University Syllabus Policy

Purpose

This policy establishes the requirements for course syllabi at McNeese State University to ensure consistency, transparency, and academic integrity across all instructional formats. It outlines the essential components that must be included in each syllabus, sets expectations for timely posting and departmental review, and affirms the role of the syllabus as a foundational tool for student learning and communication of course requirements, University policies, and support resources.

Policy

For each course taught, regardless of delivery method, faculty must post a syllabus on the learning management system (LMS) five calendar days prior to the first day of class for the term (or part of term). Courses in the LMS must be active by this deadline so that syllabi can be viewed by enrolled students. Faculty must follow the course syllabus and inform students of their responsibility to access, read, and reference the course syllabus for student learning outcomes, course attendance expectations, methods of evaluation, and available University resources. The syllabus should be reviewed and updated each semester and must be provided to the department at the same time it is posted in the LMS. The department head should verify that syllabi adhere to the requirements below and should maintain a file of all course syllabi for a ten-year period.

Required Syllabi Components

All syllabi must include, at a minimum, the following information:

1. General course information:
   1. Course prefix, number, and title
   2. Instructor of record’s name
   3. Office location and hours (faculty teaching online course sections must include virtual office hours)
   4. McNeese email address
   5. Course description as stated in the current Academic Catalog
   6. Prerequisite requirements (courses, experience, skills, permission, student classification, etc.) as stated in the current Academic Catalog
   7. Textbooks and other required materials
2. Student learning outcomes (SLOs), which describe the knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or attitudes students will develop from the course.
   1. Student Learning Outcome Examples:
      1. The student will communicate effectively in writing using American Psychological Association (APA) style, the accepted publication style of the discipline.
      2. The student will recognize and explain the major theoretical perspectives and key issues of debate in the academic study of philosophy.
      3. The student will design and conduct a research project relevant to engineering.
   2. Syllabi for courses taught at the 400 level that are also offered for graduate credit at the 500 level must identify SLOs and other course requirements for both undergraduate and graduate students. SACSCOC Standard 9.6 requires that courses that allow both undergraduate and graduate enrollment ensure that there is a clear distinction between the requirements of undergraduate students and graduate students; requirements for graduate-level credit should include content/assignments more advanced than that expected of undergraduate students and be graded accordingly.
   3. Syllabi for courses designated as General Education must include the following statement: “This course has been designated as a General Education course and, as such, addresses students’ achievement of this General Education student learning outcome: [state the General Education SLO for the area of the General Education Curriculum in which this course is listed].”
3. Methods of evaluation or grading requirements:
   1. Must include frequency and types of examinations and assessments that impact the course grade.
   2. Must include the weight given to each assessment in calculating the course grade.
   3. Must include a grading scale that defines values for earning letter grades.
   4. Must adhere to the Exams or Student Learning Assessment Policy.
      1. Faculty must administer a final exam or assessment during the scheduled final exam period.
      2. Faculty must stipulate in course syllabi whether monitoring or proctoring services for exams will be required, what costs (if any) students will incur, and how to arrange monitoring appointments.
4. Expectations regarding students’ use of artificial intelligence (AI):
   1. Faculty have complete discretion regarding the extent to which they allow students to use AI for their coursework; however, faculty must clearly communicate their expectations regarding the use of AI in syllabi and are encouraged to utilize one of the following statements:
      1. AI Use Prohibited: Students are expected to produce and submit work that is entirely their own, whether individually or, in the case of group assignments, collaboratively. While students are free to use generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools (e.g., ChatGPT) to study, the use of AI to generate any work submitted for a grade in this course is prohibited and constitutes a violation of the University’s Academic Integrity Policy.
      2. AI Use Permitted with Appropriate Attribution: Students may use generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools (e.g., ChatGPT) for specific assignments if permitted by the faculty member and outlined in the assignment instructions. In accordance with the University’s Academic Integrity Policy, students must disclose any use of AI-generated content and provide appropriate attribution, including in-text citations, quotations, and references. Students should not share sensitive or private information when using AI tools. This includes, but is not limited to, personally identifiable information (PII), protected health information (PHI), financial data, intellectual property (IP), and any legally protected information.
5. Course Attendance, Withdrawal, and Resignation Policy:
   1. Faculty must include expectations regarding class attendance or online participation (see Course Attendance, Withdrawal, and Resignation Policy) and include the link to the Course Attendance, Withdrawal, and Resignation Policy (https://www.mcneese.edu/policy/course-attendance-withdrawal-and-resignation-policy/).
   2. Faculty who will enforce the Withdrawal from Courses for Non-Attendance provisions of the Course Attendance, Withdrawal, and Resignation Policy must clearly state so in the course syllabus.
6. Faculty must include the following statements on all syllabi:
   1. Academic and Student Support Services: McNeese offers students many services for free, including but not limited to tutoring, counseling, and career testing. Students are strongly encouraged to utilize all available academic and student support services listed on the Academic and Student Support Services page of the Academic Catalog.
   2. Academic Integrity Policy: This policy provides students, faculty, and staff with guidelines regarding expectations for academic integrity, what behaviors violate academic integrity, and the process for addressing academic integrity issues. https://www.mcneese.edu/policy/academic-integrity-policy/
   3. Accessible Participation Policy: It is the student’s responsibility to register with the Office of Accessibility Services when requesting an academic adjustment in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It is highly recommended that students register as early as possible to receive the accommodations they need. Retroactive accommodations are not provided. Any student with a disability is encouraged to contact the Office of Accessibility Services, located in the Burton Business Center, Room 205A, by phone at (337) 475-5916, by fax at (337) 475-5878, or by email at ssd@mcneese.edu. All students, including students with disabilities, are responsible for locating the designated emergency exits and the areas of refuge in a classroom building and are encouraged to develop and discuss an evacuation plan with the faculty member. https://www.mcneese.edu/policy/accessible-participation-policy/
   4. Civility and Personal Conduct Policy: Students should visit https://www.mcneese.edu/compliance and https://www.mcneese.edu/policy/ on the University website for policies and procedures regarding disabilities, sexual misconduct, anti-bullying, civility and personal conduct, and retaliation. https://www.mcneese.edu/policy/civility-and-personal-conduct-policy/
   5. Fire Drill Policy: In compliance with the law, McNeese State University will periodically conduct fire drills. https://www.mcneese.edu/policy/fire-drill-policy/
   6. Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources Policy: It is the student’s responsibility to ensure adequate access to the technology required for a course. This may include access to a computer (not Chromebooks, iPads, etc.), webcam, internet, adequate bandwidth, etc. This requirement is a standard expectation for all courses regardless of initial course delivery format. https://www.mcneese.edu/policy/acceptable-use-of-information-technology-resourc/
   7. Course Delivery Classifications Policy: For courses initially being delivered in a face-to-face or hybrid format, the faculty member may modify the course delivery method to ensure safety and to respond to constraints that may continue to change throughout the term such as weather or other events that may disrupt face-to-face instruction. Courses beginning in a fully online format will remain online throughout the term. https://www.mcneese.edu/policy/course-delivery-classifications-policy/
   8. Student Handbook: Students should refer to the Student Handbook for the list of Student Rights and Responsibilities as well as the Code of Student Conduct. https://www.mcneese.edu/policy/student-handbook/

Applicable University Policies

• Course Attendance, Withdrawal, and Resignation Policy
• Curriculum and Course Development Policy
• Exams or Student Learning Assessment Policy
• Grading System Policy
• Medical Leave Policy for Students
• Study Day Policy

Communication

This policy is distributed via the University Policies webpage.