Accessible Syllabus Template
In order to ensure success in your class, your syllabus should be made accessible to all students. The template below offers an example of an accessible syllabus that uses a sans-serif font (Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, etc.) and contains proper headings and color contrast ratios throughout the entire document. Click the button below for a downloadable template to use for your own classes.
Your Course Name & Number Here
Semester _________
Instructor:__________________
Email: __________________
Office: __________________
Office Hours:__________________
Coutse Description and Objectives
Provide a brief overview of your course, including course objectives you plan to cover. Things to include:
- Days/times the course meets
- Location of class meetings
- Any prerequisite or co-requisite courses
Learning Outcomes
Include 4-6 learning outcomes. These are specific, measurable goals that encapsulate the skills and knowledge students will gain by completing the course. Include language from Bloom’s Taxonomy:
- Create
- Evaluate
- Analyze
- Apply
- Understand
- Remember
Required Texts
Provide students with information on any materials they’ll need for the course. Make sure to note whether materials are required or optional, where they can be found (MSU Bookstore, online, etc.), and any specific versions or editions required. Additionally, you should list any technology students will need for your class. Provide links, if appropriate.
Grading Policy and Scheme:
Provide a list of assignments that will be graded in the course, including the number of possible earned points. This will help students understand how they will be assessed, as well as provide them with clarity and organization.
Example:
Participation/attendance 100
Weekly Canvas Quizes 200
Essay #1 100
Essay #2 100
Essay #3 100
Research Project 200
Final Exam 200
Total 1000
Late Work Policy
Include your policy on late work to alleviate pushback during the semester.
Example: To avoid losing points for submitting work late after the due date, you must notify me ahead of time with a valid reason such as medical, family, pet emergency or athletic event, for being late with your work. If there is a repeated pattern of submitting late work, points will be deducted. If you do not notify me ahead of time, 5 points will be deducted for each day late. If a significant amount of work needs to be made up, documentation of a valid reason will need to be provided to be approved for that.
Attendance Policy
Clearly outline your attendance policy so students understand its impact on their grade.
Disability Accommodations
If you are a student with a disability and wish to use your approved accommodations for this course, contact me during my office hours to discuss. Please have your Accommodation Notification available for verification of accommodations. Accommodations are approved through the Office of Disability Services located in 137 Romney Hall. www.montana.edu/disabilityservices.
Optional Things to Include
Policy on how AI can/cannot be used
Clearly outline how students can/cannot utilize AI in your course.
Use of Canvas LMS
When/where you’ll post content, how the should submit assignments, how often they’ll be taking quizzes, how soon after assignments you’ll post grades, etc.
Teaching Philosophy
Consider including a teaching philosophy statement for why you teach the way you do.
Rationale and Purpose for Each Assignment/Quiz
Connect individual assignments/quizzes with Learning Outcomes defined earlier.
Support Resources
If you need help with your writing and the assigned papers in this course, The Writing Center has resources and tutors available to support you. Since writing is a major component of this course, I encourage you to take advantage of these services.
MSU strives to create a culture of support and recognizes that your mental health and wellness are equally as important as your physical health. We want you to know that it’s OK if you experience difficulty, and there are several resources on campus to help you succeed emotionally, personally, and academically:
- Counseling & Psychological Services: https://www.montana.edu/counseling/
- Health Advancement: http://www.montana.edu/oha/
- Insight Program (Substance Use): http://www.montana.edu/oha/insight/
- Suicide Prevention: https://www.montana.edu/suicide-prevention/
- Medical Services: https://www.montana.edu/health/medical.html
- WellTrack wellness app: https://montana.welltrack.com
- Mental Health Screening: https://screening.mentalhealthscreening.org/montanastateuniv
- Let’s Talk drop-in services: https://www.montana.edu/counseling/letstalk.html
Academic Misconduct Policy
Students writing in an academic setting are responsible for approaching all assignments with rigor, integrity, and in compliance with the University Code of Student Conduct. This responsibility includes:
- consulting and analyzing sources that are relevant to the topic of inquiry;
- clearly acknowledging when they draw from the ideas/phrasing of those sources in their own writing;
- learning & using appropriate citation conventions within the field in which they are studying;
- asking their instructor for guidance when they are uncertain of how to acknowledge the contributions of others in their thinking and writing.
When students fail to adhere to these responsibilities, they may intentionally or unintentionally “use someone else’s language, ideas, or other original (not common knowledge) material without properly acknowledging its source” (http://www.wpacouncil.org). If intentional, the student has engaged in plagiarism.
Plagiarism is an act of academic misconduct that carries with it consequences including but not limited to receiving a course grade of “F” and a report to the Office of the Dean of Students. Unfortunately, it is not always clear if the misuse of sources is intentional or unintentional, which means that you may be accused of plagiarism even if you do not intentionally plagiarize. If you have any questions regarding use and citation of sources in your academic writing, you are responsible for consulting with your instructor before the assignment due date.
In addition, you can work with an MSU Writing Center tutor at any point in your writing process, including when you are integrating or citing sources. You can make an appointment and find citation resources at www.montana.edu/writingcenter.
For more infomration on creating successful syllabi, or to schedule a 1-on-1 meeting, please contact a CFE Instructional Designer.
