This session was facilitated by FCIP Co-Director Jessica Mansbach and FCIP’s 2023-24 and 2024-25 Program Evaluation Faculty Scholar Noah Butler. 

Associated Resource: Syllabus Template, created by the Office of Online Learning

Part 1: Facilitators Jessica and Noah introduce the topic and objectives of the session: to review the role of the syllabus in a course and to learn how to craft a well-designed, inclusive syllabus.

 

Part 2: The facilitators lead a discussion with instructors in the chat on what a syllabus is and what its components are.

 

Part 3: The facilitators describe three theories that can inform syllabus design: Ignatian pedagogy, student-centered design, and anti-racism. More detail is given about anti-racist teaching.

 

Part 4: The facilitators describe how to incorporate anti-racist teaching into syllabus design. They share a sample statement on inclusion and diversity and explore the importance of such statements.

 

Part 5: The facilitators share an Inclusion by Design document to help instructors craft more inclusive syllabi. They also discuss the importance of the syllabus’ tone.

 

Part 6: The facilitators discuss showing students that they can feel safe expressing a variety of opinions and perspectives. They also share some considerations regarding guidelines for discussion.

 

Part 7: The facilitators address how to decolonize syllabi in discipline-specific courses such as biology.

 

Part 8: The facilitators share some accessibility considerations and examples of accessibility within the syllabus and the broader course.

 

Part 9: The facilitators discuss the importance of flexibility in policies, assignments, and instructional materials for students.

 

Part 10: The facilitators present some considerations for instructor availability, including ways to be flexible with office hours.