The following syllabus policies and sections should appear on all course syllabi. For further information on University Recommendations, go to: https://academicaffairs.syracuse.edu/important-syllabus-reminders/
Course Outcomes
All syllabi should include the appropriate course outcomes: 105/205 | Other Outcomes
Accommodations
Syracuse University values diversity and inclusion; we are committed to a climate of mutual respect and full participation. There may be aspects of the instruction or design of this course that result in barriers to your inclusion and full participation in this course. I invite any student to meet with me to discuss strategies and/or accommodations (academic adjustments) that may be essential to your success and to collaborate with the Center for Disability Resources (CDR) in this process.
If you would like to discuss disability-accommodations or register with CDR, please visit their website at http://disabilityservices.syr.edu. Please call (315) 443-4498 or email disabilityservices@syr.edu for more detailed information.
CDR is responsible for coordinating disability-related academic accommodations and will work with the student to develop an access plan. Since academic accommodations may require early planning and generally are not provided retroactively, please contact CDR as soon as possible to begin this process.
Religious Observance
SU’s religious observances policy, found at https://policies.syr.edu/policies/university-governance-ethics-integrity-and-legal-compliance/religious-observances-policy/, recognizes the diversity of faiths represented among the campus community and protects the rights of students, faculty, and staff to observe religious holy days according to their tradition. Under the policy, students are provided an opportunity to make up any examination, study, or work requirements that may be missed due to a religious observance provided they notify their instructors before the end of the second week of classes. For fall and spring semesters, an online notification process is available through MySlice/Student Services/Enrollment/My Religious Observances from the first day of class until the end of the second week of class.
Academic Integrity
Syracuse University’s Academic Integrity Policy reflects the high value that we, as a university community, place on honesty in academic work. The policy holds students accountable for the integrity of all work they submit and for upholding course-specific, as well as university-wide, academic integrity expectations. The policy governs citation and use of sources, the integrity of work submitted in exams and assignments, and truthfulness in all academic matters, including course attendance and participation. The policy states that any work a student submits for a course must be solely their own unless the instructor explicitly allows collaboration or editing. The policy also requires students to acknowledge their use of other peoples’ language, images or other original creative or scholarly work through appropriate citation. These expectations extend to the new, fast-growing realm of artificial intelligence (AI) as well as to the use of websites that charge fees or require uploading of course materials to obtain exam solutions or assignments. Students are required to ask their instructor whether use of these tools is permitted – and if so, to what extent – before using them to complete any assignment or exam. Students are also required to seek advance permission from instructors if they wish to submit the same work in more than one course. Failure to receive this permission in advance may violate the Academic Integrity Policy. Under the policy, instructors who seek to penalize a student for a suspected violation must first report the violation to the Center for Learning and Student Success (CLASS). Students may not drop or withdraw from courses in which they face a suspected violation. Instructors must wait to assign a final course grade until a suspected violation is reviewed and upheld or overturned. Upholding Academic Integrity includes abiding by instructors’ individual course expectations, which may include the protection of their intellectual property. Students should not upload, distribute, or otherwise share instructors’ course materials without permission. Students found in violation of the policy are subject to grade sanctions determined by the course instructor and non-grade sanctions determined by the School or College where the course is offered, as outlined in the Violation and Sanction Classification Rubric. Students are required to read an online summary of the University’s academic integrity expectations and provide an electronic signature agreeing to abide by them twice a year during pre-term check-in on MySlice.
[Insert here any course-specific expectations consistent with the Academic Integrity Policy, including expectations regarding the use of artificial intelligence.]
For ideas about best practices and sample course-specific language about AI in writing classes, one good source is Annette Vee’s recent article:
*Note to Teachers from the University: Artificial intelligence is expanding rapidly, including tools that generate text, images, and music as well as software designed for a wide range of specific goals, from avoiding common grammar errors in Mandarin to communicating following a stroke. The use of artificial intelligence may be appropriate for students to achieve some learning goals and inappropriate for other learning goals. Faculty and instructors are encouraged to include a statement in their syllabus explaining whether and how the use of artificial intelligence will be incorporated or prohibited. Turnitin now includes a built-in AI detection tool. As Turnitin acknowledges, this tool incorrectly identifies student work as AI generated in some instances and fails to identify AI-generated work in others and “should not be used as the sole basis” for a suspected academic integrity violation. Instructors who intend to use Turnitin or other AI detection software should include syllabus language informing students of this intent and should share output of that software with students so they can respond directly to any concerns of inappropriate use of AI. (Students do not have access to output of the Turnitin AI detector.)
(See “Important Syllabus Reminders” page for further information)
Student Writing
Your work will be used for educational purposes during the current semester. For example, you may be asked to share your work with a peer, the class, or with me during classroom activities or for homework. Your work may also be used in program assessment. Your registration and continued enrollment constitute your permission.
Your work may also be used in subsequent semesters for educational purposes. Before using your work, I will either get your written permission or render the work anonymous.
The Writing Center
Experienced writing consultants at the Writing Center can teach you how to succeed on individual assignments and ultimately become a better writer. They’re prepared to work one-on-one with you at any stage of your process and with any kind of writing you’re attempting while attending SU. Whether you need help understanding an assignment, brainstorming ideas, revising subsequent drafts, or developing editing strategies, online appointments are available for 25- or 50-minute sessions throughout the semester and can be reserved up to seven days in advance via their online scheduling program, WCOnline. The Center offers face-to-face appointments as well as synchronous and asynchronous online appointments. For more information on hours and services, please visit http://wc.syr.edu. This is a free resource to all students and highly recommended for every assignment you work on in this class.
Orange SUccess
This class will participate in Orange SUccess, which promotes student success through coordination and communication among students, instructors, advisors, and campus support service departments. If I observe that you are experiencing difficulties in the course (attendance concerns, low test scores or participation, in danger of failing, etc.), I may send an email to your syr.edu email account through the Orange SUccess system. My message will tell you about my concerns and ask you to meet with me or an academic advisor. Your advisor, TA, and/or I will work with you to create success strategies to address any difficulties you are having. In addition, if I observe that you are doing well in my course, you may also receive “kudos” from me acknowledging your efforts.
Orange SUccess may involve taking advantage of various campus support services, such as academic tutoring or advising. If I recommend that you use campus support services, I or your advisor will redirect you to that support office so they will be better prepared to assist you. Orange SUccess provides essential notices by email and/or text. Please check your syr.edu account frequently and respond quickly if you receive an email from Orange SUccess.
Diversity and Disability
Syracuse University believes that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. Resources for ensuring that you are aware of your rights and responsibilities in a diverse, inclusive, accessible, bias-free campus community can be found here, at: https://www.syracuse.edu/life/accessibilitydiversity/.
Required Information for those using Turnitin:
Note: Members of the Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition generally do not recommend the use of Turnitin (feel free to contact Jonna Gilfus for more information about this), but if you choose to use the program, Syracuse University requires you to follow the following guidelines and include the associated statements on your syllabus:
Syllabus Statement, Guidelines and Consent Forms for Instructors Who Use Turnitin
In order to comply with University policies and federal and state law, including privacy and intellectual property law, instructors who plan to use the software program Turnitin for detection of potential plagiarism are required use one of the two submission methods listed below:
- Students submit their own papers or other assignments directly to Turnitin via Blackboard so that both student and instructor can view the results; OR
- Students sign a statement * giving consent for submission of their papers to Turnitin.
Instructors who use Turnitin should also include a syllabus statement informing students that they plan to use Turnitin and describing how they will use it. The example below is designed for courses in which the instructor allows students to submit their papers to Turnitin before the instructor does so. Instructors should tailor their syllabus statement to specify how they will use Turnitin in each course.
“This class will use the plagiarism detection and prevention system Turnitin. You will have the option to submit your papers to Turnitin to check that all sources you use have been properly acknowledged and cited before you submit the paper to me. I will also submit all papers you write for this class to Turnitin, which compares submitted documents against documents on the Internet and against student papers submitted to Turnitin at Syracuse University and at other colleges and universities. I will take your knowledge of the subject matter of this course and your writing level and style into account in interpreting the originality report. Keep in mind that all papers you submit for this class will become part of the Turnitin.com reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers.”
*The consent statement should be signed and dated and should include language authorizing the instructor to submit student papers or assignments “to the plagiarism detection and prevention system Turnitin.” The consent statement should make clear that submitted student work will be compared to other student papers as well as to Internet documents and will become part of the Turnitin.com reference database, for example:
“By signing below, I give permission for the submission of all work I turn in for [COURSE NAME] to the plagiarism detection and prevention system Turnitin, which compares submitted documents against documents on the Internet and against student papers submitted to Turnitin at Syracuse University and at other colleges and universities. I understand that all assignments submitted for this class will become part of the Turnitin.com reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers.”
To view the policy in its entirety, please visit: Academic Integrity: Expectations and Policy.
Recommended Section:
Attendance and Participation
Writing studios are courses in language learning, and language is learned in communities; therefore, it is essential that you attend class and participate. Absences and lack of preparation for class will affect your classmates work as well as your own. The work you do in class, the work you do to prepare for each class, is as important as any polished assignment you turn in for a grade. In addition, each unit calendar is only a projection and may be subject to occasional changes and revisions as it seems appropriate, necessary, or just interesting. That is another reason why your attendance is vital. If you must miss a class, you are responsible for work assigned. Please realize, however, that class time cannot be reconstructed or made up, and that your performance, your work, and your final course grade will be affected by absences. If you miss the equivalent of three weeks of classes or more without any official documented excuse you will not pass the course. I don’t anticipate any of you will be in that position, however, so let’s all agree to do the work, come to class, learn a lot, and make the course a meaningful experience.