III. Instruction

The Syllabus: What to Include

Many aspects of undergraduate instruction are governed by the University Faculty Senate and University policies. These regulations, titled The University Faculty Senate Policies for Students, can be found at www.psu.edu/ufs/policies. Every course must have a syllabus, though details vary somewhat depending on the level of the course and its purpose. The value and utility of a good syllabus should not be underestimated; it is a way of giving students a clear view of course purposes, requirements, and objectives, together with what students will be expected to learn. Further, a syllabus gives students basic information they need to know about the course. Confusion or problems can be prevented later in the semester by having information in writing from the start. The following list includes some basic information that must be provided in the syllabus along with other useful suggested information. (Asterisks indicate information that must be provided to students during the first ten calendar days of the semester.) Some related Faculty Senate rules have also been included.

Course Policies

[The following rule references are taken from the University publication University Faculty Senate Policies for Students.]

Attendance and lateness

Rule 42-27--Attendance: Class attendance by students is expected and encouraged. Instructors should provide opportunities to make up work for students who miss classes for regularly scheduled, University-approved curricular and extracurricular activities. Students who miss class due to legitimate, unavoidable reasons such as illness, injury, or family emergency should have the opportunity to make up evaluative events. While notifying the instructor in a timely manner is a key expectation, the senate policy does not mandate official documentation of student illness or other unavoidable reasons for absence. Instead the view is that as faculty engage students in mature practices and dialog--in place of requiring an official record of a funeral or doctor's office visit--students will rise to the occasion.

Class participation

Lab safety/health

*Grading

Rules 47-00, 48-00, and 49-00--Grading: These rules cover the basis for grades; the grading system for undergraduate students and candidates enrolled in M.D. programs; definitions of grades; the repeating of courses when a grade of D or F was received; failure to complete a course; corrected grades; deferred grades; no grades; grades for credit by examinations; symbols for course audits; academic integrity; research grades; and satisfactory/unsatisfactory grades.

*Examinations

Rule 44-10--Examination policies: Faculty members teaching and coordinating courses are responsible for determining the examination policy used in the courses. Written notification of the examination policies must be made available to students during the first ten calendar days of the semester or its equivalent.

*Evening examinations, if any

Rule 44-30--Evening exams for daytime courses: The holding of evening non-final examinations in courses that are not normally scheduled in the evening requires approval in advance by the dean or chancellor. Students must be informed during the first week of the semester if such examinations are to be expected.

*Academic integrity

Rule 49-20--Academic integrity: The rule defines academic integrity and the procedures to be followed in a charge of academic dishonesty. The instructor is responsible for providing a statement clarifying the application of academic integrity criteria to each course at the beginning of the semester.

Course Calendar/Schedule

Class meeting times

Rule 34-83--Rescheduling a course: Changes in class meeting times must be approved by the dean of the college or the chancellor.

Topic outline for the course

Dates for exams/quizzes

Rule 44-25--Final exam conflicts: Students should follow the procedures described in the rule when they have two or more final examinations scheduled at the same time [conflict final examinations], or three or more final examinations scheduled on any one calendar day or in three consecutive examination periods [overload conflict].

Dates for major assignments

Required special events

Course Materials

1) Textbook title, author(s), edition

2) Availability of textbook in library or on reserve

3) Supplementary readings, required or recommended

4) Supplementary readings location (library or bookstore)

5) Internet materials

Instructor Information

1) Instructor's full name and title

2) Office location and phone number

3) Office hours

4) Phone number (or where to leave messages)

5) Electronic mail address

6) Home phone number (optional)

7) Instructor's accessibility (e.g., hours when permissible to call at home)

8) Teaching assistants' names, phone numbers, and office addresses

Available Support Services (if applicable)

1) Library - www.libraries.psu.edu/

2) Learning Centers - www.ulc.psu.edu/

3) Labs - Refer to specific college Web site for information

4) Technology - http://its.psu.edu/

For a sample model of a syllabus, refer to The Penn State Teacher II.

 

Questions regarding web issues, please contact Shannon Dennison, slf5@psu.edu