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Syllabus resources

Listed below are suggestions and sample language that faculty might use in their syllabuses.  Most of these items are optional.  Please note that language related to the credit hour policy is required for all syllabuses. 

Basic information

  • Course name, number, section number, term and year, course location
  • Course description
  • Faculty name and contact information, office hours, office location and other communications policy
  • List of all required texts and materials
  • Learning objectives for the course, how these related to college-wide learning outcomes (see sample syllabus language)
  • Grading policy
  • Grading scale
  • Attendance policy (see Augustana Attendance Guidelines)
    • Faculty are strongly encouraged to have a clear and detailed absence policy in course syllabi that is consistent with the Attendance Policies in the College Catalog. Faculty are supported by the Dean of Students and Academic Affairs Offices in applying their syllabus policies. You can find example policies here. Please note that the Dean of Students Office will only verify absences greater than one week. For absences less than one week in length, faculty should use their discretion to apply the Attendance or Engagement Policy in their syllabus.
  • Due dates for all assignments, including reading assignments and projects
  • Course schedule (account for holidays and Symposium Days)

Credit hour policy (required)

Our credit hour policy needs to be stated clearly in each syllabus. Policy language and syllabus template language for various kinds of courses (4-credit, 2-credit, Independent Study, etc.) are available on this page of the Augustana catalog.  

COVID-19 safety expectations

We have a responsibility to care for one another and our larger community by following all current safety protocols outlined in the Augie Strong expectations. These are outlined at www.augustana.edu/augustana-strong. If a student fails to comply with all Augie Strong expectations in this course even after being reminded, they will be asked to leave the classroom and information on the incident may be shared with the Dean of Students Office. You can also report concerns about others’ adherence to COVID protocols here. Full information on safety protocols and expectations can be found at www.augustana.edu/augustana-strong

Office of Disability Services

If you are a student, who has a documented disability, or had academic accommodations in high school, or at another institution of higher learning you may be eligible for services. Services are coordinated through the Office of Disability Services (ODS). Augustana College, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), is committed to equity, access, and inclusion for all students. 

Due to the climate of COVID, students can contact Kam Williams, director of ODS, for a phone or virtual appointment. ODS  has a new location in the Olin Center 312. Contact disabilityservices@augustana.edu or 309-794-7145. Hours are 8:30 a.m-4:30 p.m. weekdays.

Basic needs

Any student who has difficulty affording groceries or accessing sufficient food to eat every day, or who lacks a safe and stable place to live, and believes this may affect their performance in the course, is urged to contact the Dean of Students for support.

Honor Code and academic integrity

All students are required to abide by the principles of academic integrity that are articulated in the Honor Code of Augustana College.  Every member of the Augustana community has the obligation to report violations of the Honor Code to the Honor Council.  The Honor Code includes links to definitions of and statements on infractions, the Honor Pledge and composition of the Honor Council, and reporting forms.

Your right to education free from discrimination and harassment

Augustana College is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive environment free from all forms of discrimination and harassment. Our Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment describes your right to freedom from discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, service in uniformed service, veteran status, sex, age, political ideas, marital or family status, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, or any other classification protected by law.

Consistent with state and federal requirements, our Policy against Sex Discrimination specifically prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex and gender, including sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, stalking, and relationship violence. To find resources available to you or anyone on campus who has experienced discrimination or harassment, see www.augustana.edu/titleix. 

As a faculty member, I am required to report any information I have about potential violations of these policies to help foster a safer campus for all. If you would like to speak with someone confidentially about these issues, you can visit Counseling Services (309-794-7357), Campus Clergy (309-794-7213), or the campus confidential advisor, Cassie Hall (cassandrah@famres.org).  All college employees are mandated reporters of suspected cases of child abuse and neglect.

Health and wellness

Your health and well-being is important. Free counseling  and mental health services are available to you through the Augustana Student Counseling Service and you can schedule an appointment by calling 309-794-7357 or emailing Cheri Mizaur.

Augustana Convenient Care Clinic powered by Genesis is located on campus in Baldur House (behind the Gerber Center). Telehealth and in-person services are available. Augustana students can also access 24/7 medical and mental health support at www.Students.Care or through the TimelyMD app.

Technology requirements and support

*If your course requires the use of technology for students to engage, please including this in your syllabus.

To engage in this course, you will need access to a device with a (list requirements, e.g., with a webcam and microphone and reliable internet). You also need to be able to use Moodle, Google Meets, (and specific platforms needed for this course). You can download the Open LMS app for accessing Moodle on your smartphone by going to https://ethinkeducation.com/products/mobile/ (when you launch the app, enter “moodle.augustana.edu”in the “your Moodle site” field).
If you need help with technology, contact the ITS Help Desk at helpdesk@augustana.edu or 309-794-7293.

Religious holiday policy

Augustana College celebrates the importance of religious expression in the lives of our students and “offers every student the opportunity to develop a life-shaping spirituality." (See also The Five Faith Commitments of Augustana College). Consistent with our commitment to creating an academic community that welcomes and respects religious diversity, we commit ourselves to making every reasonable effort to support students in observing major religious holidays without academic or co-curricular penalty.

Students are required to notify their instructor in advance that they must miss class in order to observe a religious holiday and must make prior arrangements with the instructor to complete work missed during their absence. Final exams or other exam week requirements that may overlap with a religious holiday must be petitioned using the Exam Week Policies standards adopted by the faculty.

The Office of Campus Ministries will maintain on its website a calendar of the most important holidays in major religious traditions. While the college encourages students to celebrate any cultural customs and traditions that hold personal significance, we are not able to excuse students from class attendance or participation in course requirements for cultural observations.  

Questions that arise in carrying out this policy should be addressed to the College Registrar or the Office of Academic Affairs.

Reading/Writing Center

The Reading/Writing Center (RWC), located in Gerber 423, provides feedback for any student, on any reading/writing assignment, in any class. Staffed by 23 peer tutors and four faculty tutors, the RWC is a free service. Students are encouraged to come early and often, scheduling in-person appointments and/or requesting feedback via email as they wish. We also take walk-ins as our schedule allows.

In-person appointments with peer or faculty tutors are 40 minutes long and are ideal for brainstorming and early-stage drafting, reading-related sessions, or just having a friendly conversation about all things reading/writing.

Feedback via email is a good option for those who aren’t available during RWC open hours or who would prefer to communicate via writing rather than face-to-face.

Make an appointment for either type of session via Starfish (instructions). If you have any trouble doing so, email readingwritingcenter@augustana.edu or call 309-794-8987 during open hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday; and 7-9 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, see the Learning Commons.