visible handgun on campus premises or on any university driveway, street, sidewalk or walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area.
- Students in this class who hold a license to carry are asked to review the university policy regarding campus carry.
- Depending on the instructor’s choice, they might also include:
- Per my right, I prohibit carrying of handguns in my personal office. Note that this information will also be conveyed to all students verbally during the first week of class. This written notice is intended to reinforce the verbal notification, and is not a “legally effective” means of notification in its own right.
- Campus Safety – For example:
The following are recommendations regarding emergency evacuation from the Office of Campus Safety and Security, 512-471-5767:
- Students should sign up for Campus Emergency Text Alerts at the page linked above.
- Occupants of buildings on The University of Texas at Austin campus must 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.
- For more information, please visit emergency preparedness.
- Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line, 512-232-5050:
- Option 1 – Behavior Concerns: Trained staff members are available 24 hours a day to assist the caller in exploring available options and strategies. If you have concerns about the safety or behavior of fellow students, TAs or Professors. You can remain anonymous. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Trust your instincts and share your concerns.
- Option 2 – COVID-19 Resources: Trained staff are available during business hours (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.), and will return urgent voice messages left Monday-Friday 5 – 10 p.m. or over the weekend to answer COVID-19 questions and connect students, staff and faculty with support and resources
- Confidentiality will be maintained as much as possible, however the university may be required to release some information to appropriate parties