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Suggested
Standard Syllabus Policies
Below are some suggested standard policies
that faculty members may want to include in their course
syllabi. These suggestions are meant to highlight some
potential problems or issues that might arise in today's
classroom. By including such policies in the syllabus,
faculty members can clearly set forth their expectations
for classroom behavior, and students will be duly
notified of those expectations at the outset of
the course. These suggested policies are not exhaustive,
but they might at least serve as a good starting point
for faculty members to develop the classroom environment
they may wish to achieve.
To clearly notify students
of classroom expectations:
This syllabus contains the policies
and expectations I have established for [COURSE NAME].
Please read the entire syllabus carefully before continuing
in this course. These policies and expectations are
intended to create a productive learning atmosphere
for all students. Unless you are prepared to abide by
these policies and expectations, you risk losing the
opportunity to participate further in the course.
To encourage
orderly and productive classroom conduct:
I will conduct this class in an atmosphere
of mutual respect. I encourage your active participation
in class discussions. Each of us may have strongly differing
opinions on the various topics of class discussions.
The conflict of ideas is encouraged and welcome.
The orderly questioning of the ideas of others, including
mine, is similarly welcome. However, I will exercise
my responsibility to manage the discussions so that
ideas and argument can proceed in an orderly fashion.
You should expect that if your conduct during class
discussions seriously disrupts the atmosphere of mutual
respect I expect in this class, you will not be permitted
to participate further.
To
enable revision of the syllabus during the semester
(NOTE: ANY SYLLABUS REVISION MUST BE PRECEDED BY REASONABLE
NOTICE TO THE STUDENTS):
The standards
and requirements set forth in this syllabus may be modified
at any time by the course instructor. Notice of such changes will be by announcement in class [or
by written or email notice][or by changes to this syllabus
posted on the course website at (URL)].
To clearly
set forth a policy on the instructor’s absence
or tardiness:
If I
am late in arriving to class, you must wait a full 20
minutes after the start of class before you may leave
without being counted absent, or you must follow any
written instructions I may give you about my anticipated
tardiness.
To notify
students of their rights and responsibilities in obtaining
disability accommodations:
Students in this course seeking accommodations
to disabilities must first consult with the Office of
Disability Services and follow the instructions of that
office for obtaining accommodations.
To prevent
academic integrity violations, including plagiarism:
All students are required to read
and abide by the Code of Student Academic Integrity.
Violations of the Code of Student Academic Integrity,
including plagiarism, will result in disciplinary action
as provided in the Code. Definitions and examples of
plagiarism are set forth in the Code. The Code is available
from the Dean of Students Office or online at: http://www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-105.html
NOTE: See
below for suggested syllabus policies addressing
the use of plagiarism detection services.
To prevent
sexual harassment in web-based or web-assisted courses:
All students are required to abide
by the UNC Charlotte Sexual Harassment Policy (http://www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-61.html)
and the policy on Responsible Use of University Computing
and Electronic Communication Resources (http://www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-66.html).
Sexual harassment, as defined in the UNC Charlotte Sexual
Harassment Policy, is prohibited, even when carried
out through computers or other electronic communications
systems, including course-based chat rooms or message
boards.
To prevent
use of cell phones, beepers, or other communication
devices in the classroom:
The use of cell phones, beepers,
or other communication devices is disruptive, and is
therefore prohibited during class. Except in emergencies,
those using such devices must leave the classroom for
the remainder of the class period.
To regulate
computer use in the classroom:
Students are permitted to use computers
during class for note-taking and other class-related
work only. Those using computers during class
for work not related to that class must leave the classroom
for the remainder of the class period.
If you plan to use Turnitin.com [or another plagiarism
detection program] in your class:
NOTE: UNC Charlotte has contracted with
Turnitin.com for plagiarism detection services. Use
of Turnitin.com (or another plagiarism detection service)
is entirely in the discretion of the instructor, but
use of such a services requires:
- that you provide advance notice (via syllabus) to your
students that you are using such services and
- that you obtain a signed consent form from
each student.
The
consent form is necessary because both copyright rights
and FERPA rights of students may be violated by disclosure
and use of their works. For more information, see Policy Statement #69, Student
Records, and Policy Statement #113,
Copyright Policy. The consent form must be signed
voluntarily, or it is ineffective. If a student elects
not to sign a consent form, it is not advisable to submit
his/her work to a plagiarism detection service.
In
order to assist you in the correct use of Turnitin.com,
the Office of General Counsel has provided below two
suggested syllabus policies
regarding use of Turnitin.com or another plagiarism
detection service. Note that you are not required to
use such suggested syllabus policies, but in any case,
if you plan to use Turnitin.com or another plagiarism
detection service, you are advised to at least
notify the students in advance and obtain signed consent
forms from the students, as noted above.
Suggested Syllabus Policy #1: If you plan to use Turnitin.com [or another
plagiarism detection service] for ALL
papers submitted in your class, you should include the
following (or your own variation thereof) in your syllabus:
As a condition of taking this course, all required papers
may be subject to submission for textual similarity
review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism.
All submitted papers will be included as source documents
in the Turnitin.com reference database solely for
the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers.
No student papers will be submitted to Turnitin.com
without a student’s written consent and
permission. If a student does not provide such written
consent and permission, the instructor may: (i) require
a short reflection paper on research methodology;
(ii) require a draft bibliography prior to submission
of the final paper; or (iii) require the cover page
and first cited page of each reference source to be
photocopied and submitted with the final paper.
Suggested Syllabus Policy #2: Alternatively, if you do NOT plan to submit ALL
papers to Turnitin.com [or another plagiarism detection
service] but plan to submit ONLY papers
that you suspect contain plagiarized works, you should
include the following (or your own variation thereof)
in your syllabus:
As a condition of taking this course, papers that the
instructor in good faith suspects are in whole or
in part plagiarized may be subject to submission for
textual similarity review to Turnitin.com for the
detection of plagiarism. Such works will be included
as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference
database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism
of such papers. No student papers will be submitted
to Turnitin.com without a student’s written consent and
permission. If a student does not provide such written
consent and permission, the instructor may: (i) require
a short reflection paper on research methodology;
(ii) require a draft bibliography prior to submission
of the final paper; or (iii) require the cover page
and first cited page of each reference source to be
photocopied and submitted with the final paper.
If you have suggestions for other syllabus policies that
you have found helpful or effective, and you would like
to add them to this page, please contact the Office
of General Counsel.
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