Syllabus Information and the Relative Importance of Content They Can Contain

Syllabi are important documents provided to students regarding individual courses, often describing assignments, grading criteria, and various course policies. However, they have also been getting longer as universities use them as a channel to reach students with various statements and policies that may only be tangentially related to the course at hand. The current study conducted a review of R1 university syllabus policies/guidelines (N = 160), uncovering more than 70 pieces of information often required or recommended to be included in course syllabi. The most frequently required was information related to: grading scales/policies, assignments/exams, accessibility accommodations, and academic integrity. A survey of students (n = 905) found information related to grading and attendance policies to be most important, in addition to a course schedule. Students rated statements regarding amorous relationships, violent behavior, and basic needs, as some of the least important information that syllabi might contain. Most students indicated they only skimmed their course syllabi instead of reading them entirely, with about 1-in-3 indicating they are too long. Recommendations generated from this review of syllabi policies are discussed to hopefully help institutions find ways to improve syllabi for the multiple audiences these documents must now cater to.