Curriculum and Faculty Resources

Course Syllabus Standards

Use this page as a checklist when developing or updating a Yavapai College course syllabus.

Syllabus purpose

A learning-centered course syllabus is a learning plan for students and is required for every course offered at Yavapai College. The official Yavapai College course outline serves as the foundation for the syllabus.

The course outline establishes the learning outcomes and content required for district-wide delivery. The syllabus explains how the instructor will bring the course to life through instructional strategies, learning activities, expectations, evaluation methods, and communication practices.

Every syllabus must include the required components listed below. Instructors may use the professional format that best represents the course and meets the needs of students. A syllabus template is also available in the resources section.

Submit the syllabus before the course begins

Provide a copy of the completed syllabus to your Dean or designee before the first class meeting.

Required syllabus components

Include each applicable item in the student-facing syllabus. Requirements that apply only to certain course types are identified separately.

Course and instructor information

  1. Course title and number
  2. Credit hours
  3. Instructor name and contact information Include the instructor's YC email address and YC phone number. Adjunct faculty may list their department phone number.
  4. Office location
  5. Office hours or web hours

Course design and learning expectations

  1. Course description
  2. Course content and learning outcomes
  3. Course requirements
  4. Methods of evaluation and grading Explain the grading system and how grades will be posted.
  5. Makeup exam policy

Materials, dates, and institutional requirements

  1. Required and optional textbooks
  2. Final exam date and time
  3. Other required course materials
  4. Institutional Policies and Instructor Procedures Add this link to the syllabus so students can access current institutional policies and instructor procedures.
  5. Generative AI Statement

    Add the college's Generative AI Statement to the syllabus. When appropriate, include assignment-specific directions explaining permitted and prohibited uses of generative AI.

    Faculty may conclude assignment-specific directions with the following statement:

    Any use of Generative AI that does not comply with the assignment guidelines will be treated as academic misconduct.

    Review the Generative AI resources and examples for ideas about developing assignment-level guidance. Refer students to the Student Code of Conduct for information about academic misconduct.

Communication and course management

  1. Faculty response time State the expected time frame for returning graded assignments and responding to student correspondence. When unavailable during the stated response period, use an out-of-office message or Canvas announcement to tell students when responses will resume.
  2. Regular and Substantive Interaction Online courses only Explain how students and the instructor will interact, how frequently students can expect instructor-initiated communication, and how quickly the instructor will respond to questions and submitted work.
  3. Syllabus calendar, schedule, or agenda Show how learning outcomes align with course activities and assignments. The syllabus template includes an example.
  4. Other faculty procedures Faculty may add course-specific procedures that supplement college policies and clarify expectations for students.
  5. Syllabus revision statement State that the syllabus is subject to change when deemed appropriate by the instructor. Necessary revisions must be provided in writing, posted in Canvas, and communicated with fair prior notice.

Requirements for specific course types

Add the following information when it applies to the course.

General Education courses

Faculty teaching a General Education course should include the following statement:

This course is a General Education Course that could be applied toward General Education requirements at Yavapai College.

Online courses

Include clear expectations for Regular and Substantive Interaction , including communication frequency, instructor participation, feedback, and expected response times.

Syllabus development resources

Use these resources to prepare, review, and submit a course syllabus.

This page is formatted to support printing as a syllabus development checklist.