Syllabus Design

Warm Up Your Syllabus Handout

The Welcoming Syllabus Workshop Slides

Backward Design for Syllabus Design | University of Minnesota CARLA

Checklist of Inclusive Excellence in Syllabi | University of Denver

Designing a Motivational Syllabus: Creating a Learning Path for Student Engagement | Routledge

How to Create a Syllabus | Chronicle of Higher Education

The Promising Syllabus | Ken Bain

Campus Resources

Syllabi Examples | Office of Institutional Effectiveness

Syllabus Statement | Center for Disability Resources

Your Syllabus as a Tool to Promote Student Equity, Belonging, and Growth

Six Questions to ask ourselves about our syllabus, from the Student Experience Project, Your Syllabus as a Tool to Promote Student Equity, Belonging, and Growth

1. Does this syllabus communicate that the instructor has a “growth mindset” rather than a “fixed mindset” about students’ abilities?

2. Do the messages in the syllabus communicate that it is normal to be challenged by course material, and that this is not a sign that a student is not capable of learning or does not belong in the course?

3. Does the syllabus communicate that the instructor and the instructional team care about students’ success?

4. Does the syllabus communicate that diversity is valued in the classroom?

5. Does the syllabus normalize challenges that students often face in college, and connect students with resources that can support their overall well-being?

6. Does the syllabus communicate that utilizing academic resources is a standard part of succeeding?

College Transition Collaborative: Syllabus Review Guide

College Transition Collaborative: Policy Review

College Transition Collaborative: Establishing Expectations

Further Reading: Backward Course Design

Backward Course Design | Western University Centre for Teaching and Learning

Backward Design | University of Central Florida Faculty Center

Backward Design | University of Delaware | Center for Teaching and Assessment of Learning

Backwards Design Basics | Boston College CTE Resources

Course Design | University of New Hampshire Teaching and Learning Resource Hub

Map Your Course with “Backward Design” | UCLA Center for Education, Innovation, and Learning in the Sciences

Using Backward Design to Plan Your Course | Ohio State University Teaching and Learning Resource Center

Where to Start: Backward Design | MIT Teaching + Learning Lab

Further Reading: Syllabus Statements about Inclusion and Belonging

Diversity and Inclusion Syllabus Statements | Brown University Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning

Inclusion and Belonging Syllabus Statements | Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo CTLT

Inclusive Excellence Statement on a Syllabus | Carnegie Mellon University Eberly Center

Inclusive Syllabus Statement Bank | Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Statement of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Cal State Dominguez Hills Modern Languages Department

Further Reading: Welcoming and Inclusive Syllabus Design

4 Alternative Syllabus Formats the Promote Equity | Every Learner Everywhere

Building an Inclusive Syllabus | Stanford Teaching Commons

Creating an Inclusive Syllabus | University of Kansas Center for Teaching Excellence

Creating a Learner-Centered Syllabus | Northern Illinois University Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning

Creating a Syllabus that Students Want to Read | Oregon State University

Creating a Welcoming and Inclusive Syllabus | SUNY Oswego

Diversity and Inclusiveness Syllabus Collection | American Philosophical Association

Equitizing Your Syllabus: 6 Tips from Faculty | Every Learner Everywhere

Inclusive Syllabus American Psychological Association

Mindful and Learner-Centered Syllabus Checklist | University of Virginia School of Nursing

Recommendations for Welcoming and Inclusive Syllabus | University of Nevada, Reno

Six Principles for Equitable Syllabus Design | UC Davis Center for Educational Effectiveness

Six Principles of an Inclusive Syllabus Design | University of Massachusetts Amherst

Ten Tips for Developing a More Inviting Syllabus | Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education

The Inviting Syllabus | University at Albany Center for the Advancement of Teaching, Learning, and Online Education

“Warming Up” Your Course | Montclair State University Office For Faculty Excellence

Further Reading: Revised, Annotated Syllabi from CTLE Program Participants

See examples of syllabi redesigned by SU faculty members, with annotations explaining how and why they made changes to increase student engagement and belonging.

Course Redesign Institute Syllabus Archive 

Inclusive Teaching Practices in Collegiate STEM: Syllabus Archive