Course syllabus construction: A stitch in time saves nine

Young faculty are often challenged by the wide variety of demands that are placed on their time, especially in their first several years as they learn how to function in their new work environment. Oftentimes, younger faculty may try to cut corners when preparing for the first courses that they teach. This talk addresses syllabus construction and how a well-planned syllabus can lead to a class that runs smoothly throughout the entire semester. Careful preparation of a course syllabus can help young faculty in many ways. A complete syllabus with clear guidelines alleviates student anxiety and shows the students that you care about the course. A complete syllabus also allows you to focus on your lesson plans during the semester instead of having to deal with developing course policies on the fly. A comprehensive syllabus gives you a document to rely on when student concerns or conflicts arise. Many institutions, in fact, prevent course policies from being changed once they are made available to students on the syllabus. There are several key elements that must be in a course syllabus. These elements include contact information for the instructor and TA. Office hours should be set and included in the syllabus if possible. Course policies about late homework, missed exams, and illnesses should also be clearly stated. Guidelines on suitable homework formats are very useful for students as they try to improve their skills. Other elements of a good syllabus are often overlooked by faculty. One particularly useful section to include is a list of all course objectives for the semester. This gives you concise guidelines on how to select your exam questions and homework assignments. If you don't have a homework or exam question on a listed objective, then you should rethink your objectives. From a student perspective, students also appreciate listings of test dates, homework due dates, and grading criteria related to the final grading scale.