Why is the course syllabus important?

For you:

• Provides a planning and communication tool with which to set realistic expectations for you and your students
• Organizes your thoughts and your approach to the subject
• Helps you and your students to stay focused on the course objectives and exit outcomes

For your students:

• Provides students with a vision of the course and what is required of them to be successful
• Functions as a contract that elaborates on all components of the course and sets student expectations
• Confirms that enrolled students represent a range of backgrounds, needs, and perspectives
• Includes a course schedule plan that provides details in a chronological format about date, meeting, topic, reading, and assignments/activities

For UW Extension:

• Assures standardization and continuity across instructors and within the program
• Demonstrates to approving departments/schools and the advisory board that the course fulfills curriculum standards
• Provides documentation and a record of course coverage
• Ties the syllabus to the course descriptions as published in catalogs, brochures, and on the web site

How and when to distribute the syllabus

• To UW Extension at least three months in advance of the course start date
• To students as a printed document during the first class meeting (or if applicable, to continuing certificate program students during the final meeting of the previous course)
• To students via a faculty web page (Catalyst tool SimpleSite), enabling easy revisions during the course

Essential components of a useful syllabus

• Course data and contact information
• Official (published) course description
• Course objectives
• Course topics
• Course format
• Text(s) and required materials
• Evaluation and grading
• Classroom rules of conduct
• Other information
• Course schedule plan