University Senate Syllabi Guidelines (These are mandatory) When
preparing your syllabi, always refer to the checklist found at
www/uky.edu/Faculty/Senate/files/Forms/Senate%20S
yllabi%20Guidelines.pdf The guidelines are also found in your
handbook
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Part 1 of the Guidelines: General Course Information Full and
accurate title of the course Departmental and college prefix Course
prefix, number, and section number Scheduled meeting days(s), time,
and place
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Poor Example
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Problems in Part 1: Does this title look full and accurate? Is
there a college identifier? Is there a section number? When does
the course meet? Where?
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Part 2: Guidelines Instructor Contact Information Instructor
Name Preferred method for reaching instructor Office phone number
Office address UK email address Office hours; is an appointment
necessary?
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Poor Example
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Problems for the Consumer Who is teaching the course? How do I
reach the instructor when I have a problem or question? Can I talk
to the instructor (i.e. phone)? Should I email? Where do I meet the
instructor outside of class? When is he/she in the office?
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No need to overdo it Jim Disclosall, Instructor Office B-1
Funkhouser Hours: Monday midnight to 3:00 am, Tuesday 8:12 to 8:25,
Wednesday 1:00 to 3:00, Friday after 12 p.m. (I Iike to sleep late
on Fridays) Phone: 323-5676 (office) 276-2345 (home) Cell: 313-0212
Email: [email protected] Alices place: 398-8888 (weekends, and
Tue/Thurs nights) My Moms: 513-3951 (shell always know where I am)
Facebook and Twitter in process
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Part 3 of Guidelines: Course Description Requirements Overview
of course (from the UK Bulletin)* Course goals/objectives Student
learning outcomes/competencies Required materials (books, lab
materials, etc.) Components that contribute to final grade
Tentative course schedule that identifies topics, examinations, and
assignment due dates, etc. *Longer descriptions/overviews can be
inserted but should not replace or be at odds with the official
one
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Part 3 of Guidelines: Course Description Requirements Cont. The
syllabus also needs: Final examination (date, time, location,
duration) Numerical grading scale and its relationship to letter
grades.* *Remember: grad students cannot be awarded D grades in
400G, 500, 600, and 700 level courses.
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Problems for the Consumer Did you see a course description?
Were there goals and objectives? (What is the difference between a
goal and an objective?) Are the objectives equal to student
learning outcomes? Do we have a sense the instructor will be
assessing competencies?
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As a Student-Consumer Do the Activities give you enough
information about what youll be doing and when? Do you know what
chapters or articles you will need to read? Has a textbook been
mentioned yet?
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How many tests will there be? When are they scheduled? What
proportion of my grade will come from tests? What is a problem
notebook? What part of my grade will it be? When do I need to
submit it by? Is it electronic or paper? How else will I be graded?
Does good attendance count for anything?
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Does this new information help any at all? Are these learning
outcomes?
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What about this last piece of info?
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In a nut shell, the instructor was vague avoided any
specificity No indication of what topic would occur on what week,
how the student could prepare, or how the grade components would
come together.
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Of the components that weve mentioned thus far, what else is
missing?
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Answer: the numerical grading scale and its relation to the
letter grades
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If you have looked at the Syllabi Guidelines, can you think of
anything else that ought to be posted?
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Undergraduates at UK must be provided with a Midterm Grade
based on their performance in the first half of the semester.
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Policies to Include on the Syllabus Attendance: Is it important
to you? If so, you ought to take attendance each class meeting and
deduct points from those with poor attendance.
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Example of a good attendance policy Unexcused absences will
result in a loss of 5 participation points per absence. Please
refer to Student Rights & Responsibilities
(Uky.edu/StudentAffairs/Code/) for definition of excused absences.
Students missing any graded work due to an excused absence bear the
responsibility of informing the Instructor about the excused
absence within one week following the absence, and for making up
missed work. What does this policy require in the syllabus? (see
also slide # 30 for excused absences)
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It requires attendance to be included in the grading
components. For example, Attendance/participation = 50 points
Assignments=125 points Final Exam= 200 points Midterm Exam=100
points Presentation= 25 points
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Suggestion: You might want to elaborate your making up missed
work policy. For instance, is a missed exam arranged at your
convenience (e.g., 2 weeks out) at the students convenience, within
a week, or during Final Exam Week? Must all missed assignments be
due within one week, etc ?
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Another important provision of SR 5.2.4.2 If attendance is
required by the class policies elaborated in the syllabus or serves
as a criterion for a grade in a course, and if a student has
excused absences in excess of one-fifth of the class contact hours
for that course, a student shall have the right to petition for a
"W", and the Instructor of Record may require the student to
petition for a "W" or take an "I" in the course.
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Verification of Absences SR 5.2.42 Illness & Death: The
Instructor of Record shall have the right to request appropriate
verification. { You may ask in all 4 cases!} Varsity sports,
official off-campus excursions of educ. units, etc: the student
must notify the Instructor prior to the occurrence of such
absences, but in no case shall such notification occur more than
one week after the absence. Instructors may request formal
notification from appropriate university personnel to document the
student's participation in such trips. Religious Holidays: Students
are responsible for notifying the Instructor of Record in writing
of anticipated absences due to their observance of such holidays no
later than the last day for adding a class.
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Examples of Non-excused absences Work. Alarm didnt go off on
time. Couldnt find a parking spot. Car broke down. Lack of
childcare or other child related absence. Didnt feel well, but did
NOT go to a doctor. Unpleasant weather which did not result in
school or road closure or prolonged disruption of public
transportation. Test or assignment in another class.
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Example of a Lateness Policy Assignments must be submitted by
the date and time listed on the assignment. There will be a 10%
deduction for homework that is up to 24 hours late, and a 20%
deduction for homework that is 24-48 hours late. I will not accept
any homework that is more than 48 hours late. Plan your time
carefully; dont wait until the last minute to begin an assignment.
Starting early will give you ample time to ask questions and obtain
assistance if needed.
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Second Late Policy Example Late work will be penalized 10% per
day (with the late clock beginning at class time rather than the
end of the workday), until the graded assignment has been handed
back to the class; at that point, late work will not be accepted.
Excuses such as I overslept or The printer wasnt working will not
exempt you from late penalties.
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Example of an Academic Integrity Policy It is expected that
students will refrain from plagiarism and cheating. Plagiarism and
cheating are serious breaches of academic conduct. Each student is
advised to understand the Universitys policies, how violations of
academic integrity policy are defined, the penalties, as well as
the disposition of these offenses as explained in the Code of
Student Rights and Responsibilities at: (
http://www.uky.edu/StudentAffairs/Code/Section%20VI.pdf ) Avoiding
a charge of plagiarism is critical in a course that requires you to
summarize and document the written work of others.
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Second Example of Academic Integrity Policy All academic work,
written or otherwise, submitted by students to their instructors or
other academic supervisors, is expected to be the result of their
own thought, research, or self-expression (University Senate
6.3.1). Offenses are considered academic felonies. Please
understand the penalties for cheating and plagiarism by reviewing
UKs policies at
http://www.uky.edu/StudentAffairs/Code/Section%20VI.pdf
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Additional Details to Consider Adding If you plagiarize, your
instructor will check with the Registrar to see if you have a
previous academic offense. If you have a previous academic offense,
you will receive, at a minimum, a grade of E for the course. The
maximum penalty could include an XE and suspension from the
University, based upon the discretion of your instructor, the Dean
of the College of Social Work and the Provost and the number and
nature of offenses. Penalties will be determined on a case-by-case
basis. If this is your first offense, the instructor will at a
minimum: a) impose a score of zero for the assignment, and b) write
a letter of warning to the student, submitted to the Registrars
office. This letter stays in the students file and is destroyed
upon graduation if there are no subsequent offenses. You have the
right to appeal and should contact the Academic Ombud to initiate
this process.
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Additional Details to Consider Adding If you are unsure of the
difference between plagiarism and paraphrasing, you ought to
consult with your instructor or go to the examples at
http://www.uky.edu/Ombud/Plagiarism
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Classroom Behavior, Decorum, and Civility I have a strong
commitment to diversity and the valuing of differences among
members of our academic community. Academic discovery includes
discussion and debate, and the right to respectfully disagree from
time-to-time. Students have a right to voice reasoned opinions
contrary to those offered by the instructor and/or other students
(S.R. 6.1.2) but should do so respectfully and civilly.
Disagreements and opinion statements that include attacks of a
personal nature or statements degrading another on the basis of
race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, age, national/regional
origin or other irrelevant factors may affect ones grade because
they are unacceptable and do not contribute to a safe, productive
learning environment. K. Badger SW 470 Syllabus
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Other classroom policies? To limit distractions in the
classroom, please turn off all cell phones and other electronic
devices and store them during class. Please inform me if you are
expecting an important phone call (e.g., a sick family member) and
take the call in the hall. Lap tops are permitted only for
note-taking and other required activities. If used during class for
other purposes (e.g., email, surfing the internet, etc) you will be
asked to put your laptop away and leave it at home or stored during
future classes.
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Other Class Expectations I expect that you will Come to class
having completed assigned readings and will be prepared to discuss
them Demonstrate an active interest in the topic being discussed by
verbal and nonverbal behaviors Not engage in side conversation with
those around you Involve others by listening, asking questions, and
allowing space for others to contribute Share relevant information
from ones knowledge base, work, or life experiences with classmates
Respect your colleagues and maintain confidentiality if information
of a personal nature is shared in class.
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Example of a Disability Policy If you have a documented
disability that requires academic accommodations, please see me as
soon as possible during office hours or by appointment. In order to
receive accommodations in this course, you must provide me with a
Letter of Accommodation from the Disability Resource Center (Room
2, Alumni Gym, 257- 2754. I will contact the DRC if needed to
coordinate special testing accommodations, etc. You ought to claim
any disability at the beginning of the semester. It is not
retroactive and cannot change test grades, etc. after the
fact.
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Tips for Success The syllabus is a contract; therefore 1. Once
posted/distributed dont mess with it 2. Be specific: list the
readings that will be assigned; dont hide readings (to be provided
later) and dont spring big assignments on students (25 page paper
with 17 interviews due September 15). Be transparent in your
requirements & expectations. 3. List due dates and late
penalties 4. Provide all the information needed/that you would want
if you were a student in the course
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Tips for Success Continued 5. Compare your rough draft to the
example given to you. Have you changed anything of substance (e.g.,
the course description, student learning outcomes the textbook)? 6.
Show your polished draft to a senior faculty member, TA
coordinator, your advisor, chair, or someone in a position to give
you good feedback about the course. 7. Revise again if
necessary.
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Can You Depart from the Syllabus? Yes, If you get sick and fall
behind; a death/funeral Inclement weather Your baby comes sooner
than expected You made a big mistake or miscalculation (e.g., the
points from assignments = 370 instead of the 730 that you had
intended) Syllabus is twice as demanding as all other sections of
the course and complaints are mounting
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Normally, students do not complain about having a reduction in
the number of quizzes, assignments, required readings, etc.
However, a student who is trying to improve his/her grade might
complain if he/she sees that there is a reduction in opportunities
to improve his/her grade. Check it out with students before making
changes; make sure everyone is okay with the planned change.
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Can you add new rules to the syllabus? Yes. For example, you
need to address a growing problem of students texting in class,
incivility, improper use of laptops, etc. You might phrase this as
new guidelines for and post it in Blackboard. It doesnt have to be
a part of your syllabus. I would not, however, add new readings,
assignments, etc. But you could add a new reading if you also
dropped one of the previous ones.and it is readily available with
no new/unexpected costs, etc.
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Valuable Resource If you feel the need to make changes to a
syllabus well into the semester, you might want to consult with
your senior faculty/advisor, etc. Or, you might want to check with
the Academic Ombud 257-3737 ([email protected]).