CLAS Spring 2024 Syllabus Information for Undergraduate and Graduate Courses

To: Departmental Executive Officers
From: Cornelia Lang, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education and Christine Getz, Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Outreach and Engagement
RE: CLAS Spring 2024 Syllabus Information for Undergraduate and Graduate Courses

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As you prepare for the Spring 2024 semester, please make note of these key instructional resources that may be helpful.

  • CLAS Syllabus Template for AY23-24: The CLAS Syllabus Template can be found here. Unless noted, the elements on this syllabus template are required for undergraduate and graduate syllabi. The highlighted yellow text on the syllabus template provides instructors with additional guidance and examples; this text should be reviewed by instructors as they build their syllabus and should be removed or adjusted as appropriate. 
  • Student absences: Please review the revised Student Attendance and Absences webpage for more information to help you plan your course attendance and absence policies.
  • Undergraduate grading: CLAS has revised its guidance on grading for undergraduate courses, emphasizing grading schemes and strategies that support student success while also maintaining appropriate academic standards. Note that all instructors of undergraduate courses are required to use ICON for student grades.
  • Mental health resources for students: CLAS encourages instructors to draw students’ attention to the expanded language on mental health resources in the CLAS syllabus at the beginning of the course and frequently throughout the semester.
  • Working with students in distress: To better support instructors when students share concerning information about their mental health, we have created a CLAS Instructor Guide for Supporting Students in Distress.
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Teaching: We strongly recommend that instructors provide clear guidance for students in their syllabus about the use and/or misuse of AI Tools in their courses. The Office of Teaching and Learning Technology (OTLT) has excellent resources for instructors and opportunities to learn more about this rapidly changing technology.
  • ICON Tool for SDS Letters of Accommodations (LOA): Students registered with Student Disability Services (SDS) with active Letters of Accommodation will appear in the new SDS Summary tab within the MAUI in ICON application (part of the navigation menu on your ICON course site). However, students are still responsible for sharing their LOA and communicating with their instructors, and instructors are still responsible for responding to and engaging with students about their accommodation requests. For more information, see visit SDS’s webpage on information for instructors.