Houghton College Syllabus Requirements

Houghton College Syllabus Requirements 2017-18

Syllabus: A brief but comprehensive outline of the contents of the course. It is intended to give students a very clear picture of the structure, assignments, expectations, and grading policies for the course. Mid-course changes should be minimal and should not adversely affect students by adding unexpected work or eliminating opportunities to improve their grades. Faculty should follow policies outlined in their own syllabi.

Syllabus Requirements: Minimally, each syllabus should include: 1. Course title, catalog number, and catalog description including the number of credit hours and requirements that the course satisfies (integrative studies category, liberal arts category, major category), exactly as they appear in the catalog. (While you may use subtitles for a course to reflect a specific semester’s focus, the syllabus must conform to the catalog.) Example: ENGL 335: Major Author: Jane Austen in Text and Film. In depth study of one author. Comprehensive reading of primary works. May also include examination of influences. 4 credit hours. Required of English majors. Note: you may also include a more developed description of the course. 2. Semester or term and time of class meetings 3. Instructor’s name and department, Instructor’s office location, office hours, campus phone number, email address. Note: It is helpful to spell out when you are available and your preferences for reaching you in the event of a class-related emergency such as a missing an exam. 4. General objectives of the course in terms of significant desired learning outcomes for students. If the course counts for a major, include the student learning outcomes for the major that the course will help them meet. You might simply list all of the learning outcomes and indicate which ones the course helps student meet. If the course counts for integrative studies/general education, similarly list the student learning outcomes for the particular general education requirement the course helps students meet. (Integrative Studies outcomes are found at http://www.houghton.edu/academics/majors-programs/integrative-studies/requirements/). 5. General arrangement of subject matter, including at least a rough calendar for the semester, specification of day and time of class during final week (assigned in the exam schedule) and the intended use of that time. 6. A list of required text and other materials with information specific enough to enable the student to purchase the correct materials. 7. Course requirements, including major assignments and exams, along with due dates. Include any expectations of students that might have an impact on final grade. 8. Indication of how performance is to be measured, including grading procedures and calculation formula. If there is a departmental grading scale, make sure to include it. 9. Attendance expectations and consequences of failure to comply with these expectations. 10. A statement about academic honesty, along with a definition of plagiarism. (See catalog policies for the college statement on academic honesty). 11. CASA statement: Self-Reporting of Disabilities. If you have an academic disability that requires special accommodations or modifications, it is up to you to self-report any such disability to the Center for Academic Success and Advising (CASA, 585-567-9262, Chamberlain 222). With appropriate documentation, you will be afforded the necessary accommodations and/or modifications. For more information about CASA, go to: http://www.houghton.edu/academics/academic-resources/center-for-academic-success-and-advising/ 12. (NEW) Explain the amount of time you expect students to invest in the class. One way to do this is shown below (assignment types not used may be omitted). Here is a link to the policy in the on-line catalog. Scroll down to Policy on Awarding Hours through Coursework: http://www.houghton.edu/catalog/academic-information/policies/ . If you have assignments that are not included in the catalog table, be sure to have department agreement that the amount of time you prescribe is appropriate. Some department already have their own adopted policies that encompass different types of assignments. It is critical to our accreditation that we ensure that each course has expectations that total at least 45 clock hours or 2700 minutes for each hour of credit. A two-credit class must require at least 90 hours or 5400 minutes, a three- credit class needs at least 135 hours or 8100 minutes, and a four-credit class needs at least 180 hours or 10,800 minutes. Time in class and in laboratory sessions should be included. You may require more than these minimum amounts. Learning activity Additional comments Typical minimum time on task Time in minutes Class time 3 hours/week 2700 Laboratory 3 hours/week 2700 Assigned reading Reading rate for learning 3 minutes per page (approx.. 100 words per 2100 700 pages of textbook reading minute)

Journal/personal writing 0.5 hours per each page of writing (approximately 250 words) Participation in online dialogue(s) Asynchronous via text, audio and/or 1 hour for 5 postings (original or in response to video (Synchronous time would be other posters),each of which consists of least 5 counted as instructional) sentences or 30 seconds of recorded material Researched paper or presentation Supervised time would be counted as 1.5 hours per finished page or per 30 seconds of 1800 (live or recorded, individual or group): instructional live/recorded presentation research component 20 pages Researched paper: writing/editing Supervised time would be counted as 1.5 hours per finished page 1800 component 20 pages instructional Researched presentation (live or Script-writing, PowerPoint creation, 2 hours per 30 seconds of live/recorded recorded, individual or group): audio/video recording, editing, and presentation preparation component related tasks Informal lab reports Answer questions 1.5 hours per page writing and editing; 1 hour 3240 in lab handout, complete statistical per report for statistical analysis 360 analysis: 36 pages Formal lab reports Primary source Research, writing, and editing, 3 hours per page 6480 research, statistical analysis:36 pages 1 hour per report for statistical analysis 360 Group project: Design and prepare a 600 minutes per student 600 lab exercise, with handouts and research materials Complete neuroanatomy coloring 5 minutes per plate 500 book, 100 plates Study for three exams 10 hours per exam 1800 Each faculty member will prepare and maintain a current course syllabus for each course he or she is scheduled to teach. Copies of each current syllabus must be submitted to the department chair (or departmental secretary) by the first day of the course. (If the full syllabus for a course is a complex or lengthy document, an abbreviated syllabus containing the above information may be submitted for this purpose).

Department chairs will review syllabi sufficiently to ensure the inclusion of the required information, and will file copies of all departmental course syllabi for the semester or other session with the dean of the college through the area administrative coordinators within seven days of the beginning of classes.

Other helpful syllabus additions: 1. A selected bibliography of works helpful to the course. (For example: specialized dictionaries and other reference works, important secondary sources). 2. Reserve reading lists. David Stevick and the library staff are happy to work with you on setting these up. 3. Overarching questions that will guide the semester’s inquiry.