Helpful Links

Navigate OHIO

About OHIO Admission Athletics
Academics Life at OHIO

Connect With Us

Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment
An aerial view of Ohio University's South Green
Recommended Syllabus Information

Recommended Syllabus Information

The Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment offers recommendations for information to include in your syllabus. In addition, as of March 31, 2023, instructors are required to include language related to reasonable accommodations of sincere religious beliefs and practices (found under "Policy Information"). Click each section to learn more.

Course Information

  1. Location and days, time and duration
  2. Required materials and texts

    1. During the transition to Canvas, students will have some courses delivered in Canvas and others in Blackboard. Instructors should clearly indicate on their syllabus which system their courses will use. It is recommended that instructors include one of the two following statements: 

      As part of Ohio University's learning management system transition, this course will be delivered in Canvas. Course materials, discussions, activities, assessments, and assignments, as well as student grades, can be accessed through canvas.ohio.edu. Continuous 24/7 Canvas support is available through the “Get Help” link in the lefthand navigation menu in Canvas or by visiting the Office of Information Technology’s Canvas student help page. 

      OR

      This course will be conducted using Blackboard. Course materials, discussions, activities, assessments, and assignments, as well as student grades, can be accessed through blackboard.ohio.edu. For assistance with Blackboard, visit the Office of Information Technology’s Blackboard help page. 

  3. Course description: purpose, goals, outcomes
  4. Last day to drop course
  5. Course requisites
  6. Relation of course with larger program, major and/or curriculum
  7. Course evaluations and their importance (include date if done electronically in class)
  8. Special notes regarding online or hybrid courses
  9. Calendar of activities. including readings, materials to review, relevant session activities, assignments, assessments, etc.

Instructor Information

  1. Office hours and location
  2. Phone and email address, including contact preferences and anticipated timeframes for response
  3. Brief instructor biography
  4. Brief teaching philosophy statement/approach to teaching

Grading Information

  1. Grading scales
  2. Grading rubrics
  3. Coursework guidelines (deadlines, submission, format, etc.)
  4. Rationale for required assignments/course work
  5. Participation

Policy Information

  1. Classroom use of cell phones, tablets, laptops, and other electronic devices
  2. Expectations for classroom engagement, language and behavior, and/or respectful dialogue
  3. Course policy on use of technologies like ChatGPT or AI
  4. Policy on absences
  5. Policy on making up work.

Diversity and Inclusion Information

View the Diversity and Inclusion Statement examples document [Word] for details on the following sections.

  • Diversity and Inclusion Statement
  • Content Warning (Safe Learning Environments)
  • Guidance for Productive Conversations
  • Gender and Pronouns
  • Accessibility Services

Sexual Misconduct and Mandatory Reporting

Sample language you can include and personalize in your syllabus:

Basic Information:

All students and employees at Ohio University have the right to work and learn in an environment free from sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct. With the exception of the confidential resources listed below, all OHIO employees are required to report any instances of sexual harassment or other sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance (ECRC). 

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual harassment or other sexual misconduct, and you would like to make a report, please contact OHIO’s Director of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance (ECRC) and Title IX Coordinator. Ways to make a report include:

When a report is made to ECRC, it leads to outreach where the alleged victim can receive information about their options for medical services, counseling, reporting to law enforcement, requesting an investigation, and other supportive measures, such as assistance with class adjustments, work schedules, housing arrangements, etc. If you are not yet ready to have something that happened to you or someone else reported, you can speak confidentially with the Survivor Advocacy Program (740-597-SAFE or https://www.ohio.edu/survivor), Counseling and Psychological Services (740.593.1616 or https://www.ohio.edu/student-affairs/counseling) or Campus Care (740.592.7100).

Longer Personalized Option:

We all share in the responsibility to create a safe learning environment for students and the campus as a whole. With the exception of the confidential resources listed below, all OHIO employees are required to report any instances of sexual harassment or other sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance (ECRC). If you share that you or another OHIO student has had any of these experiences (including, but not limited to, through class discussion, papers, office hours or other scenarios), it is my responsibility to notify ECRC.

Your safety and the safety of others is important to me. Therefore, I take seriously my responsibility to report to the Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance. Reports are made to the Title IX Coordinator electronically at https://www.ohio.edu/equity-civil-rights by selecting the “report sexual misconduct” tab, by phone at 740.593.9140,by fax at 740.593.9168, or by email at titleix@ohio.edu or equity@ohio.edu.

When a report is made to ECRC, it leads to outreach where the alleged victim can receive information about their options for medical services, counseling, reporting to law enforcement, requesting an investigation, and other supportive measures, such as, assistance with class adjustments, work schedules, housing arrangements, etc.

If you are not yet ready to have something that happened to you or someone else reported to ECRC, you can speak confidentially with the Survivor Advocacy Program (740-597-SAFE or https://www.ohio.edu/survivor), Counseling and Psychological Services (740.593.1616 or https://www.ohio.edu/student-affairs/counseling) or Campus Care (740.592.7100)
 

Shorter Personalized Option:

All OHIO faculty and staff share in the responsibility to create a safe learning environment for students and for the campus as a whole. With the exception of the confidential resources listed below, all OHIO employees are required to report any instances of sexual harassment or other sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance (ECRC), even if they learn of it through classroom assignments, discussions or the like. Reports are made to the Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance and can be made electronically at https://www.ohio.edu/equity-civil-rights by selecting the “report sexual misconduct” tab, by phone at 740.593.9140, by fax at 740.593.9168, or by email at titleix@ohio.edu or equity@ohio.edu. If you are not yet ready to have something that happened to you or someone else reported to ECRC, you can speak confidentially with the Survivor Advocacy Program (740-597-SAFE or https://www.ohio.edu/survivor), Counseling and Psychological Services (740.593.1616 or https://www.ohio.edu/student-affairs/counseling) or Campus Care (740.592.7100).

Confidential Resources

No information will be shared with third parties without your written permission, except in circumstances involving potential harm to self or others (e.g., suicide, homicide or other life-threatening behaviors), suspected child or elder abuse or neglect and court subpoena of counseling records.

  • Counseling and Psychological Services – 740.593.1616
  • Campus Care – 740.593.1660
  • The Survivor Advocacy Program – 740.597.SAFE (7233)

Private Resources

Conversations are kept as confidential as possible, but information is shared with key staff members so the University can offer resources and accommodations, and to take action if necessary, for safety reasons.

  • Ohio University Police Department – 740.593.1911
  • The Office of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance – 740.593.9140
  • The Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility – 740.593.2629

Additional Considerations

  1. Welcome statement
  2. Resources: Finding help/available support along with contact information
  3. Advice for success
  4. Questions from students
  5. Student Affairs One-Stop Student Resource Hub
  6. Basic needs statement: Any student who has difficulty affording groceries of accessing sufficient food to eat every day, or who lacks a safe and stable place to live and believes this may affect their performance in the course, is urged to contact the Dean of Students Office for support. The Food Pantry is located on the 5th floor of Baker Center and is open to all students. Additional resources can be found on the Dean of Students website under Bobcats Helping Bobcats.