Working with Your Syllabus

Course Design. The first thing to consider as you begin to write the syllabus is how you plan to design the course. Will you integrate assignments that require higher order thinking? What are the goals of the course?There may also be situational factors to consider when designing your course such as accreditation, the make-up of your students, and departmental requirements. These are all things to think about as you design the course.

Backwards Course Design. Often, course design is driven by the content that needs to be covered during the semester. While this is an understandable approach, it has a few drawbacks: the content of a course or textbook doesn't address learning styles, and there is little room for student engagement beyond asking questions during the lecture or turning in written assignments. Backwards course design starts with the end goals of the course in mind. It leads you to ask the question, "What skills and knowledge do I want my students to walk away with after the course is over?"

To design your course using this method, follow these steps:

1. Decide what big ideas and important skills student should take away from the course and write corresponding learning outcomes.
2. Decide how to measure whether students have achieved these learning outcomes.
3. Design learning experiences based on the learning outcomes and how you plan to measure them.
4. Order the learning experiences into a developmental sequence and organize the course content around them.

By building your class around big ideas and important skills--and by following the steps above--you will create a more engaging learning environment and promote deep and active learning in your students.

Syllabus Design. The syllabus should map out plans for the semester, including approximate due dates for assignments and exams. It is good practice to tell students that the schedule is a guide for the semester and is subject to minor modification as the course develops.

Senior faculty, the department chair, or the faculty member who supervises a particular course are all good sources of information about required content. Some departments, for example, have a list of learning outcomes for a particular course, or a textbook that all instructors are expected to use. Most faculty are happy to share their syllabi and won't mind letting new instructors copy useful passages (although you should ask permission before doing so).

A copy of the syllabus should be turned in to the department administrative assistant during the first week of the semester, along with a separate listingof office hours. Ask the department’s administrative staff, chair, or faculty mentor about the UNT Faculty Profile System (https://faculty.unt.edu). To comply with state law, you must upload all syllabi by the 7th class day. You also need to upload a copy of your curriculum vita to the Faculty Profile System before the semester begins.

The university requires consistent elements in each syllabus including a brief description of each major course requirement, each major assignment and examination, learning objectives, required/recommended reading, and a general description of the subject matter of each lecture or discussion. Other areas that should be covered include:

• Title and section number of the course
• Instructor’s name, office number, office telephone number, and e-mail address
• Office/consultation hours
• Required or recommended textbooks, workbooks, and other supplies (such as clickers)
• Course goals
• Grading policy (relative weights of components of the grade)
• Academic dishonesty policy
• Attendance policy
• Semester drop dates
• Retention of student records policy
• Policy on accepting late work
• Other policies about conduct in class and on online forums
• Course content by topics and dates
• Reading assignments
• Approximate test dates
• Deadlines for turning in assignments
• Disability accommodation statement
• SETE (Student Evaluation of Teaching) information
• Other items required by the academic unit
  • Note: For online courses, the syllabus must include information for F1 visa holders. Requirements and recommendations may be found at http://clear.unt.edu/f1visa.

The following provisions are standard language for syllabi at UNT. Include them (modified to fit your particular department, college, school, or circumstances) on your syllabus as a way of effectively and consistently communicating important university policies to your students.

Academic Integrity

Students caught cheating or plagiarizing will receive a "0" for that particular assignment or exam [or specify alternative sanction, such as course failure]. Additionally, the incident will be reported to the Dean of Students, who may impose further penalty. According to the UNT catalog, the term "cheating" includes, but is not limited to: a. use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations; b. dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; c. the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a faculty or staff member of the university; d. dual submission of a paper or project, or resubmission of a paper or project to a different class without express permission from the instructor(s); or e. any other act designed to give a student an unfair advantage. The term "plagiarism" includes, but is not limited to: a. the knowing or negligent use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment; and b. the knowing or negligent unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.

Acceptable Student Behavior

Student behavior that interferes with an instructor’s ability to conduct a class or other students' opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom and the instructor may refer the student to the Dean of Students to consider whether the student's conduct violated the Code of Student Conduct. The university's expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including university and electronic classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The Code of Student Conduct can be found at http://deanofstudents.unt.edu.

Access to Information - Eagle Connect

Your access point for business and academic services at UNT occurs at http://www.my.unt.edu. All official communication from the university will be delivered to your Eagle Connect account. For more information, please visit the website that explains Eagle Connect and how to forward your e-mail: http://eagleconnect.unt.edu/

ADA Statement

The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at http://disability.unt.edu. You may also contact them by phone at (940) 565-4323.

Course Safety Statement (For Laboratory Courses)

Students in the are urged to use proper safety procedures and guidelines. While working in laboratory sessions, students are expected and required to identify and use proper safety guidelines in all activities requiring lifting, climbing, walking on slippery surfaces, using equipment and tools, handling chemical solutions and hot and cold products. Students should be aware that the University of North Texas is not liable for injuries incurred while students are participating in class activities. All students are encouraged to secure adequate insurance coverage in the event of accidental injury. Students who do not have insurance coverage should consider obtaining Student Health Insurance for this insurance program. Brochures for this insurance are available in the UNT Student Health and Wellness Center on campus. Students who are injured during class activities may seek medical attention at the Student Health and Wellness Center at rates that are reduced compared to other medical facilities. If you have an insurance plan other than Student Health Insurance at UNT, please be sure that your plan covers treatment at this facility. If you choose not to go to the UNT Student Health and Wellness Center, you may be transported to an emergency room at a local hospital. You are responsible for expenses incurred there.

Emergency Notification & Procedures

UNT uses a system called Eagle Alert to quickly notify you with critical information in the event of an emergency (i.e., severe weather, campus closing, and health and public safety emergencies like chemical spills, fires, or violence). The system sends voice messages (and text messages upon permission) tothe phones of all active faculty staff, and students. Please make certain to update your phone numbers at http://www.my.unt.edu. Some helpful emergency preparedness actions include: 1) know the evacuation routes and severe weather shelter areas in the buildings where your classes are held, 2) determine how you will contact family and friends if phones are temporarily unavailable, and 3) identify where you will go if you need to evacuate the Denton area suddenly. In the event of a university closure, please refer to Blackboard for contingency plans for covering course materials.

Retention of Student Records

Student records pertaining to this course are maintained in a secure location by the instructor of record. All records such as exams, answer sheets (with keys), and written papers submitted during the duration of the course are kept for at least one calendar year after course completion. Course work completed via the Blackboard online system, including grading information and comments, is also stored in a safe electronic environment for one year. You have a right to view your individual record; however, information about your records will not be divulged to other individuals without the proper written consent. You are encouraged to review the Public Information Policy and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) laws and the university’spolicy in accordance with those mandates at the following link: http://essc.unt.edu/registrar/ferpa.html

Student Evaluation of Teaching (SETE)

Student feedback is important and an essential part of participation in this course. The Student Evaluation of Teaching (SETE) is a requirement for all organized classes at UNT. This short survey will be made available at the end of the semester to provide you with an opportunity to evaluate how this course is taught.

Succeed at UNT

UNT endeavors to offer you a high-quality education and to provide a supportive environment to help you learn and grown. And, as a faculty member, I am committed to helping you be successful as a student. Here’s how to succeed at UNT: Show up. Find Support. Get advised. Be prepared. Get involved. Stayfocused. To learn more about campus resources and information on how you can achieve success, go http://success.unt.edu/.

References

Hansen, E. J. (2011). Idea-based learning: A course design process to promote conceptual understanding. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing, LLC.

University of North Texas. (2014). Teaching Excellence Handbook 2014-2015 (pp. 17-18). Retrieved from http://facultysuccess.unt.edu/sites/default/files/u6/teaching_excellence_handbook_2014-2015.pdf