Harper Syllabus Resources

Step 1: Build Your Syllabus with the Harper College Syllabus Template

The Harper College Syllabus Template was created to meet all of the best practice and recommended items on the Harper College Syllabus Checklist.  The template is also designed to meet accessibility guidelines for MS Word documents. You can view the list of updates made to this version of the syllabus.

Instructions for template use:

Click on the download button above to download a copy.  Save a copy to your own computer or storage device.
Complete the syllabus by replacing the items in brackets [ ] with the information for your course.  Items noted as [REQUIRED] must be kept in the syllabus. Remove the [REQUIRED] note next to those polices before distributing your syllabus.
If copying and pasting text into the syllabus, it is recommended that you use the Paste Special > Unformatted Text option, so that the fonts and styles of the template remain in place for pasted text.

Step 2: Add the Syllabus Policies & Student Resources Item to Your Courses in Blackboard

There are many important college policies and resources that can guide and support your students throughout your course. These have been collected into a digital item in Blackboard’s Learning Object Repository that you can add to your Blackboard courses with just a few clicks. Once added, any updates made to these policies and resources are automatically reflected in any open Blackboard courses to which it has been added.

Follow these instructions (also described below) to add the item to your courses.

On the Content tab of your course, create a new item by clicking on the + sign and select Learning Object Repository.
Select the Syllabus Policies & Student Resources item from the Learning Object Repository.
Select Insert Objects(s).
The item is now added to your course. You can move it within your content area (e.g., put it into a folder or module) and delete it from your course, but you cannot change its visibility or edit its contents. Any updates made to these polices & resource are automatically reflected in the item going forward when your course is set to “Open.”

Other Grab-and-Go Syllabus Resources

Downloadable Version of Syllabus Policies & Student Resources Item (Including Course-Specific Policies)

If you would like to share policy and resource information outside of the Blackboard Syllabus Policies & Student Resources item, or you would like verbiage for any of the “participating courses only” policies listed below, you can access any verbiage from this Grab-and-Go document. You may need to enter your Harper College credentials to access.

The document above contains:

All of the policies in the Syllabus Policies & Student Resources Blackboard item

Follett Inclusive Access [Participating Courses Only]

Honorlock [Participating Courses Only]

Lockdown Browser [Participating Courses Only]

Language Lab [Participating Courses Only]

Resources for Developing an Instructor/Course AI Policy

The attached document provides several resources for developing your own Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy and includes Harper’s Recommended AI Classification System for Student Work.

Statement of Understanding

If you wish to provide a “statement of understanding” assignment or activity related to the syllabus, an example template is provided here.

Annual Syllabus Template Review Process

The syllabus template is provided as an optional resource for faculty and departments to adopt and adapt. Though optional, because of its wide use throughout the college, the template and related resources are reviewed and updated annually for relevance and accuracy. This annual review also considers suggestions for revisions submitted from throughout the college. The group that leads this annual review is made up of faculty, Academy for Teaching Excellence staff, and academic and student affairs leaders. The annual review takes place in June, and an updated syllabus is posted each year in advance of the Fall semester. On occasion, time-sensitive updates may be made between review cycles. If you have any questions or suggestions for revisions to the syllabus template or resources, please contact Dr. Sandra Villanueva, Dean, Teaching and Learning.