Creating a Syllabus for a Course at Blackhawk Technical College
A syllabus is a necessary and useful part of any course. The syllabus is an outline for the course and its policies
and expectations. The syllabus serves a number of functions such as:
 To establish a contract with the students regarding the policies, requirements, and procedures for the
course
 To ensure consistency of competencies and major requirements between sections of a course
 To provide students with an understanding of the student and instructor roles in the class
 To list any resources or guidelines that the instructor feels will contribute to student success
 To communicate the course outcome, policies, and expectations consistently to all constituents
 To create a document that can be sent to other colleges for transfer purposes
Blackhawk Technical College provides both full-time and adjunct faculty with a Syllabus Template and a Syllabus
Checklist. The Syllabus Template is available from your dean or administrative assistant or by downloading from
MyBTC. Choose the Faculty page and then look in the Faculty Success Guide under Guidelines and Procedures.
Or use the following links:




Syllabus Checklist
Course Syllabus (text-based template)
Syllabus Template (table-based format)
Example Cell Phone Policies
This template is a Word document that can be used to create the syllabus. If the instructor feels another format
is a better fit for the class that format can be used as long as the required items are part of the syllabus. WIDS
(Worldwide Instructional Design System) provides the syllabus information in a different format.
The Syllabus Checklist shows the items that are required and those that can be added or subtracted according to
instructor discretion. Our ultimate goal in encouraging consistency in the types of information found on all
syllabi is to promote student success.
Syllabus Checklist
At Blackhawk Technical College it is suggested that you distribute or make available in Blackboard the following
information at the beginning of your first class period. These may be combined into one file or may be in three
separate pieces.
 a syllabus,
 a calendar/timeline/course map (listing course start and end dates, a schedule of meeting dates and
times, due dates and exam/assessment dates),
 a list of course competencies and linked program outcomes (if applicable) and linked core abilities.
(WIDS)
The section number and room can be placed in either the syllabus or the calendar/timeline/course map.
If you have questions about any of these items please contact your Dean or the administrative assistant in your
division or Betsy Rezel, Director of Learning Resources, (erezel@blackhawk.edu 608-743-4450).
9/2015
Required information
 course name,
 course number, xx-xxx-xxx (aid code – instructional area – course number)
o
Example 1: 10-106-140 (Associate Degree – Office Systems/Technology - Keyboarding),
o
Example 2: 31-804-304 (One-Year Technical Diploma – Mathematics – Shop Mathematics I),
o
Example 3: 32-404-345 (Two Year Technical Diploma – Automotive-Mechanical – Brake Service)
 course description,
 number of credits,
 any pre/co-requisites,
 BTC ADA syllabus statement
If you have a documented disability and would like information about support services and accommodations,
please contact disability support service staff at (608) 757-7796 or in room 2216 at Central Campus. Please
discuss your approved accommodations with me during office hours or after class and be sure to allow at least
one week to arrange appropriate classroom or testing accommodations.
 a grading plan that explains the grading scale and helps the student understand how a final grade will be
determined,
 required and recommended textbooks and materials,
 instructor contact information including email address, phone number, office hours and contact availability,
 (if applicable) physical office location for instructor
 a statement about plagiarism and academic honesty and a reference to the Student Code of Conduct in the
student handbook
example: Plagiarism / Cheating
ACADEMIC HONESTY
All students must be honest and forthright in their academic studies. To falsify the results of one’s research, to
steal the words or ideas of another, to cheat on an assignment, or to allow or assist another to commit these acts
corrupts the educational process. Students are expected to do their own work and neither give nor receive
unauthorized assistance. Any violation of this standard must be reported to the Judicial Affairs Officer and the
Department Dean. The faculty member, in consultation with the Department Dean and the Judicial Affairs Officer,
will decide whether the matter should be processed through the Student Conduct System or resolved without a
formal hearing. In the latter case, the faculty member must have the agreement of all students directly affected.
See BTC’s Student Code of Conduct in the student handbook for more information. Depending on the severity of
the violation of the Student Code of Conduct, the result can be anything from a warning to failure of the
assignment to being dropped from the course or program or even the college.
Guidelines for citing copyrighted materials will be discussed within the classroom.
 (if applicable) guidelines for citing copyrighted material according to a standard format (APA, MLA, etc.),
 (if applicable) participation/attendance requirements,
 standards for instructor response and availability (turnaround time for email and phone calls,
 standards for instructor grading and feedback on work (turnaround time for grading of student work)
 BTC core abilities being assessed in the class
 a statement regarding any necessary use of technology in the course especially special requirements
 course competencies if not provided elsewhere (e.g. in a separate file in Blackboard)
9/2015
Optional information
The following items are recommended in some situations but are not required. Each instructor should decide whether the
following will promote student success in the class.
 a statement that encourages students to see or contact the instructor outside class time when there are questions
 guidelines for the use of cell phones during the class (see examples in separate file)
 guidelines detailing how students are to prepare for and behave during a class session (e.g. read the assignments
before class, come on time, participate in discussions, etc.)
 a description of any special procedures or rules for the class (e.g. laboratory rules and procedures)
 specific criteria or rubrics for graded projects/assignments
 guidelines on incomplete or late work
 guidelines on missed exams and exam re-takes
 guidelines on extra credit
 advice on “how to get the most out of this learning experience”
 information on BTC resources such as tutoring, technical help, the library, etc.
o
Example Technology Assistance wording:
Blackhawk Technical College provides an email account for all students. Students are responsible
for checking their email accounts regularly. Student email can be accessed at
https://webmail.blackhawk.edu. Course information from Blackboard and official college
updates will be sent to this student email account.
For technical assistance logging in to BTC computers/ BTC email/ Blackboard, or Banner please
contact the BTC help desk. Help desk technicians provide BTC computer support in person at the
Central campus in room 2409 and by phone at (608) 757-7711. For up to date support hours see
http://www.blackhawk.edu/InformationTechnology/HelpDeskSupport.aspx.
For questions about Blackboard functions contact Betsy Rezel, Director of Learning Resources, at
erezel@blackhawk.edu or 608-743-4450. For questions about course content, assignments, or
requirements contact the course instructor.
o
Example Tutoring wording:
Blackhawk Technical College provides tutoring assistance, at no cost, to students enrolled at the
College. Tutoring is available at all BTC Campuses and Centers upon request. Services are
provided in cooperation with the college’s academic and student service departments and utilize
a variety of methods to achieve student success, including instructor-led, peer, study group, and
online tutoring.
Academic tutoring in math, science, reading, communication, writing, and study skills is available.
For information call Jena Biermann at 608-757-7656 or go to room 2200 at Central Campus, (the
Student Success Center).
9/2015