COURSE OUTLINE AND SYLLABUS

Course Outlines - The official course outline is the College agreement with the State and the student on course content.

Each course offered by the College has an official course outline on file in the Academic Affairs office. This has been developed in the instructional area, approved by the department, reviewed by an Occupational Advisory Committee (vocational courses only), approved by the College Curriculum Committee, and adopted by the Board of Trustees.

Course outlines assure consistency of instruction between one campus and another, one instructor and another, and one semester and another. Furthermore, they are the basis for determining transferability between Riverside Community College and other colleges and universities. As such, they must be adhered to by every faculty member. An instructor formally agrees to teach in accordance with the course outline when he/she accepts a teaching assignment.

Faculty should obtain a copy of the official course outline for each assigned course and use it as the basis for the class and the syllabus.

Changes to Course Outlines - If an instructor feels a course outline requires change(s), he or she should discuss this need with the department chair. Changes can be made to the course outlines, but such changes must follow the approved curriculum process. See Curriculum Information.

Introduction of New Courses - New courses may be proposed by any faculty member. Adoption of new courses occurs through the approved curriculum process developed jointly by the College and the Academic Senate. See Curriculum Information.

COURSE SYLLABUS

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges, which accredits RCCD, requires instructors to prepare and distribute to their students at the first class meeting a syllabus detailing course information and policies (Accreditation Standards: Standard II, #6). The Course Syllabus provides students with information about course expectations and protects faculty from unwarranted grievances from students. Students have a right to know how they may successfully complete the class, and if they perceive any injustice has taken place, they may file an academic appeal. When changes occur during a term, revisions to the syllabus should be noted. If an instructor says "I told them...," this may or may not be considered sufficient in a grievance. However, written guidelines leave little room for argument and, in fact, become the instructor's contract with the student.

All syllabi should be delivered electronically or on paper to your Instructional Department Specialist and be available on file in the department office.

A syllabus template created by RCCD faculty is available for your use at http://www.rccdfaculty.net/pages/syllabus_template.doc. You are not required to use the template, but may use any language that will be helpful to you.

SYLLABUS CHECKLIST

General Information

1. Instructor's name and preferred title (Dr., Professor, Mrs., etc.)
2. Campus or other phone numbers, including voice mail and e-mail where students can contact or leave a message for the instructor
3. Name of the course and section number
4. Intended Student Learning Outcomes (these must be consistent with the Course Outline of Record).

Identification of Reading Materials

1. Title of the required text(s) and supplementary materials
2. Other required reading materials (if any)
3. Suggested supplementary readings (if any)
4. Books and articles that have been placed on reserve in the library (if any).

Course Requirements

1. Topical outline of class discussions or lectures and the dates that material will be covered
2. Assignments and their due dates
3. Final exam date and time, include a statement that finals are mandatory. (A final exam is required by California Education Code.)
4. Identification of dates the class will not meet (District holidays, or mid-semester breaks)
5. Basic overview and learning outcomes
6. Criteria/expectations for term papers, projects, or other special assignments
7. Special instructions/requirements relating to laboratories (as applicable).

Instructor Policies

1. Grading policy: A clear statement of the criteria by which grades will be assigned and the relative weight that will be given to each of the grading criteria.
2. Attendance and tardy policy
3. A statement that all assignments and exams must be submitted in order to complete the course successfully
4. Make-up exam policy (if any)
5. Extra-credit policy (if any)
6. Policy on cheating/plagiarism
7. Drop policy. Some instructors state that if a student finds it is necessary to drop a class, it is the responsibility of the student to officially drop the class by submitting a drop card to the Admissions office
8. A statement that no eating, drinking or smoking is allowed in the classroom (whether or not the class is in session)
9. Please include a statement on Disabled Students Programs & Services such as:

If you have a documented disability requiring accommodation in this class, please contact me or the Office of Disabled Students Programs and Services. We will be happy to work with you in determining appropriate accommodations to meet the educational limitations resulting from your disability. The locations and phone numbers are as follows:

Riverside City Campus - ADM 121 - 222-8060
Moreno Valley Campus - Science &Technology 150 - 571-6138
Norco Campus - Student Service Building (Next door to Health Services) - 372-7070

NOTE: Changes to the syllabus must be clearly communicated to students.

For a detailed discussion on how to build a learner-centered syllabus and downloadable templates with sample language, please see 4faculty.org, module 105.