THE COURSE SYLLABI
All students must be informed in writing of the course content and other matters listed in this rule at no cost to the student. Students have the right to be informed in writing (in the course syllabus) about the nature of the course, including the content, the activities to be evaluated and the grading practice to be followed. The course syllabus shall provide information to students regarding any factors used in determining grades (e.g. absences, required interactions and late assignments). Syllabi may be posted electronically but must be shared with students by the third day of the Fall and Spring Semesters, or, for compressed courses and courses in the Summer Session and Winter Intersession, by the first day of the course. Electronically posted syllabi must remain available to students for the entire term.
Course syllabi must address a series of required components and include Academic Policy Statements. Syllabi for undergraduate and graduate courses must also include rules regarding academic offenses for undergraduate and graduate students. (There may be additional rules for professional courses and programs.)
A checklist detailing the essential elements of a syllabus is available here.
ACADEMIC POLICY STATEMENTS
Academic Policy Statements are applicable to all courses, such as policies on excused absences, religious observances, accommodations due to disability and non-discrimination and Title IX requirements. Instructors may either insert the full narrative of the Academic Policy Statements into a syllabus or include the URL/hyperlink to the Academic Policy Statements web page (https://provost.uky.edu/proposals/guidance-course-proposals/standard-academic-policy-statements).
RULES REGARDING ACADEMIC OFFENSES
Instructors for courses with undergraduate and graduate students must insert the full language on academic offenses (“Plagiarism,” “Cheating,” “Falsification or Misuse of Academic Records”) in a syllabus.
Instructors for professional courses and programs must describe applicable academic offense policies within their syllabi or include a URL/hyperlink to a web page with that information.
RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS
Instructors are encouraged to provide students with a list of available resources.
OPTIONAL INFORMATION FOR SYLLABI
As non-required information that instructors may opt to include in a course, the following items may also be included: if required by an accrediting agency, course goals or objectives (in addition to student learning outcomes or SLOs); classroom behavior policies; course material copyright statement; or classroom recording policy.