Syllabus Guidelines

Each course taught at the university must provide a syllabus.  It must include course title, course number, credit hours, and course instructors.  Usually, it will include the instructor(s) full name, title, office location, emergency contact, and office hours as well as name and contact of any teaching assistants. Other components include

1) Texts, readings, and materials
2) Course description (including instructional methods) and objectives
3) Course calendar/schedule
4) Description of testing, evaluative, and grading methods
5) Course policies, including attendance, tardiness, etc.
6) Expectations for class participation
7) Health and safety issues, and compliance with the ADA
8) Academic honesty
9) Support services
10) Intellectual pluralism

Sample Statement for Academic Dishonesty
Academic integrity is fundamental to the activities and principles of a university. All members of the academic community must be confident that each person’s work has been responsibly and honorably acquired, developed, and presented. Any effort to gain an advantage not given to all students is dishonest whether or not the effort is successful. The academic community regards breaches of the academic integrity rules as extremely serious matters. Sanctions for such a breach may include academic sanctions from the instructor, including failing the course for any violation, to disciplinary sanctions ranging from probation to expulsion. When in doubt about plagiarism, paraphrasing, quoting, collaboration, or any other form of cheating, consult the course instructor.

Sample Statement for Students with Disabilities:
If you anticipate barriers related to the format or requirements of this course, if you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need to make arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, Please see me privately after class, or at my office.

Office location: ________    _______ Office hours: _______          _______

If disability related accommodations are necessary (for example, a note taker, extended time on exams, captioning), please register with the Office of Disability Services (http://disabilityservices.missouri.edu), S5 Memorial Union, 882-4696, and then notify me of your eligibility for reasonable accommodations.  For other MU resources for students with disabilities, click on “Disability Resources” on the MU homepage.

Dr. Ron Cott is the CVM ADA representative. If you are approached by a student with a possible disability requesting accommodations, please notify him immediately. Disability accommodations are not granted unless the student is registered with the Office of Disability Services.

Students with Disabilities Accommodations:

  • For those students who have exam accommodations, send an electronic copy of your exam to Disability Services via email to:  mudsexams@missouri.edu.
  • A student’s need for accommodations may be minimized through the use of universal design for learning (equitable, flexible, fully accessible learning environment, designed to meet the needs of diverse learners, using multiple means of engagement, expression, and representation).  Examples of implementation of UDL include:   
  • use of Tegrity (eliminates the need for note takers)
  • using captioned videos, films and other audio presentations
  • flexibility regarding attendance
  • providing texts in alternate formats
  • giving verbal descriptions of visual aids and graphics
  • paraphrasing questions and answers
  • highlighting key points throughout discussions
  • Should you have questions regarding how best to accommodate a student with a disability or about implementing some of the suggestions listed above, we encourage you to contact the Office of Disability Services at 882-4696, or by email at disabilityservices@missouri.edu.  Additional excellent resources on campus include the Adaptive Computing Technology Center (http://actcenter.missouri.edu, 884-2828), and ET@MO (http://etatmo.missouri.edu, 882-3303)

Sample Statement for Intellectual Pluralism
The University community welcomes intellectual diversity and respects student rights. Students who have questions or concerns regarding the atmosphere in this class (including respect for diverse opinions) may contact the Departmental Chair or Divisional Director; the Director of the Office of Students Rights and Responsibilities (http://osrr.missouri.edu/); or the Division of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity (https://diversity.missouri.edu/) or email at diversity@missouri.edu. All students will have the opportunity to submit an anonymous evaluation of the instructor(s) at the end of the course.