Syllabus Content Policy
Syllabus Content Policy
Date Issued: December 1, 2019
Last Updated: April 16, 2026
Next Review Date: December 1, 2022
Applies To: All Faculty
Owner: Office of the Provost
Primary Contact: Vice Provost for Academic Strategy & Effectiveness
Policy Overview
All university courses* are required to provide a course syllabus. The syllabus serves as an explicit agreement between instructor and students on the course requirements and expectations, covering the intent of the course, as well as its schedule of topics and activities. The syllabus must be distributed to students, either as a hard copy or online, during the first week of classes.
Required content ensures that each syllabus provides a consistent level of information to students about each class. The following information must be provided in each course syllabus, instructors are free to add additional information as needed:
Required Syllabus Components
1. Institutional Information
University name; department name
2. Course Identification
- Course prefix, number, and section
- Course name
- Term/year
- Number of credits
3. Course Description
Exact copy of university catalog course description
Available at: UM-Flint Catalog under Course Listings
Note: Instructors may add additional content of their choosing, but the initial description must follow the university catalog.
4. Course Attributes as Applicable
- Course meeting days
- Meeting location
- Prerequisite/co-requisite information (must be the same as the course catalog)
- General education attributes and learning outcomes
- Course learning outcomes
5. Faculty Contact Information
- Instructor(s) name(s)
- Office location, phone number, and email
- Office hours
- Support staff office locations and phone numbers
- For all modalities, define anticipated instructor response time to questions
6. Required Materials
Texts or other special materials (these should be available in advance at Barnes and Noble according to their published deadlines as appropriate)
7. Technology Requirements/Support
E.g. Blackboard shell, ALEKS, Slack, etc.
8. Course Topics/Schedule
Listed by day or week
9. Course Assessments
Grading policies, grading scale, major assignments and exams
10. Date and Time of Course Assessments and Final Examination
Some cohorted programs face complex scheduling for student final exams and require additional time to reconcile schedules during final exam week. In these cases, the syllabus may state a deadline (no later than one month into the semester, for fall/winter; two weeks for spring/summer) by which the final exam day/time will be determined.
11. Required Off-Campus Activities
E.g. field trips and service-learning or community engagement activities, and the time commitment, transportation and logistics required
12. Accommodations
At a minimum, include the following statement, available from the Office of Disability and Accessibility Support Services:
Disability Statement:
The University of Michigan–Flint strives to make learning experiences as accessible as possible and complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act. The university provides individuals with disabilities reasonable accommodations to participate in educational programs, activities, and services. Students with disabilities requiring accommodations to participate in class activities or meet course requirements must self-identify with Disability and Accessibility Support Services as early as possible at 810-424-5256 or dassflint@umich.edu. The office is located in 245 University Center. Once your eligibility for an accommodation has been determined you will be issued an Accommodation Letter. Please present this letter to each faculty member in each class at the beginning of the term, or at least two weeks prior to the need for the accommodation (test, project, etc.).
13. Policies
At minimum include a statement on Academic Integrity, found within Student Rights and Responsibilities, available at:
Student Rights & Responsibilities
A unit specific policy link and/or statement could also be provided.
Exceptions
*Exceptions include independent studies, co-op courses, internships, and dissertation/thesis research, which typically require alternative formal agreements between instructor and student, specifying the goals to be accomplished during course activities.
For questions about syllabus requirements, please contact the Vice Provost for Academic Strategy & Effectiveness in the Office of the Provost.