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Faculty Guide to Teaching
Course Outlines and Syllabi
Key Components, Required Language
How do I edit and publish my course outline?
- Basic course outlines are published with the Course Outlines Administration App (Outlines app). Check with your academic unit for the internal process: http://www.sfu.ca/outlines/help/basics.html
- You can view all SFU Course Outlines online.
Key components of an effective syllabus
The syllabus you share with your students on the first day of class should include:
- Course description
- Course goals
- Readings and materials
- Type of evaluation and weighting
- Exam format
- Expectations
- Study strategies, strategies for succeeding in the course
- Any unique learning activities, and what students can expect (such as field trips, labs, community engaged learning or simulations)
Please check department-specific expectations for course outlines. Your unit will likely be able to provide you with a sample outline. At the program level, SFU requires educational goals, which are defined by individual academic units. Please ask your academic unit about its specific educational goals (Educational goal is the SFU-specific term for a learning outcome).
- Course codes and terminology
For a detailed list, please see: Terminology – Schedules
- Sample text for syllabi
Check here for information on:
- Academic Integrity notification
- Copyright notification for students
- Turnitin notification for students (if applicable)
- Online Proctoring notification for students (if applicable)
- Recording (if applicable)
- Accessibility and accommodation
Faculty and Instructor Rights and Responsibilities
- Religious Accommodation
Learn about your responsibility to accommodate students for religious reasons. Encourage students to let you know their needs for religious accommodation early in the semester if possible.
https://www.sfu.ca/humanrights/guides-and-protocols/religious-accommodation.html
https://www.sfu.ca/students/multifaith/resources/accommodation.html
https://www.sfu.ca/humanrights/guides-and-protocols/interfaith-calendars.html
- Sexual Violence Support and Prevention
Establish expectations for respectful conduct and provide information about support resources. Consider using content notes when teaching content related to sexual violence, such as:
“In this course, we will discuss issues related to sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and racism. I recognize that this content may bring up difficult feelings for people who have been impacted by these issues. If you are concerned about this content, you are invited to seek support from one of the campus services listed below. We can also discuss how to achieve the same learning goal from a different pathway.”
Visit https://www.sfu.ca/sexual-violence/faculty.html for ideas on what to include in your syllabus and other information for instructors on how to handle issues related to sexual violence.
- Student Learning Commons
Feel free to copy and paste this statement into your course syllabus:
The Student Learning Commons provides you, as an SFU student, with free support for studying (including exam prep), effective reading and notetaking, drafting and editing written assignments, academic English skills, and presentation skills.