The purpose of the syllabus is to provide information about the course and the broader university learning environment: course objectives, readings, assignments, policies, forms of academic support, and other relevant information to support the student learning experience. The syllabus is a kind of contract between students and the instructor that outlines the course design and content, provides an overview of what students can expect from the course and professor, and states the responsibilities and requirements they are expected to fulfill in order to complete the course. Please refer to the below information for university-wide policies regarding syllabi.
Additional information and in-depth resources on course design for student-centered learning, including an introduction to the Backward Design of courses, Course Planning Guides, information on Inclusive Teaching Practices in course design and delivery, and best practices to Create Student Learning Outcomes, can be found on the Course Design page of the Faculty Center’s Guide to Teaching and Learning. Also refer to the Writing Student Learning Outcomes webpage on the university’s Assessment of Student Learning website and Examples of Liberal Arts Learning Outcomes in Course Syllabi for additional resources.
Given the key role that the syllabus plays in guiding student learning and expectations, university policy states that syllabi are required for all classes. All instructors should provide each student with a paper or electronic copy of the syllabus on the first day of class. For online classes, syllabi should be posted to Canvas before the first day of class. In addition, all faculty members must post their syllabi to Canvas by the end of the first week of class.
Certain items, such as a course description, the attendance policy, and the academic honesty policy, must be included in every course syllabus at The New School. All requirements for the 2023–2024 academic year are listed in the New School Syllabus Requirements. Faculty may find the Complete Syllabus Template helpful in incorporating these requirements into their syllabi.
In addition to the required items on the syllabus, faculty may want to include supplementary material to help students succeed in the course. For example, faculty could provide:
- Helpful hints for studying, taking notes, or doing well in class
- Course policy regarding the use of generative artificial intelligence tools (ChatGPT, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, etc.)
- Glossary of technical terms used in the course
- Resources for more in-depth exploration of specific topics
- A Bibliography of supplemental readings
- A calendar of campus lectures, plays, events, exhibitions, or other activities relevant to your course
The Course Design page of the Guide to Teaching and Learning provides additional information and in-depth resources on course design for student-centered learning.