Other Syllabus Requirements

The university requires all instructors to post certain policy statements on their syllabi. These statements, which can be found on the Academic Affairs website, and include policies on the Academic Integrity Code, Disability Resources, Attendance, and Student Engagement with Courses, can be copied and pasted or described and linked directly in syllabi.

First Year Seminar Office Hours Policy

All instructors at Appalachian are mandated to schedule 1.5 office hours weekly for every 3-credit hour course they teach in a regular (fall or spring) semester. For First Year Seminar classes, office hours should be held based on the course delivery method as follows:

  • For classes that meet fully face-to-face, office hours would ideally also be held fully face-to-face. As an accommodation for instructors who do not live near campus or are not able to be offered office space, up to half of required office hours may be held online. Online office hours must be held live iwth active video (i.e., not just via monitored email or by appointment), and the means of access must be included on course syllabi.
  • For classes that meet fully online, office hours must also be held fully online, live with active video (i.e., not just via monitored email or by appointment), and the means of access should be included on course syllabi.
  • For classes that meet with a mix of face-to-face and online meetings, office hours should be split with the same mix between face-to-face and online. As an accommodation for instructors who do not live near campus or are not able to be offered office space, up to half of required face-to-face office hours may be held online. All online office hours must be held live with active video (i.e., not just via monitored email or by appointment), and the means of access must be included on course syllabi.

The following are some recommendations for your syllabi:

  • Instructor bio --  Why do you teach this topic? What qualifies you? Where were you educated? What are your academic interests, etc.
  • Instructor's policy on recording/duplicating information --  Do you allow students to record, photograph, videotape, or otherwise copy your presentations, class discussions, slides, lecture notes, etc.? If not, this should be included in syllabi.
  • Instructor's policy on technological devices -- While Appalachian requires that we allow students to have their cell phones with them and on in classrooms, provided they are set on vibrate mode (because of Appalachian's emergency communication system), instructors should include in syllabi whether students are allowed to be using devices in class, including mobile phones, tablets, laptops, cameras, etc.
  • First Year Seminar website --  https://universitycollege.appstate.edu/programs/first-year-seminar includes many helpful resources for students.