[Title of Course]

[Semester]
[On campus, online, or hybrid]
[Meeting time and location]

INSTRUCTOR & COURSE INFORMATION

This syllabus describes the requirements and procedures for [Course Name]. You are responsible for knowing
this material, so please read carefully. Any changes will be announced [in class/email/Blackboard
Announcement]. You will be responsible for any changes. Your continued enrollment in this course is your
implicit agreement to abide by the requirements of this class.

Professor / Instructor Contact Information

Name:
Phone:
Email: [Use official UND email address only]
Office Location:
Office Hours: [May write by appointment or See Faculty section in Blackboard if preferred.]

About the Professor / Instructor

[Post information about yourself here.]
 [*Optional Example: For information about your instructor, view the “Week 1: Introduction Post and the
Introduce Yourself Blog”, while there, introduce yourself by posting to the blog.]

Course Description & Objectives

[This course is designed to…] For consistency make sure the description on your syllabus matches what is listed
in the course catalogue, department website, etc.

After successfully completing this course, you should be able to:

[List measurable, overall course objectives. Three examples are listed below.]
• [Summarize the major components of an online or blended learning course]
• [Evaluate methods for communicating with students]
• [Explore instructional media that support course objectives and learning outcomes]

Materials – Text, Readings, Supplementary Readings

[Name of Textbook or Open Education Resource]
[ISBN #]
[Information on supplementary materials/resources]

Page 1 of 10
[Title of Course]
[Semester]
[On campus, online, or hybrid]
[Meeting time and location]

Technical Requirements/Assistance
You will use Microsoft Word to complete assignments (or if something different will be used, spell out specifics).
Students are expected to use their official UND email in the course. Visit the Office 365 Email webpage for
information on your UND email and how to download/install a free version of Microsoft Office. For technical
assistance, please contact UND Technical Support at 701.777.2222. Visit the University Information Technologies
(UIT) website for their hours, help documents and other resources.

Minimum Technical Skills Needed:

In order to succeed in this course, at a minimum, you should be able to:
[List minimum requirements needed. An example is below.]
• [Navigate in and use basic Blackboard functions]
• [Download and open electronic documents]
• [Create, save, and upload/attach electronic documents]
• [Send, receive, and manage email]

Course Logistics
Access and Log in Information
This is a place to explain where to access the course (if they are reading the syllabus outside of the course)
and how to log in to Blackboard. An example is provided below.
[This course was developed and will be facilitated utilizing Blackboard. To get started with the course,
please go to: http://blackboard.UND.edu and log in with your NDUS.Identifier, Username and Password. If
you do not know your NDUS Identifier or have forgotten your password, please visit Your NDUS Account
page on the UIT website.]

Course Overview [Explain how the course is organized for navigation. An example is below.]
[Example: The course content is organized into 6 or 12 weeks for summer semester. Each week contains a
purpose, learning outcomes, and a variety of links to articles, video/audio files, and other instructional
resources selected to enhance the learning experience and support the various topics. Discussions, blogs, wikis,
surveys, quizzes, tests and assignments will be used to assess your comprehension and application of those
materials.]

[Example and optional: What Should Students Do First?]

Page 2 of 10
[Title of Course]
[Semester]
[On campus, online, or hybrid]
[Meeting time and location]

[Prior to the start of the first week you should have completed the “Online Learning Readiness Qualtrics Survey”,
reviewed the syllabus and taken the Syllabus Quiz.]

[Example and optional: How Students Should Proceed Each Week for Class Activities]
[On the left side course menu in Blackboard there is a “Lessons” tab. Inside Lessons you will find all the required
readings, videos, and assignments/activities for the week. An overview of each week can be found in Blackboard
under the Schedule tab.]

Resources
Many services are available to online students such as writing assistance from the UND Writing Center, free
online tutoring from Smarthinking, and more. Visit the Student Resources page for more information. Students
also have access to the UND Student Resource Site via Blackboard. It is recommended that you become familiar
with the tools and tutorials within the site to better equip you in navigating the course.
Course Requirements/Expectations
[List the course requirements/expectations. An example is posted below.]

1. [The student will review the syllabus and course schedule posted in Blackboard.]
2. [The student will access and follow all course instructions found in the weekly area of the Blackboard
course.]
3. [The student will listen to all online lectures provided in the individual weekly folders.]
4. [The student will complete and submit assignments, exams, quizzes, etc. by the dated noted in
Blackboard and on the course schedule. We will use Central Standard Time for due dates and times.]
5. [The student will participate fully and in a timely manner to get the benefit of learning from instructor
and/or peers.]

Communication
[Provide information on how you will be communicating with students and how you would like them to
communicate with you. Be sure to set expectations regarding response time as well as netiquette. Some
examples are provided below:]

Announcements
[Announcements will be posted in Blackboard on a regular basis. Be sure to check the class announcements
regularly as they will contain important information about class assignments and other class matters.]

Page 3 of 10
[Title of Course]
[Semester]
[On campus, online, or hybrid]
[Meeting time and location]

Email
[You are encouraged to post your questions about the course in the FAQs discussion board forum in the
Blackboard site. This is an open forum in which you and your classmates are encouraged to answer each
other’s questions. But, if you need to contact me directly, check the Faculty tab in Blackboard or the syllabus
for my contact information. I will respond back to you within 48 hours during the week or weekend.]

Discussion Forums, Blogs, & Wikis

[These tools are an excellent way for you to engage with the course material and with your peers. Each week
we will have at least one of these tools for you to participate in. You are expected to read all assigned
discussion boards, blog posts, and/or wiki pages and provide thoughtful contributions.]

Netiquette
[Insert information here. An example is below.]
When participating in (an online) class it is important to interact with your peers in an appropriate manner.
Always use professional language (no netspeak) in your postings and emails. Please be respectful of your
classmates at all times even if you disagree with their ideas.

Assessment & Grading

This course is made up of a series of assignments and assessments to assist you in achieving the course
learning objectives/outcomes. [We strongly recommend having a variety of smaller assignments, quizzes,
projects, papers, discussions as opposed to relying solely on High Stakes Exams.

Assessments
In this course your learning will be assessed in the following ways: [list and explain the assessments used in the
course, some examples are show below]

Examples
Introduce Yourself Blog
Introduce yourself in the Week 1: Introduce Yourself blog. Include your name, something about yourself, and a
photo. The Introduce Yourself Blog is due on [date/time] and worth [x]points.

Page 4 of 10
[Title of Course]
[Semester]
[On campus, online, or hybrid]
[Meeting time and location]

Graded Online Discussion

As this is an asynchronous, online, course your participation in the weekly discussions will be an integral part of
your grade. Your posts should demonstrate that you have watched the lectures, read the assigned readings and
have a clear understanding of the materials. You should provide evidence from the readings and/or other
sources to support your arguments. You may also draw on your own personal experiences.

Each week you will need to make your first post to the discussion by Wednesday, midnight. Then contribute
two additional posts, responding to different classmates, by Sunday, midnight. The online discussion is worth
[x] points or (if weighting grades) will make up [x]% of your final grade. View the grading rubric in Blackboard
for details on how posts will be evaluated.

Exam 1
Your first exam will take place [enter dates/times] and will cover [Lessons 1-4]. To prepare for the exam make
sure to have read all of the assigned readings, watched the recorded lectures, and reviewed the provided study
guide. The exam is worth [x]pts. Include information regarding ProctorU if applicable.

Quizzes
The course includes several Blackboard quizzes that will be worth [x] points each or (if weighting grades) will
make up [x]% of your final grade. Quizzes include:
• Syllabus Quiz [add dates/times]
• Weekly Reading Quizzes [due Friday, by midnight]
• Midterm Review Quiz [add dates/times]

Weekly Reflections
At the end of each week you will complete a weekly reflection where you will be asked to identify what you
learned that week and what you still have questions about.

Final Presentation
Throughout the semester, you will work in small groups on [topic related to your course/field]. You may select
your topic as a group but it must be approved by me before you begin working. You should submit your topic to
the Wiki in Blackboard by [enter date/time]. Once approved, you will work together to research your topic and
develop a 10-15 minute presentation. In Blackboard, you will see a “My Groups” link below the green navigation
menu on the left side of your screen. Use that link to access tools (i.e., email, file share, group and collaboration
tools) that will aid you in working together. You will use VoiceThread to record your group presentation. Further
details, including the grading rubric and VoiceThread

Page 5 of 10
[Title of Course]
[Semester]
[On campus, online, or hybrid]
[Meeting time and location]

tutorials, can be found in the Week [x] folder in Blackboard. The presentation is worth [x] points or (if weighting
grades) will make up [x]% of your final grade. The final presentation is due on Reading & Review Day by
midnight.

Grading Breakdown
[Include a grading scale for defining A, B, C, D, F percentages. [If the course uses Weighted Totals provide the
breakdown. Examples provided below]

Grading Scale Breakdown of Weighted Totals

A #% to #% [Reflections – 5%]
B #% to #% [Quizzes – 10%]
C #% to #% [3 Exams – 30% (10% each)]
D #% to #%
[Assignments – 15%]
F #% to #%
[Final Presentation – 40%]

Course Evaluation
Around the middle of the semester, we will complete a formative assessment to see how the course is going.
Near the end of the semester, you will be asked to complete an online course evaluation form (SELFI). Your
feedback on the course is extremely valuable to me. I read my students’ comments carefully and use them to
improve the course the next time I teach it.

 When the time comes, please let me know which aspects of the course helped you learn—and which
aspects might be modified to help future students learn more effectively.
 Please note that the course evaluations are anonymous and that I won’t see the results until after the
grades for the course are submitted, allowing you to provide honest and constructive feedback.
 And if you have feedback to offer before the end of the semester, please let me know.

Course Policies
Assignment Policy
[Example provided below.]
[Due dates for each assignment or activity will be posted in Blackboard.]

Page 6 of 10
[Title of Course]
[Semester]
[On campus, online, or hybrid]
[Meeting time and location]

Late Work
[Post your late work policy here. An example is provided below.]
[All assignments must be submitted by the due dates posted in the course. The acceptance of late
assignments is at the discretion of the instructor, provided that you contact the instructor before the due
date and ask for an extension. All requirements for this course must be completed during the course dates.]

Instructor Responsibilities and Feedback

[Example provided below.]
• [The instructor will provide feedback on all assignments and group activities by Wednesday of the
following week.]
• [The instructor will be available during appointed Office Hours to answer questions, provide
feedback, and offer advice.]

Class Participation
[Post your class participation information here. An example is provided below.]
[Students are required to login regularly to the online class site. Students are also required to participate in all
class activities such as discussion board, blogs, and wikis.]

Incompletes
It is expected that students will complete all requirements for a course during the time frame of the course. For
reasons beyond a student’s control, and upon request by the student or on behalf of the student, an incomplete
grade may be assigned by the instructor when there is reasonable certainty the student will successfully
complete the course without retaking it. The mark “I,” Incomplete, will be assigned only to the student who has
been in attendance and has done satisfactory work up to a time within four weeks of the close of the semester,
including the examination period, and whose work is incomplete for reasons satisfactory to his or her instructor.
More information regarding UND’s Incomplete policy can be found on The Grading System webpage.

Copyright Notice
[Place copyright information here if needed.]

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA

Page 7 of 10
[Title of Course]
[Semester]
[On campus, online, or hybrid]
[Meeting time and location]

POLICIES & RESOURCES

Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a serious matter, and any deviations from appropriate behavior will be dealt with strongly.
At the discretion of the professor, situations of concern may be dealt with as a scholastic matter or a disciplinary
matter.

As a scholastic matter, the professor has the discretion to determine appropriate penalties to the student’s
workload or grade, but the situation may be resolved without involving many individuals. An alternative is to
treat the situation as a disciplinary matter, which can result in suspension from the University, or have lesser
penalties. Be aware that I view this as a very serious matter, and will have little tolerance of or sympathy for
questionable practices. A student who attempts to obtain credit for work that is not their own (whether that be
on a paper, quiz, homework assignment, exam, etc.) will likely receive a failing grade for that item of work, and
at the professor’s discretion, may also receive a failing grade in the course. For more information read the Code
of Student Life.

Access & Opportunity, Disability Support and Medical Services

If you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need accommodations in this course
because of a disability, please visit with me as soon as possible. My office hours are at the top of this syllabus. If
you plan to request disability accommodations, you are expected to register with the Disability Support Services
(DSS) office online, (180 McCannel Hall, 701.777.3425).

If you have a temporary medical condition such as a broken arm or recovering after surgery, you may be able to
arrange for courtesy services. In most cases, it is expected that you will make your own arrangements for these
services. Examples of courtesy services include access to a test scribe if the student has a broken hand; lift
equipped van transportation when the student has a broken leg or temporary accessible parking for a student
using crutches for a short period. If you are unable to make your own arrangements, please contact DSS (777-
3425). Unlike services and/or accommodations provided to eligible students with disabilities, the University is
NOT obligated to provide courtesy services.

Resolution of Problems
Should a problem occur, you should speak to your instructor first. If the problem is not resolved, meet with
[insert name here]. If the problem continues to be unresolved, go to the department chair, and next to the
college Dean. Should the problem persist, you have the right to go to the Provost next, and then to the
President.

Page 8 of 10
[Title of Course]
[Semester]
[On campus, online, or hybrid]
[Meeting time and location]

Notice of Nondiscrimination
It is the policy of the University of North Dakota that no person shall be discriminated against because of race,
religion, age, color, gender, disability, national origin, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic
information, marital status, veteran’s status, or political belief or affiliation and the equal opportunity and access
to facilities shall be available to all. Concerns regarding Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, ADA, and Section 504 may be
addressed to: Donna Smith, Director of Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action and Title IX
Coordinator, 401 Twamley Hall, 701.777.4171, UND.affirmativeactionoffice@UND.edu or the Office for Civil
Rights, U.S. Dept. of Education, 500 West Madison, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60611 or any other federal agency.

Reporting of Sexual Violence

If you or a friend has experienced sexual violence, such as sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence or
stalking, or sex-based harassment, please contact UND’s Title IX Coordinator, Donna Smith, for assistance:
701.777.4171; donna.smith@UND.edu; or visit the Title IX webpage.

Faculty Reporting Obligations Regarding Sexual Violence

It is important for students to understand that faculty are required to share with UND’s Title IX Coordinator any
incidents of sexual violence they become aware of, even if those incidents occurred in the past or are disclosed
as part of a class assignment. This does not mean an investigation will occur if the student does not want that,
but it does allow UND to provide resources to help the student continue to be successful at UND. If you have
been the victim of sexual violence, you can find information about confidential support services on the Title IX
webpage.

UND Cares Program

The UND Cares program seeks to educate faculty, staff and students on how to recognize warning signs that
indicate a student is in distress.

How to Seek Help When in Distress

We know that while college is a wonderful time for most students, some students may struggle. You may
experience students in distress on campus, in your classroom, in your home, and within residence halls.
Distressed students may initially seek assistance from faculty, staff members, their parents, and other students.
In addition to the support we can provide to each other, there are also professional support services available to
students through the Dean of Students and University Counseling Center. Both staffs are available to consult
with you about getting help or providing a friend with the help that he or she may need. For more additional
information, please visit the UND Cares program Webpage.

Page 9 of 10
[Title of Course]
[Semester]
[On campus, online, or hybrid]
[Meeting time and location]

How to Recognize When a Student is in Distress

The term “distressed” can mean any of the following:
• Student has significant changes in eating, sleeping, grooming, spending, or other daily activities.
• Student has cut off or minimized contact with family or friends.
• Student has significant changes in performance or involvement in academics, sports, extracurricular, or
social activities.
• Student describes problems (missing class, not remembering, destructive behavior) that result from
experiences with drinking or drugs.
• Student is acting withdrawn, volatile, tearful, etc.
• Student is acting out of character or differently than usual.
• Student is talking explicitly about hopelessness or suicide.
• Student has difficulty concentrating or difficulty carrying on normal conversation.
• Student has excessive dependence on others for company or support.
• Student reports feeling out of control of one’s emotions, thoughts, or behaviors.

UND Cares about Your Success

Important information is available to you through Starfish, which is an online system used to help students be
successful. When an instructor observes student behaviors or concerns that may impede academic success, the
instructor may raise a flag that notifies the student of the concern and/or refer the student to their academic
advisor or UND resource. Please pay attention to these emails and take the recommended actions. They are sent
to help you be successful!

Starfish also allows you to (1) schedule appointments with various offices and individuals across campus, (2)
request help on a variety of topics, and (3) search and locate information on offices and services at UND.

You can log into Starfish by clicking on Logins on the UND homepage and then selecting Starfish. A link to
Starfish is also available in Blackboard once you have signed in.

Ensure Accessibility
To comply with the latest accessibility guidelines, documents posted online, including, but not limited to, Adobe
PDF files, Microsoft Word documents, Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, and online flipbooks, must be
screen-reader friendly. For directions on how to make your syllabus and other course materials accessible, visit
the Creating Accessible Content webpage on the TTaDA site.

Page 10 of 10