RS.99.06
February 15, 1999

Prefiled Resolution
(Final; Action)

Resolution on the Distribution of Course Syllabi

Whereas, It is common practice by many course instructors to distribute a syllabus outlining requirements and a timeline of the course; and

Whereas, each student has a fundamental right to know and each faculty member has a fundamental obligation to declare openly criteria on which the student is being graded and all grading policies, material for which the student is responsible to understand, any attendance policy, and a general course timeline for every course; and

Whereas, Some course instructors elect not to provide students with a course syllabus which delineates these elements of a course;

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the UIUC Senate hereby declares that instructors are required to distribute a course syllabus in all courses for which a syllabus is appropriate which will include, but is not limited to including, criteria on which the student is being graded and all grading policies (including whether the course instructor has elected to employ the +/- grading system), material for which the student is responsible to understand, any attendance policy, all grading policies, and a general timeline for every course. The instructor shall make a reasonable attempt to distribute the course syllabus to all students enrolled and present in the course by the end of the first week of each semester and shall distribute the course syllabus no later than one week prior to the final day to add a course for the semester.

SPONSOR
Senator Joseph Oberweis (CBA B-02)