Syllabus Statements

What Should I Include in My Syllabus?

We encourage all professors to include the following syllabus statement. Additionally, we encourage you to be specific and clear about expectations for other course requirements. Examples are included below of possible statements related to common course requirements for which accommodations are requested. 

Example Syllabus Statement:

Wake Forest University provides reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Academic accommodations are coordinated through the Center for Learning, Access, and Student Success (CLASS).  If you would like to request accommodations for this course, you should contact CLASS as early in the semester as possible (class.wfu.edu,118 Reynolda Hall). Please contact me privately after sending notifications through the CLASS office Student Portal system. Retroactive accommodations will not be provided.

Example Syllabus Statement for Attendance and Participation:

Activities and discussions are an integral part of learning for this class. Attendance at all sessions is important. You may miss up to three sessions for any reason with no penalty, and for this reason you are encouraged not to attend class if you are feeling unwell or may be contagious to others. Beyond these three sessions, each absence will lower your grade unless an agreement has been made in advance of the absences. You will be responsible for any missed work or material.

Example Syllabus Statement for Deadlines and Late Assignments:

Assignment deadlines are an important part of being prepared for engaging with your peers in class and to provide regular opportunities for feedback about your learning. Many of the assignments for this course build upon earlier assignments, and delaying the completion of assignments can negatively impact successful completion of the course by the date grades are due at the end of the semester. For this reason, following the deadlines established in the syllabus is very important. Please contact me ahead of a deadline if a deadline will not be met to discuss if there is any flexibility possible with the understanding that in some cases no flexibility will be possible given other constraints.