Geology Generic Undergraduate Course Syllabus

GEOLXXX: Course Title

University of Maryland, Department of Geology

Section: xxxx
Semester, 20xx
Location Meeting times

Lecturer: XXX
Office: XXX
Office Hours: XXX
Phone: XXX
Email: XXX

Contents:

Policies:

Text: XXX

Description: Course description as it appears in the Undergraduate Catalog.

GenEd: Whichever category applies.

CORE: Whichever category applies.

Restriction: Whichever restrictions apply.

Learning Outcomes: If learning outcomes have formally been specified in VPAC or GenEd certification proposals, plese use them. Many of our courses predate formal learning outcomes. As you specify these, be aware that the future trend appears to be toward stricter faculty accountability to stated learning outcomes. By the end of the semester, every student should be able to:

  • do this
  • do that
  • do the other thing

Attendance policy: State explicitly. See VPAC Site for guidance.

ELMS: If you use ELMS, provide links and describe how it will be used.

Final grades: Provide:

  • Identification of graded course material and deliverables (quizzes, exams, research papers, etc.)
  • Formula for calculation of final grades
  • General expectations

Appeal of grades: Provide policy.

POLICIES When in doubt, we recommend you use the following boilerplate text.

  • Absences: An example that is consistent with VPAC Site guidelines. Modify as necessary. Regular attendance and participation in this class is the best way to grasp the concepts and principles being discussed. However, in the event that a class must be missed due to an illness, the policy in this class is as follows:
    • For every medically necessary absence from class, a reasonable effort should be made to notify the instructor in advance of the class. When returning to class, students must bring a note identifying the date of and reason for the absence, and acknowledging that the information in the note is accurate.
    • If a student is absent more than once, the instructor may require documentation signed by a health care professional.
    • If a student is absent on days when tests or presentations are scheduled or assignments are due he or she is required to notify the instructor in advance, and upon returning to class, bring documentation of the illness, signed by a health care professional.
  • Academic Accommodations: If you have a documented disability, you should contact the instructor during the first week of class, and contact Disability Support Services 0126 Shoemaker Hall. Each semester students with documented disabilities should apply to DSS for accommodation request forms which you can provide to your professors as proof of your eligibility for accommodations. The rules for eligibility and the types of accommodations a student may request can be reviewed on the DSS web site.
  • Religious Observances: The University System of Maryland policy provides that students should not be penalized because of observances of their religious beliefs, students shall be given an opportunity, whenever feasible, to make up within a reasonable time any academic assignment that is missed due to individual participation in religious observances. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor of any intended absences for religious observances in advance. Notice should be provided as soon as possible but no later than the end of the schedule adjustment period. Please be especially careful to identify conflicts between religious observances and scheduled exams.
  • Dishonesty: The Student Honor Council observes that, "The University of Maryland, College Park has a nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council. This Code sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland for all undergraduate and graduate students. As a student you are responsible for upholding these standards for this course. It is very important for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism. For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit http://osc.umd.edu/OSC/StudentNotice.aspx."

    Thus, in GEOLXXX, work submitted under your name, even for extra credit, must unambiguously be exclusively your own. Any evidence of dishonesty on any graded assignment will result in a referral to the Office of Student Conduct. Note that Geology regards the unauthorized distribution of any course materials as constituting facilitation of academic dishonesty and will report this to the OSC. :-O
  • Course Evaluations: CourseEvalUM will be open for students to complete their evaluations for Fall 20xx courses between ***, and ***. Students can go directly to the website to complete their evaluations, beginning November ***. You will be alerted about these dates and provided more information closer to that time, and students will be alerted via their official University e-mail account.

    Students who complete evaluations for all of their courses in the previous semester (excluding summer), can access the posted results via Testudo's CourseEvalUM Reporting link for any course on campus that has at least a 70% response rate. You can find more information, including periodic updates, at the IRPA course evaluation website.

    The expectation is that all students will complete these. This is YOUR chance to anonymously evaluate this class: please use this opportunity!
  • Copyright: © 20xx faculty name as to this syllabus and all lectures. Students are prohibited from copying and selling course materials, from selling lecture notes, and from being paid to take lecture notes without the express written permission of the faculty teaching this course.

Lecture and exam schedule: Provide schedule including final exam date and time

The instructor reserves the right to modify this schedule at his/her most trivial whim.