MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
Faculty    and  Instructional  Staff
Rhonda  Longworth,  Associate  Provost  and  Associate  Vice  President  for  Academic
Programming  and  Services
DATE:   August  22,  2014
SUBJECT:   STUDENT  EXPECTATIONS  AND  COURSE  SYLLABI
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The  Division  of  Academic  and  Student  Affairs  by  policy  and  practice  affirms  certain  rights  students   and  faculty  have  with  regard  to  course  and  other  classroom-­‐related  matters.  Student   responsibilities  are  detailed  in  the   Student  Code  of  Conduct .  Faculty  may  expect  students  to  adhere
to  these  standards  and  expectations.  Students  may  expect  the  following  from  instructors:
1.
Impartial,  fair  and  dignified  treatment;
2.
Reasonable  opportunities  to  ask  questions  and  to  express  ideas;
3.
Respect  for  his  or  her  right  to  privacy  (FERPA)  for  certain  educational,  personal,  and  health   related  information;
4.
Clear  statements  of  standards  for  acceptable  work  in  advance  of  grading  and  other   assignments;
5.
Knowledge  of  the  grading  system  early  in  the  semester  and  the  absence  of  unfair,  capricious   or  discriminatory  grading  categories;
6.
Prompt  return  of  examinations  and  other  assignments  with  verbal  and/or  written   explanations  of  deficiencies;
7.
Posted  office  hours,  scheduled  at  times  most  beneficial  to  students;
8.
Explicit  and  early  description  of  the  penalties  for  academic  dishonesty;
9.
Explicit  and  early  description  of  the  instructor's  policy  for  penalties  regarding  failure  to   attend  and/or  participate  in  class;
10.
Advance  knowledge,  when  possible,  of  cancellation  of  class  or  office  hours.  Guaranteed   anonymity  during  course  evaluations;
11.
Reasonable  accommodations  upon  the  provision  of  documentation  provided  by  the
Disability  Resource  Center  (DRC).  Suggested  syllabus  language  may  be  found  at   http://www.emich.edu/drc/faculty_info/ .

The  best  way  to  clearly  establish  how  instructors  will  set  and  meet  most  of  these  expectations  is  to   provide  students  with  a  written  syllabus  and/or  policy  statement,  ideally  at  the  first  meeting  of  the   class.  The  most  effective  syllabi  contain  the  following  core  information  and  while  all  elements  are
strongly  recommended,  required  elements  are  starred.
1.
A  list  of  required  and  recommended  course  materials(*);
2.
A  general  outline  of  the  course  content  and  an  approximate  time  schedule.  It  is  also  effective   to  add  a  statement  indicating  dates  are  subject  to  change;
3.
The  type,  number,  date,  and  value  of  papers,  assignments,  quizzes,  examinations  and  some   explanation  of  the  way  in  which  grades  are  calculated  and  assigned(*)  ;
4.
The  policy  of  the  instructor  regarding  class  attendance,  late  or  missed  assignments  and   make-­‐up  examinations(*);
5.
Office  hours  and  other  methods  of  contacting  the  instructor  if  such  alternate  methods  are   provided(*);
6.
Notice  that  academic  dishonesty  will  be  penalized  and  how  it  will  be  addressed  within  the   grading  process  of  your  course  in  specific  terms;
7.
Notice  that  academic  dishonesty  can  be  reported  to  the  Office  of  Student  Conduct  and
Community  Standards  (SCCS)  for  additional  discipline  that  can  result  in  suspension  or   permanent  dismissal;
8.
Instructor  expectations  regarding  classroom  conduct  including  relevant  professional  norms   of  behavior;
9.
Language  regarding  any  support  services  available  to  students  enrolled  in  the  course  or  at   the  University  generally.  Sample  language  for  the  Writing  Center  is  available  at   http://www.emich.edu/uwc/resources/faculty.php
;
10.
Statement  reminding  international  students  of  the  requirements  of  their  visas  to  study  in   the  United  States.  For  details  and  sample  syllabus  language,  visit   https://www.emich.edu/facdev/syllabus.php#emupolicies  (*).
For  a  more  extensive  discussion  of  syllabus  content  and  best  practices,  visit  the  Faculty
Development  Center’s  syllabus  resource  pages  at:   https://www.emich.edu/facdev/syllabus.php
.
If  you  have  any  questions  or  concerns,  please  feel  free  to  contact  me  (rkinney@emich.edu,  7-­‐3200).
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