• Instructor (and TA) Information 
  • Course title, course number, unique number (available in the Course Schedule), course time, and semester
  • Class location
  • Your name, office location, phone number, e-mail address, and office hours
    • Instructor's office location and hours are not required on the publicly posted version of the syllabus 
  • Teaching assistants’ names, office locations, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and office hours
    • Listing of office locations and hours for TAs should not be included on the publicly available version of the syllabus, since this may be a violation of FERPA
  • URL for course Web site (if any) 
• Course Description
  • Overview of class, including prerequisites and subject matter of each lecture or discussion
  • Academic learning goals and objectives for the course and how they will be assessed – find detailed handout at http://ctl.utexas.edu/teaching-resources/design-for-specific-learning/
  • Prerequisites or co-requisites 
• Assignments, Assessment, and Evaluation
  • A brief descriptive overview of all major course requirements and assignments
  • Description in detail of grading policy and criteria (how many quizzes, tests, papers; weighting of each; amount of homework, etc.)
  • Attendance and tardiness policy and whether class attendance is used in determining the grade
  • Exam dates, due dates for homework, projects, etc. that count 20% or more of the course grade
  • Date and time of final exam when available 
    • Spring 2014 final exam times are available at http://registrar.utexas.edu/schedules/142/finals; if you plan to use the final exam time, notify Ben Fest at b.e.n@austin.utexas.edu as soon as possible so that he may schedule an appropriate space
  • A list of required and recommended materials, such as textbooks, image collections, audio and audiovisual materials, supplies, articles, chapters, and excerpts, as appropriate, identified by author, title, and publisher. 
• Documented Disability Statement 
  • Students with disabilities may request appropriate academic accommodations from the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, Services for Students with Disabilities at 471-6259 (voice) or 232-2937 (video phone) or http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd.
  • Sample statement:

    • The University of Texas provides on request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. At the beginning of the semester, students who need special accommodations should notify the instructor by presenting a letter prepared by the Service for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Office. Disabilities range from visual, hearing, and movement impairments to Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, psychological disorders (bipolar disorder, depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, etc.), and chronic health conditions (diabetes, multiple sclerosis, cancer, etc.). These also include from temporary disabilities such as broken bones, recovery from surgery, etc. For more information, contact Services for Students with Disabilities at (512) 471-6259 [voice], (866) 329-3986 [video phone], via e-mail at ssd@austin.utexas.edu, or visit: http://ddce.utexas.edu/disability/.

• • Occupants of buildings on The University of Texas at Austin campus are required to 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.
  • Link to information regarding emergency evacuation routes and emergency procedures can be found at: www.utexas.edu/emergency 
• Attendance policy
• Late assignment policy
• Class participation policy
• Response time for emails
• Evidence-Based Practices: Based on research findings concerning best practices in course design, we recommend that you include in the syllabus statements addressing these critical topics. 
  • Course Description
    • Formal (catalog) description

• • • Clearly spell out what will be used to interface with the students in your class (for example, Blackboard, CLIPs, instructor’s personal Web site, etc.). Faculty don’t all use the same resources, so identify them for each class. (See the sample statement Use of Blackboard in Class below.)
    • Location of instructor’s course packet and price 
    • Supplies needed (calculators, disks, CDs, lab supplies, art supplies, clickers, etc.)
    • Information on how to access e-reserves 
  • Classroom Policies
    • Civility statement and code of conduct (see Syllabus Template document on CTL Web site at http://ctl.utexas.edu/teaching-resources/design-your-course/create-your-syllabus/ )
    • List of critical dates for class administration (last day to drop without penalty, exam dates, etc.)
    • Subject-to-change notice
    • Ground rules for participation in discussions or activities 
  • Assignments, Assessment, and Evaluation
    • Policy concerning homework (grading, posting, late policy, etc.)
    • Policy concerning make-up exams 
    • Policy concerning late assignments
    • Preliminary information on term papers or projects, with due dates 
  • Important Dates 
    • Last day of the official add/drop period (fall 2011: Aug. 29) 
    • Last day to drop a class without possible academic penalty. (fall 2011: Sept. 21)
    • Academic Advising dates (Oct. 20-21, 24-26)
    • Spring 2011 registration (Oct. 24 – Nov. 4)
    • Final exams (fall 2011: Dec. 7-10, 12-13) – (Final exam date for your specific class(es) are available at http://registrar.utexas.edu/students/exams/)
  • Resources for Learning & Life at UT Austin
    • The University of Texas has numerous resources for students to provide assistance and support their learning and well being: 
      • Sanger Learning and Career Center: http://lifelearning.utexas.edu/ 
      • Undergraduate Writing Center: http://uwc.utexas.edu/
      • Counseling & Mental Health Center: http://cmhc.utexas.edu/
      • University Health Services: http://healthyhorns.utexas.edu/
      • Career Exploration Center: http://www.utexas.edu/student/careercenter/
      • Student Emergency Services: http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/emergency/
      • UTBox (free cloud storage and data sharing): http://www.utexas.edu/its/cloudstorage/
      • Division of Recreational Sports: http://www.utrecsports.org/

Other Syllabi Resources for Instructors

• Use past syllabi as a reference
  
  • Syllabi for undergraduate courses are available at https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/student/coursedocs/nlogon/
• Visit The Center for Teaching & Learning's page on writing a syllabus: http://ctl.utexas.edu/teaching/course_design/syllabus
  • There is a syllabus template on this page
  • CTL staff are also available for feedback on your syllabi, observing your class, gathering feedback from your students, and more