Syllabus Requirements
Syllabus Requirements
Excerpted from Administrative Policy: Syllabus Requirements (Twin Cities, Crookston, Morris, Rochester); edited for application to CIS.
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Students need a consistent level of basic information about the content and expectations for each course in which they are enrolled. This policy outlines the minimum components of a syllabus and notes recommended policy statements for inclusion, to ensure that instructors communicate course requirements to students in writing and in a timely manner. This policy implements criteria and requirements for accreditation established by the Higher Learning Commission.
Instructors are required to develop a course syllabus for each offering of a course and communicate the syllabus to students. For the purposes of this policy, a syllabus is a written or electronic document that contains information students need to know in order successfully to complete the work of the course.
Each syllabus includes two types of information. First is information specific to the course such as its title, goals, readings, assignments and instructor. Second is information informing students of University policies that may have an impact on their participation in the course. This information includes, for example, the University grading system, a disabilities statement, and how to resolve problems between students and instructor.
Course Identification on Syllabus
Because former CIS students often present a course syllabus to gain credit recognition, CIS requires clear identification of the course as a University of Minnesota course. As long as the content of the U of M course is fully and completely covered, instructors are free to add additional material, including content necessary to prepare students for the AP test. On the syllabus, however, a course should be identified only as a U of M course. Courses offered through CIS are not CIS courses, U of M/AP course, or U of M/CIS courses. Identify the course as a University of Minnesota course, and use the University’s designator (ie, WRIT), catalog number (ie, 1201), and title (ie, Writing Studio).
Information Specific to the Course
The elements listed in this section of the policy are required.
Catalog information such as the course name, department, number, meeting time, meeting place, and credits.
Instructor’s name and contact information.
Course prerequisites if any exist.
Course goals and objectives. (For undergraduate courses on the Twin Cities campus, instructors are encouraged to identify learning and development outcomes addressed by the course.).
Required and recommended materials and, if necessary, the location of materials. After the second week of the term, minor, but not major, changes in the assigned readings may be made (see Administrative Policy: Teaching and Learning: Instructor and Unit Responsibilities [Twin Cities, Crookston, Morris, Rochester]).
General description of assignments, papers, projects, exams and other student work with a schedule of approximate due dates and relative weight in the grade. Minor but not major changes may be made to assignments after the second week of the term.
Description of any course meetings that occur outside of the regularly scheduled class time (see Administrative Policy: Teaching and Learning: Instructor and Unit Responsibilities [Twin Cities, Crookston, Morris, Rochester]).
Attendance requirements and penalties if any.
Statement on extra credit. If an instructor wishes to offer what is commonly known as extra credit opportunities for students in a class to allow them to improve their grade, those opportunities must be announced and made available to all students.
Policy for making up missed exams and grading late work.
The date, time and place of the final examination if one is scheduled.
Class Schedule
CIS requires an expansion of course-specific information (item 6. above), namely a schedule or timeline for readings, assignments, papers, projects, labs, etc.
Required Policy Statements for Syllabi
CIS instructors must include the following relevant U of M policy statements—which include adaptations for CIS—in their syllabus. CIS provides an updated set of required policies prior to each term. Instructors are encouraged to discuss elements of the policies particularly applicable to their course.
Required Policy Statements: