Senate Policies Related to the Course Syllabus
Instructors at Michigan Tech are required to provide students with a syllabus during the first week of instruction so they have the information necessary to prepare and perform well in courses. Michigan Tech instructors are bound by the University Senate policy related to the course syllabus:
- Policy 312.1: Syllabus Requirement for all Courses at Michigan Technological University (Approved 04-28-08)
You are strongly encouraged to review this policy carefully so that your syllabus is compliant. The policy identifies several requirements for syllabi. Note especially the following requirements:
- Course description, overview and learning outcomes/objectives
To support student achievement of university and program student learning goals and assessment of student learning, these elements are required: course description, overview and learning outcomes/objectives. - Assessment statement
Include the following statement in your syllabus: "Student work products (exams, essays, projects, etc.) may be used for purposes of university, program, or course assessment. All work used for assessment purposes will not include any individual student identification." - Information on university policies
The Senate Policy states that your syllabus is required to provide information on university policies, including those related to academic integrity, disability services and equal opportunity compliance. Since policies and web links to these policies could change over time, you are encouraged to include the following web link instead: https://www.mtu.edu/ctl/instructional-resources/syllabus/policies/.
Syllabus Template and other Resources
You are encouraged (but not required) to use the following template so that your syllabus has all the required elements. Your syllabus can use any format and contain any additional information that feel is appropriate or necessary as long as it contains the elements required.
- Syllabus Template (MS Word)
- Syllabus Template (Google Doc)
- This template is based on a syllabus design that was created by Dr. Dana Johnson.
As you craft your own syllabus, think carefully about the class culture you wish to create, and how you will first present yourself to your students. You are encouraged to review these additional resources:
- Generative AI Syllabus Guidance- This syllabus guidance was developed by the Michigan Tech GenAI Working Group. This verbiage can be modified for use in your course syllabus to reflect your GenAI usage policy. An example GenAI policy statement has been included in the syllabus templates.
- Superlative Syllabus Workshop - These materials, created as part of a Superlative Syllabus workshop, emphasize the importance of providing appropriate learning objectives, maintaining a warm tone, and communicating policies clearly
- Creating a Learner-Centered Course Syllabus - Resources and Examples - Example syllabi, provided with permission from Michigan Tech faculty, are available in the MTU Instruction/Assessment Canvas course (accessible only to MTU). This Canvas course contains resource materials for MTU faculty and staff who support undergraduate instruction and/or learning assessment.
- Writing Effective Course Learning Objectives- This document will help with the first step in designing your course curriculum and individual lessons.
- Measurable Action Verbs- This document provides options for measurable verbs that work well for learning objectives.