Enhanced Syllabus Statements

Holistic Approach to Student Success

Course goals are large over-arching questions, essential questions or general statements of what you want students to learn from the course. Course goals provide space for instructors to sketch their vision for how the course will change students after participation. This approach focuses holistically on the whole student.  Often course goals are based on the idea of "what will students remember 5 years after the course."

Email 

Faculty will communicate with you through your CCRI email account. Check your account every day to make sure you do not miss an email from an instructor. Learn how to access your CCRI email.  

Blackboard 

Learning requires certain technical requirements to participate actively and be successful.  At the minimum, students must have access to a computer and a stable Internet connection. In some cases, a headset with a microphone may also be required.  Many courses at CCRI require certain technical requirements to participate actively and be successful. View Set Up Your Tech to learn more about technical requirements.  

Take the Online Student Orientation to learn what is expected from online students. 

CCRI Computer Labs 

The academic computer lab is available for CCRI students and allows access to computers with the required software. Information regarding CCRI’s academic computer labs is available at the following link: academic computer labs 

MS Office 365 

Microsoft Office 365 is available for all CCRI students to download. This version of Office will be accessible as long as you are actively enrolled at CCRI. It is recommended that students download MS 365 to their computers for access to MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel offline. 

MS OneDrive 

OneDrive, is a cloud-based storage system that lets CCRI students store, share and organize files, photos, and favorites on Windows servers, and access them from any computer with an Internet connection. You will need and know how to use a computer or mobile device with Internet access. 

Publisher Technical Requirements (if applicable) 

Include technical requirements for publisher platforms: 

Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor (if applicable) 

If you are using Respondus LockDown Browser, please add these requirements.  

Additional Technical Requirements 

Provide any additional support resources for technology/software used in the course

Fair Use of Copyrighted Works

Please note that your instructor may use some works that are copyrighted by the publisher or original author. These works are provided to students under the Educational Fair Use Provision of Title 17 of the US Code and are not to be shared with individuals who are not enrolled in this course or used for purposes outside of the course. (Optional if using Open Educational Resources) 

Starfish

Starfish is a lifeline to various student support services provided by CCRI (advising, financial aid, tutoring, etc.). This platform creates a network of communication between faculty, students, and student services staff to support student success. Important communication will come from Starfish. Visit Starfish.

A Variety of Different Policies

Clinical Fieldwork Courses

"Students using social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, etc) must take care to adhere to FERPA and HIPAA regulations. FERPA (Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act) states that an institution cannot release any personally identifiable student record without the written consent of the student.  HIPAA requires all "individually identifiable health information" be protected. This is significant for students in health profession programs who complete fieldwork experiences as a curriculum requirement."

- Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, CCRI

Lab Course for Health Science

"When using social media platforms as a student enrolled in a professional program, care should be taken to limit content that others can see and possibly misconstrue as a violation of privacy or lack of professionalism. When posting pictures or video taken during classroom activities, consent should be obtained from individuals clearly identifiable in the photo or video."

- Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, CCRI

Restrictive Social Media

Social media use in class is prohibited. Students may not share any of the course-related materials, conversations, or anything that is happening in class on social media. The use of social media, or mobile technology in general, unless allowed by instructor, is not permitted while in class. Students should limit checking phones or messaging to before & after class and during breaks unless there is an emergency. Devices should remain on silent mode during class.

Liberal Social Media

Reasonable technology use which does not disrupt class proceedings or interfere with engagement is permitted. Students should limit checking phones or messaging to before & after class and during breaks unless there is an emergency. Devices should remain on silent mode during lectures. Students are asked to use good judgment when posting on social media about anything related to the class and class-related discussions. 

Example for On-Campus

As your instructor for this face-to-face course, open communication is important to me even outside of our class meetings. Students can expect email responses within 24-48 hours on weekdays. I may occasionally reply more quickly, but please know responses taking longer than 48 hours are uncommon except for weekends and holidays. In urgent cases requiring quick answers, it is best to speak with me briefly after class or schedule an appointment instead of waiting for an email reply. I am available to meet before or after class at scheduled office hours or by appointment to discuss questions, concerns, or the course material. Please communicate any absences to me via email so we can coordinate make-up work. 

Example for Online

As your instructor in this online course, I am committed to fostering an open communication environment to support your learning and success. Students can expect email responses within 24-48 hrs during weekdays. I may occasionally respond more quickly, but please understand responses longer than 48 hours are rare except for weekends and holidays. For planning purposes, students should anticipate receiving grades and feedback on assignments within 7 days after the due date. I will post announcements about any schedule changes, clarifications on course topics, or reminders on Blackboard. Please reach out via email or schedule a video meeting with me if you have any questions or difficulties as we progress through the course material together in this virtual setting.

Example 1

“Course lectures may be audio/video recorded. Recordings may be available to students registered for this class. This is intended to supplement the classroom experience. As part of your participation in this course, you may be recorded. If you do not wish to be recorded, please contact [instructor] the first week of class to discuss alternative arrangements. Students are expected to follow appropriate university policies and maintain the security of passwords used to access recorded lectures. Recordings may not be reproduced, shared with those not in the class, or uploaded to other online environments. Doing so may constitute a breach of the Student Code of Conduct. If the instructor plans any other uses for the recordings, beyond this class, students identifiable in the recordings will be notified to request their consent prior to such use.

This policy does not apply to any accommodation required by Federal or State law for students with disabilities. If a student has accommodation to record classroom activities, those recordings may not be shared with any other student, whether in the same course or not, or with any other person or on any other platform.”

- Academic Affairs, University of Nebraska, Omaha

Example 2

"The use of technologies for audio and video recording of lectures and other classroom activities is allowed only with the express permission of the instructor. In cases where recordings are allowed, such content is restricted to personal use only unless permission is expressly granted in writing by the instructor and by other classroom participants, including other students. Personal use is defined as use by an individual student for the purpose of studying or completing course assignments. When students have permission for personal use of recordings, they must still obtain written permission from the instructor to share recordings with others. For students registered with EAD and who have been approved for audio and/or video recording of lectures and other classroom activities as a reasonable accommodation, applicable federal law requires instructors to permit those recordings. Such recordings are also limited to personal use, except with permission of the instructor and other students in the class."

- Faculty Council, Vanderbilt University

Example 1

CCRI has deployed Ricoh multi-function devices, known as MFDs, campus-wide. These MFDs provide flexible access to a wide range of services, such as print, copy and scan, to the CCRI community. A student’s CCRI account is pre-loaded with a printing allowance of $50.00 each semester to cover the cost of printing.  This allowance, 1000 pages at 5  cents per page, is based upon average student use.  Some students will use less and some students will use more. Unused funds are cleared at the end of each semester. The print funds cannot be used for any purpose other than printing and they are not transferable in any way. At the end of each semester, unused printing funds are cleared and the printing allowance is reset at the beginning of next semester.  For more information visit CCRI Print.

- CCRI Print

Example 1

"Testing for this online course will be through Blackboard and will use password access to all online quizzes and exams. Quizzes/exams are designed to provide students adequate time for completion within the time allotted. Late arrivals must take the quiz/exam with the time remaining. All online quizzes and exams are strictly prohibited from being downloaded, printed, photographed, screenshot, saved, or shared in any way. This is considered cheating; please refer to CCRI’s policy on academic integrity. Respondus: Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor might be used as needed for access to tests and exams. 

All other electronic devices (e.g., computers, tablets, cell phones, smartwatches, etc.) must not be in the area of your testing environment. Hats cannot be worn during testing."

- from Prof. Julie Galleshaw, Dental Hygiene, CCRI

Example 1

"I am committed to making course content accessible to all students. If English is not your first language and this causes you concern about the course, please speak with me."

- from Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning, Northern Illinois University

Example 1

"You belong here whether you are a documented or undocumented student. Rhode Island is a safe state for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. I strive to make my courses accessible to all students regardless of immigration status."

- from Asst. Prof. Christine Lynch and Assoc. Prof. Kristen Swithers, CCRI

Example 1

"In this course I strive to promote an environment that is inclusive to all. Ableism in exclusive practice. Ableism refers to the exclusion of people who are not 'able' due to physical, emotional, and/or cognitive differences. Ableism occurs through use of language or attitudes that perpetuate stigma and contribute to the societal 'othering' of individuals.

Examples of terms and statements which are ableist, include: crazy, manic, lame, dumb, retarded, nuts, psycho, obsessed with, so OCD, so ADHD, etc."

- from Asst. Prof. Christine Lynch and Assoc. Prof. Kristen Swithers, CCRI

Example 1

"In this class, everyone:

• matters and is empowered to learn and contribute in a safe and caring environment
• learns about, understands, appreciates, and respects varied races, genders, physical and
• mental abilities, sexualities, and other forms of diversities
• is respected and treated others with dignity and civility; and
• shares responsibility for making class a positive and inclusive environment."

 -  from Dr. Veronica Thomas, Howard University

Example 1

"CCRI celebrates its diverse student population and acknowledges that state and school holidays do not always align with all religious and cultural observances. If you require an excused absence or other solution to enable you to participate in a religious or cultural observance, you may inform your professor in writing within 14 calendar days of the first day of the class. At your professor's discretion, they may work with you to provide an excused absence or other flexible solution."

- Kara DiPaola, Assistant Director, Affirmative Action & Equal Opportunity, CCRI

Types of Learning Activities

There are four basic types of instructional methods: lecture, demonstration, cooperative, collaborative learning and case study. There are additional instructional methods that have recently become more common: guided instruction, direct instruction, interactive lecture, active learning, directed discussion, work-based learning, experiential learning, inquire-based, project-based, simulations and problem-based learning.

Including the instructional method in the syllabus may be required for some types of accreditation.

Document Versioning

It is helpful to keep version control of your documents by adding a date prepared and a version number.  Also add your name to keep track of your intellectual property.

Example 1

First version
Juan Pedro     9/1/2024  v1.0

Juan uses the same syllabus in spring
Juan Pedro     1/18/2025  v2.0

Juan makes a change during the spring semester and give students a new copy
Juan Pedro     3/4/2025  v2.1

Netiquette Example 1

• "Respect others and their opinions. In online learning, students from various backgrounds come together to learn. It is important to respect their feelings and opinions though they may differ from your own.
• Tone down your language. Given the absence of face-to-face clues, written text can easily be misinterpreted.  Avoid the use of strong or offensive language and the excessive use of exclamation points. Review before posting in order to remove any strong language.
• Keep personal discussions off of the class discussion board and engage in a separate student forum within the class for this or use email.
• Do not type all capitals, which is difficult to read, and has come to be considered the electronic version of “shouting.”
• Do be courteous, even when you disagree, with your instructors as well as your classmates, and always provide clear, logical support for your views.
• Consider others’ privacy. Ask for permission if you want to forward someone’s email messages to third parties. Keep in mind that all private email mail is considered copyrighted by the original author.
• Avoid inappropriate material.
• Be forgiving. If someone states something that you find offensive, mention this directly to the instructor. Remember that the person contributing to the discussion might be new to this form of communication. What you find offensive may quite possibly have been unintended and can best be cleared up by the instructor. If the instructor is unable to resolve the issue, they should escalate to the Chair, as should the student.
• Think before you hit the send button. Think carefully about the content of your message before contributing it. Once sent to the group there is no taking it back. Grammar and spelling errors reflect on you and your audience might not be able to decode misspelled words or poorly constructed sentences. It can also adversely affect your grade.
• Escalate your issues privately via email versus discussion forums. Should you have a disagreement with an instructor or classmate it is best to send an individual email to that individual. Do not argue your case in the discussion forum.
• Brevity is best. Be as concise as possible when contributing to a discussion. Your points might be missed if hidden in a flood of text.

Avoid disciplinary action. Any type of online behavior that is perceived as disrespectful to a fellow student or instructor, or anything that has the potential to be perceived as less than courteous is unacceptable and can be subject to disciplinary action by the Chair of the department.  Repetition of such behavior can result in expulsion from the class. The Student Handbook Code of Conduct outlines what is misconduct by a student."

- from Assc. Prof. Kristine Swithers, CCRI

Using Respondus in your course requires an additional statement in the syllabus for compliance with federal laws.

Please visit Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor for more information on what must be included in a syllabus.

Required by OSCQR for Online and Hybrid Courses

Additional information is required in the syllabus for OSCQR.

• Link to publisher platform login link
• Publisher access code
• Link to publisher technical support
• Link to publisher privacy policy
• Publisher orientation (if not included in the textbook)

Textbooks can be ordered through the CCRI Campus Store