A syllabus is required for every course offered at Eastman, which includes academic courses, large ensembles, small ensembles, chamber music courses, and any other offering where students register for credit through the University and receive a grade. This is a mandate from the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), but it is also beneficial to our students who value a structured and detailed document that outlines the expectations of the instructor.
A syllabus must contain the following basic information to aid students in successfully completing the course:
- Instructor name and contact information
- Office hours and location
- Course description
- Course objectives
- Prerequisites (if any)
- Credit hours
- Time and location of classes
- Attendance policy
- Grading policy
- Required course materials
- Timeline for course (e.g., exam dates, lecture schedule, due dates for assignments)
- Overview of assignments
Additionally, Eastman expects instructors to include the following policies that ensure students understand expectations for coursework and have access to needed resources to complete this work:
- Academic integrity statement
- Disability accommodations statement
- Sexual misconduct reporting statement
- Land acknowledgement
- Final exam information – Instructors are expected to indicate on the syllabus if there is a final exam or not. If there is a final exam, it must occur during the final exam period at the time prescribed by the Registrar. The final exam time may not be known on the first day of classes, but it still must be disclosed that one is expected during the final exam period. Faculty should share the final exam schedule as soon as it is confirmed by the Registrar.
The above statements can all be found on the Eastman Syllabus Template, which is available here: ESM SYLLABUS TEMPLATE