Create Your Syllabus

(Updated 07/24/25)

General Education Program
To ensure that students understand the continuity of General Education as a whole and the specific learning outcomes of each course, we ask that you include the Gen Ed statement from the appropriate category on your syllabus. Visit the General Education Program Information for Faculty page to locate these category statements.

(Updated 07/24/25)

Absence for Bereavement, Active Military Duty, Serious Communicable Disease

If you need to miss class due to the loss of a family member, active military duty, or required quarantine/isolation for a serious communicable disease, contact the Dean of Students Office to request that a formal excused absence notice be sent to your instructors. The Dean of Students Office can send a courtesy notice to your instructors about other absences, but many other absences (including routine illness for which isolation/quarantine are not indicated) are governed by the absence policy for this course and are not excused under university policy.

Absence for University-Authorized Activity

If you need to miss class due to a university-authorized activity, as defined by University policy, it is your responsibility to (1) inform instructors of scheduled absences in advance, (2) provide a schedule of all semester absences, as soon as you know, where possible, and, (3) arrange to complete missed class work. Ultimately, it is your responsibility for any material covered in missed class(es).

(Updated 07/24/25)

In addition to the required Absence Statements noted above, below are sample other absence statements for instructor consideration. 

Option 1 

As stated in the Undergraduate Catalog, you are responsible for attending class and completing all assigned academic work. Make arrangements with me in advance if you will be missing class due to participation in a University-Authorized Activity, fulfillment of a religious obligation, exercise of a bereavement leave, or another university-recognized excused absence.

Option 2 

As responsible adults investing in their future, Illinois State University students are encouraged to take control of their own education, especially when life and health challenges interfere with the planned process. When students need to miss class, they must be swift and proactive in working with their instructors to take advantage of learning opportunities, develop mastery of course materials, meet the learning objectives as outlined in the course, and prepare themselves for more advanced learning. 

Option 3 

To be socially responsible, please do not attend class if you feel your safety and the safety of your classmates and faculty may be compromised by your attendance. When you need to miss class, you must be swift and proactive in working with your instructors as necessary to meet the learning objectives of the course. 

Option 4 

You are responsible for attending class and completing all academic work. You are also responsible for communicating any absences. If you have missed class or know that you will miss a future class, fill out this form (insert link here). 

NOTE: Faculty have access to both Qualtrics and Microsoft Forms and you may want to include a link to the form on your Canvas site. When you create your student absence form ask for the information described below, requiring answers to all questions so that only a completed form may be submitted. Adjust the settings so that you receive an email when a student submits the form. 

• Dates missed or will miss 
• Assignments, quizzes, exams, etc. missed 
• Are they missing lecture/lab/performance/clinical, etc. 

(Updated 08/09/24)

You are expected to be honest in all academic work, consistent with the academic integrity policy as outlined in the Code of Student Conduct and any additional syllabus language. All work is to be appropriately cited when it is borrowed, directly or indirectly, from another source. Unauthorized and/or unacknowledged collaboration on any work, or the presentation of someone else’s work as your own, is a form of academic dishonesty under the Code of Student Conduct. 

Content generated by an Artificial Intelligence third-party service or site (AI-generated content) without proper authorization and attribution is a form of academic dishonesty. If you are unsure about whether something used in your work requires attribution, please reach out to me to discuss it as soon as possible. Allegations of academic dishonesty will be referred to Student Conduct and Community Responsibilities, for review under the Student Code of Conduct. Students found responsible for academic dishonesty may also be assigned a grade penalty by the instructor. 

(Updated 07/24/25)

Suggested Syllabus Language for Teaching in the Age of AI

These suggestions were inspired by and adapted from the work of the Auburn University Biggio Center for Teaching and Learning’s guidance for course instructors.

Option 1

Generative AI use in this course is welcome with proper attribution.

In this course, students can use generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT or Adobe Firefly) to complete assigned work, so long as the use of generative AI tools is properly disclosed through in-text citations, quotations, and references. Please refer to the style manual that aligns with your discipline for specific guidelines for attribution. Note that any use of generative AI must be both responsible and ethical. This means that students using generative AI are required to comply with all privacy laws and research requirements to protect data and must have appropriate permissions to enter data into a generative AI tool.  Students should clarify any questions on whether data or information may be entered into a generative AI tool with the instructor.

Option 2

Generative AI can be used in this course at specified times with proper attribution.

In this course, students can use generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT or Adobe Firefly) to complete specific assignments, given instructor guidance and permission, so long as the use of generative AI tools is properly disclosed through in-text citations, quotations, and references. Please refer to the style manual that aligns with your discipline for specific guidelines for attribution. Note that any use of generative AI must be both responsible and ethical. This means that students using generative AI are required to comply with all privacy laws and research requirements to protect data and must have appropriate permissions to enter data into a generative AI tool. Students should clarify any questions on whether data or information may be entered into a generative AI tool with the instructor.

Option 3

Students may use generative AI tools to support independent study practices, but content created in whole or in part by AI may not be incorporated into any assigned coursework.

In this course, the use of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT or Adobe Firefly) is not permitted during the completion of any assigned work. Use of a generative AI tool to complete assigned work in whole or in part may be referred under the Code of Student Conduct academic dishonesty provisions for further action by the Dean of Students Office. Students may use generative AI tools to support their independent study of course topics but should do so with the understanding that generative AI tools may not be trustworthy.

Option 4

Generative AI use is not permitted in this class.

In this course, the use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT or Adobe Firefly is not permitted to support the completion of any assigned work. This includes, but is not limited to, using generative AI tools to ideate, pre-plan, edit, translate, or otherwise create original material you claim to be solely your creation. Use of a generative AI tool to complete assigned work in whole or in part may be referred under the Code of Student Conduct academic dishonesty provisions for further action by the Dean of Students Office.

(Updated 07/24/25)

Illinois State University is committed to maintaining a safe environment for the University community. Please download the SafeRedbirds app, the official safety application for Illinois State University. Students should also consult information posted in each classroom about emergency shelters and evacuation assembly areas (both are indicated on stickers inside every classroom).

(See this  one-page reference sheet for talking points on the first day of class about this and a few emergency scenarios.) 

(Updated 08/09/24)

In the classroom and other learning environments, you are expected to conduct yourself in a manner consistent with Illinois State University’s Code of Student Conduct and you should familiarize yourself with the University Classroom Disruption Policy 4.1.17. 

Disruptive student conduct is behavior in a classroom or other learning environment (including in person and virtual learning environment in both on and off campus locations) that disrupts the educational process. Examples of disruptive behavior include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• threatening, intimidating, or other inappropriate behavior toward the instructor or classmates 
• persisting in disruptive personal conversations with other class members 
• unreasonable interference with class discussion or activities 
• repeated interruptions by electronic devices 
• refusing to follow the direction of the instructor or other university official 
• leaving and entering class frequently without notifying the instructor of illness or other extenuating circumstances 

Students who demonstrate disruptive class behavior may be removed from the classroom for the remainder of that class session and/or may be referred to the Dean of Student Office in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct Policy 4-1-17. 

(Updated 08/09/24)

Scholarly discourse or exchanges in an instructional setting may include diverse perspectives, and difficult situations sometimes arise in conversations between people with differing opinions. We may choose to turn contentious moments into valuable learning experiences for all and will work to agree on the following ground rules for constructive conversations: 

• Constructive conversations should relate to course goals and objectives. 
• Ensure everyone has an opportunity to speak and be heard. 
• Listen actively without interrupting. Seek to understand before responding. 
• Focus on ideas and arguments rather than attacking individuals. 
• Respect and maintain privacy regarding personal disclosures made during discussions.   
• Be open to considering different viewpoints and willing to consider new information. 

Note to the instructor: you can post the guideline here or you can work with your students to create community guidelines. Here are some examples of ground rules: 

(Updated 07/24/25)

ISU is committed to creating and maintaining a learning environment that is welcoming, supportive, respectful, inclusive, diverse, and free from discrimination and harassment. University classrooms are perhaps the most diverse learning environment in which you have ever been. We will most often be speaking across differences—sex, gender, sexuality, race, nation, economic class, religion, age, ability, political views, and more. This diversity will be an asset to our discussions and other learning experiences in this course. I encourage you to consider the experiences of your classmates to be equally valuable as your own. For resources on reporting concerns, please contact the Dean on Duty.

(Updated 08/09/24)

Illinois State University was built on the land of multiple native nations. These lands were the traditional birthright of Indigenous people who were forcibly removed and have faced centuries of struggle for survival and identity in the wake of dispossession and displacement. We would like to acknowledge that our campus sits on the lands that were once home to the Illini, Peoria and the Myaamia, and later due to colonial encroachment and displacement to the Fox, Potawatomi, Sauk, Shawnee, Winnebago, Ioway, Mascouten, Piankashaw, Wea, and Kickapoo Nations. We also express honor to those Indigenous people who we may have excluded in this acknowledgement due to erasure and historical inaccuracy. 

Thanks to the members of the ISU Native American Studies program, the Department of History, the Department of Sociology, Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies: and the Multicultural Center for sharing their land acknowledgment statements, which were used to develop this statement. 

(Updated 07/24/25)

Life at college can get very complicated. It’s common to face challenges in college, whether they relate to academics, identity, relationships, mental health, or other personal matters. If you're feeling stressed, overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, or simply need someone to talk to, you're not alone—help is available.

Student Counseling Services (SCS) provides FREE and confidential counseling to all students, inclusive of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. You can visit SCS in person at 320 Student Services Building, make an appointment online through the Secure Student Health Portal, or call (309) 438-3655 to access services. Additional information can be found at Counseling.IllinoisState.edu.  

In addition, TimelyCare is a free, 24/7 virtual mental health and well-being platform for ISU students. It offers immediate access to mental health support, including on-demand mental health counseling, scheduled counseling visits, health coaching, and digital self-care. You can access TimelyCare by visiting online at Counseling.IllinoisState.edu/Services/Timely-Care, through the Redbird Well page on the ISU mobile app, or by downloading the TimelyCare app.

Please don’t hesitate to use these services, and feel free to reach out to your professor if you need help connecting with campus support. Your health and well-being matters.

(Updated 08/09/24)

You will be required to complete your exams for this course through Proctortrack software. You must download the software and complete a test run of the software by XXXXX date. For more information on the onboarding process, here is a short video. You can also read more about this process in this Help Desk article. 

If you do not have the necessary technology capacity, please 1) email me to let me know and 2) then contact the Technology Support Center at Help.IllinoisState.edu. The Technology Support Center will assist with setting up your current computer or assist with receiving a loaner laptop that has the necessary capacity. 

Students who would like to request an accommodation due to a disability should contact Student Access and Accommodations Services as they would for any exam. Please do so as soon as possible to allow sufficient time for processing your request for an accommodation 

If you have other non-technology or accommodation related concerns, more information can be found here.  

(Updated 08/09/24)

Student Navigator Program 

The Student Navigator program is a student-led, peer-to-peer initiative in the Dean of Students Office designed to assist students facing economic hardships and basic needs crises. Referrals are available to resources for food, textbooks, housing, finances, health, and more. 

For more information, please visit the following link: https://deanofstudents.illinoisstate.edu/services/student-navigator/ 

(Updated 07/24/25)

The University provides reasonable accommodations for students’ sincerely held religious beliefs or practices except where such an accommodation would fundamentally alter the curriculum or academic program. Students seeking religious accommodations should submit a completed request for accommodation form (available on the SAAS website) to Student Access and Accommodation Services. Ten (10) days’ notice prior to the proposed start date for the requested accommodation is requested.

(Updated 08/09/24)

Notice that Instructor may record class session 

This is notice that your instructor may record class sessions. Recordings made available at the discretion of the instructor are for use only by students enrolled in the class and only for the purpose of individual or group study.  The recordings may not be reproduced, shared with those not enrolled in the class, or uploaded to publicly accessible web environments.  Please do not independently record the course without prior written authorization from the instructor or an approved accommodation from Student Access and Accommodations Services. 

Regarding students making their own recordings or photographs 

Student recording prohibited 

Students may not use phones, or other audio or video recording devices to record classroom lectures/class discussions or to take photographs except with an approved accommodation from Student Access and Accommodations Services. Violation of this classroom rule may result in referral to the Student Conduct and Community Responsibilities (SCCR) office for disciplinary action. 

Permission required to record 

Students who wish to use phones or other audio or video devices to record classroom lectures/discussions or take photographs must obtain written permission from the instructor except with an approved accommodation from Student Access and Accommodations Services. Approved recordings are to be used solely for the purposes of individual or group study with other students enrolled in the class. They may not be reproduced, shared with those not enrolled in the class, or uploaded to publicly accessible web environments. Violation of this classroom rule may result in referral to the Student Conduct and Community Responsibilities (SCCR) office for disciplinary action.