(Approved by the President, June 8, 2005)

Del Mar College encourages the development of a clear understanding between the student and the instructor of the goals, policies, expectations, and schedule of work for all courses at the College.  Therefore, on the first day or during the first week of each course, faculty members at the College distribute a syllabus that describe these elements for every course, as well as any other information that promotes good instruction.  The syllabus may be online or on paper. A good course syllabus clarifies in writing the obligations, responsibilities, and expectations of all parties.  A syllabus provides for continuity in cases where an instructor is unable to complete a course.  Syllabi should address all program accreditation standards as well as Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board criteria. These guidelines for syllabi are not intended to infringe on the academic freedom of individual instructors; rather, they are provided to help instructors develop syllabi that encourage understanding between the instructor, the student, and the College.

DMC syllabi include the following:

1. The names of the College, the department and/or the program; the course title, number, and description from the College Catalog, REM levels, and prerequisites (if any).
2. For campus-based courses, the class location and meeting times which should include the building and room number, and the meeting times and days.
3. Instructor's name, phone number(s), and office hours (for a part-time instructor, this can be a statement of availability before and after class).
4. A statement of what assessment (testing) techniques will be used to evaluate students, including information on grading policies and how the evaluation activities will be weighted.
5. A statement regarding how a student can request disability accommodations.
6. A list of the course textbooks and/or other required materials or tools.
7. A tentative schedule of topics.
8. A reference to the Code of Conduct in the Student Handbook.

For specific courses, the following items may be required:

1. Core curriculum courses
   • Exemplary objectives
2. Vocational and technical courses
• Clearly identified capstone
• Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS)
3. Course with content that is significantly or totally web-based
• A list of browser settings that will need to be set by the student (such as the resetting of cache, enabling of Java, checking for updates on each visit to the page, etc.)
• Instruction and link to a WebCT course management tutorial
• A list of prerequisite skills needed to be successful in online courses such as keyboarding, file management, time management, and goal setting
• A list of instructor expectations for the student regarding, among other things, how many hours per week should be devoted to the course, the number of course logins per week, and the frequency of discussion postings.
• Instructor e-mail address and length of time the student should expect before an instructor responds to an inquiry.
• A list of supplemental information resources that may include a reading list, bibliography, and Internet resources.

1. A list of overall objectives that introduces students to what they should know and be able to do by the end of the course.
2. A description of course format, so that students know what to expect about how the instructor will be using class time.
3. A statement of expectations in terms of student responsibilities, clearly stating what the instructor expects (such as class attendance, participation, making up assignments, academic dishonesty, other available student support services.)
4. A description of safety and health rules used in the course.
5. A schedule of class dates and topics, along with week-by-week project assignments and reading assignments.
6. A listing of due dates for papers, exams, projects, and so on, including any policies about late assignments.
7. Additional instructor information such as learning/teaching philosophy, emergency contact, web page, or e-mail address.
8. The purpose of the course and/or the departmental mission and unit plan goals, etc.
9. A reference to criteria used to measure course or faculty effectiveness.

For assistance in developing syllabi, contact your department chair and/or the Teaching and Learning Center .