Syllabus Guidelines
Clarify Regular and Effective Contact in your syllabus
Your syllabus should clarify how you will comply with regular and effective contact requirements. This will also help evaluators assess regular and effective contact in your course.
This syllabus template Download syllabus template (docx) highlights the sections required/recommended for online classes. See below for details.
Regular and Effective Contact Policy
We suggest you include a policy in your syllabus with:
- several methods of contact (email, phone, Zoom, etc.)
- your expected response time
- how you will provide regular and effective interaction
Example:
COMMUNICATION AND CONTACT
I’m looking forward to working with you this semester and you can expect me to be active in the course. I’ll post announcements every week, offer office hours (online via Zoom as requested), facilitate class discussions and peer review in Canvas, and provide timely feedback on all assignments via rubrics, comments, Zoom conferences, and screencasts. Please reach out to me if you want help - that’s why I’m here!
Please use the Canvas Inbox for personal questions and Canvas discussion for general questions. You can expect to hear back from me by the next business day. I'm also available during office hours or by appointment in person, online (via Zoom), or by phone (660-xxxx).
Attendance/Drop Policy
Your attendance policy should define online attendance in terms of academic engagement rather than logging in.
Example:
Weekly attendance/participation is required. Attendance in an online course or online portion of a hybrid course is determined by participation in online learning activities (quizzes, discussions, and assignments). Students who don’t complete the first week assignments or are absent for 2 weeks or more may be dropped. Let me know right away if you can’t fully participate. Plan to check Canvas at least twice a week.
Other guidelines for the online syllabus
- Include a grading policy that clarifies how to turn work in and what happens if work is late.
- Include Student Learning Outcomes copied from the current course outline of record Links to an external site..
For details, please see the Academic Senate Links to an external site. syllabus guidelines and Syllabus Examples Links to an external site..
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