What you need to include in your Syllabus
Syllabus Guidelines
Your syllabus serves two main purposes:
- It provides valuable information to your students. Your syllabus should provide all of the details students need to be
successful in your class.
- It is a legal document which can protect you in case of a student complaint. For example, a student cannot complain at the
end of the semester that your homework policy is unfair if that policy is clearly stated in your syllabus.
Your Syllabus Must Include the Following:
- Your Name and Contact Information — If you do not wish to publish you home phone number or personal email
address, make sure that your JCC email address is given.
- The Course Objectives — You can find these in the information packet you receive before the semester starts.
- The Course Requirements — For example, how are tests, quizzes, homework assignments, etc. weighted? How will the
students grade be determined?
- Your Grading Scale
- The Associate Degree Outcomes (ADOs) Addressed by the Course
- A Tentative Schedule of Topics
It is Recommended that Your Syllabus also Include the Following:
- Your Classroom Behavior Policy
- The Colleges Academic Honesty Policy — This can be found in the Student Handbook.
- The Colleges Incomplete Policy — Incompletes are reserved for work that is "sufficient in quality but not
sufficient in quantity." For more information, see the Student Handbook
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Updated 08/06/2008
