Astronomy	Engineering	Physics
Physical Sciences Task Force
Geology	Environmental Science and Technology

General Syllabus Guidelines for All Disciplines

By ACC mandate, all syllabi for ACC courses must have certain common elements. Those elements do not have to be in any specific place in the syllabus, but they do have to be found within the document. The required elements are as follows:

Section Specific Information

course name and number

section number and synonym

campus, room, and time of day

Instructor Specific Information

instructor name

phone numbers

office hours and location of office

e-mail address

web address (if any)

Course Description

        Here the instructor can include the official description from the course schedule, or a more detailed description that contains all the material in the official description

Required Text Information

        Information about other required materials should be included here

Instructional Methodology

        The two options are generally lecture or combination of lecture and lab.

Course Rationale

        Generally, our courses are intended to help students fulfill degree requirements in science, to prepare students for further studies, or both. The instructor should articulate here what type of student the course is intended for: non-major, science major, engineers, etc. This might also be a good place to remind students that since our courses are intended for transfer to a four-year institution, they will be taught at the University level.

Course Goals and Objectives

        The Physical Sciences Task Force has no official goals and objectives for any courses. Here the instructor should articulate a few personal goals (things you want to accomplish) and objectives (things students will do to show they have accomplished the goals).

Course Evaluation / Grading System

    The instructor must describe in detail how the students' grades will be determined. Please refer to departmental guidelines for those parts of the system required by the Task Force.

Course Policies

    Many course policies will be left up to the instructor. However, all syllabi must contain statements about the following issues. Some policies are official ACC Policy, and cannot be altered.

Attendance -- Policy left up to instructor.

Withdrawals and Incompletes -- Physical Sciences Task Force policy is that instructors will not withdraw students, or grant incompletes, except in the most extreme circumstances. In all circumstances, extensive documentation of reasons will be required. Mention the withdrawal date for the semester.

Academic Freedom -- Policy left up to instructor; examples can be found among the sample syllabi.

Student Discipline -- Matters of student disciple will be adjudicated by the instructor on a case-by-case basis, in conjunction with the Task Force Leader or Dean. Students will want to consult with the Office of Student Services or the Associate Dean at their campus on such matters.

Scholastic Dishonesty -- Official ACC Policy (cannot be altered): Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered, including but not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, research, or self-expression. Academia is defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations and homework.

Office of Students with Disabilities -- Official ACC Policy (cannot be altered): Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office for Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester.

Any other policies the instructor may wish to include, such as make-up policy, safety policies, etc.

Course Outline / Calendar

    Instructors must include an outline of the topics covered in the course, as well as a calendar of major events (such as tests and due dates). Lab courses must include a lab schedule. Instructors are encouraged to include a disclaimer that some aspects of the schedule may be subject to change.

Student Websites

    The syllabus should refer students to the potentially helpful websites:

ACC Testing Center:                http://www2.austincc.edu/testctr/

Student services                       http://www3.austin.cc.tx.us/evpcss/rss/Default.htm.

ACC student handbook:          http://www3.austincc.edu/evpcss/handbk/toc.htm.

Instructional services:              http://www3.austincc.edu/evpcss/memos/reference.htm,

then click on "Campus Based Student Support Overview".