Faculty Senate Guidelines for Syllabus Standards
On January 25th, 2012, the Rice Faculty Senate passed a motion on syllabus standards that requires all faculty members to provide, by the first day of class, a syllabus that includes the following information:
- Instructor's name, office number, and e-mail address
- Office hours or a statement of either an "open-door" policy or hours by appointment
- Overall course objectives and expected learning outcomes
- Grade policies
- Absence policies
- List of required texts
- Special materials required for the class, if any
- Number of required examinations and papers
- Statement of expectations regarding course work and the Rice Honor Code
- A statement encouraging any student with a disability that requires accommodation to contact both the course instructor and the Disability Resource Center.
- A statement on mental health resources (approved by Faculty Senate on 9/28/2022)
The motion also noted that it is permissible to include a statement indicating that the information contained in the course syllabus, other than the absence policies, may be subject to change with reasonable advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.
Disability Accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that all qualified persons should have equal opportunity and access to education regardless of the presence of any disabling conditions. Any student with a documented disability who needs academic accommodations should 1) visit the Disabilities Resource Center (DRC) to make sure that the required documentation is on file and 2) speak to the instructor as soon as possible. The DRC is located in Allen Center 111, and can also be reached at adarice@rice.edu or x5841.
Mental Health Statement
The wellbeing and mental health of students is important; if you are having trouble completing your coursework, please reach out to the Wellbeing and Counseling Center. Rice University provides cost-free mental health services through the Wellbeing and Counseling Center to help you manage personal challenges that threaten your personal or academic well-being. If you believe you are experiencing unusual amounts of stress, sadness, or anxiety, the Student Wellbeing Office or the Rice Counseling Center may be able to assist you. The Wellbeing and Counseling Center is located in the Gibbs Wellness Center and can be reached at 713-348-3311 (available 24/7).
Rice Safe Office Suggested Statement on Title IX
*For more information about Title IX, please contact Title IX Compliance Officer Richard Baker.*
Title IX Responsible Employee Notification (Example #1)
Rice University cares about your wellbeing and safety. Rice encourages any student who has experienced an incident of harassment, pregnancy discrimination or gender discrimination or relationship, sexual, or other forms interpersonal violence to seek support through The SAFE Office. Students should be aware when seeking support on campus that most employees, including myself, as the instructor/TA, are required by Title IX to disclose all incidents of non-consensual interpersonal behaviors to Title IX professionals on campus who can act to support that student and meet their needs. For more information, please visit safe.rice.edu or email titleixsupport@rice.edu.
Title IX Responsible Employee Notification (Example #2)
At Rice University, unlawful discrimination in any form, including sexual misconduct, is prohibited under Rice Policy on Harassment and Sexual Harassment (Policy 830) and the Student Code of Conduct.
Please be aware that all employees of Rice University are “mandatory reporters,” which means that if you tell me about a situation involving sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking, I must share that information with the Title IX Coordinator.
Although I have to make that notification, you will control how your case will be handled, including whether or not you wish to pursue a formal complaint. Our goal is to make sure you are aware of the range of options available to you and have access to the resources you need.
To report sexual harassment, please contact the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@rice.edu. To explore supportive measures and other resources that are available to you, please visit the Office if Interpersonal Misconduct Prevention and Support at safe.rice.edu.
Title IX Responsible Employee Notification (Example #3)
At Rice University, unlawful discrimination in any form, including sexual misconduct, is prohibited under Rice Policy on Harassment and Sexual Harassment (Policy 830) and the Student Code of Conduct.
Please be aware that all employees of Rice University are “mandatory reporters,” which means that if you tell me about a situation involving discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking, I must share that information with someone, including the University’s Title IX Coordinator (titleix@rice.edu). Although I have to make that notification, you will control how your case will be handled, including whether or not you wish to pursue a formal complaint. Our goal is to make sure you are aware of the range of options available to you and have access to the resources you need.
To explore supportive measures and other resources that are available to you, please visit the Office if Interpersonal Misconduct Prevention and Support at safe.rice.edu.
Dean of Undergraduates Guidelines for Religious Accommodations
Both Rice's policy of non-discrimination on the basis of religion and our core values of diversity and inclusion require instructors to make reasonable accommodations to help students avoid negative academic consequences when their religious obligations conflict with academic requirements. Every reasonable effort should be made to allow members of the university community to observe their religious holidays without jeopardizing the fulfillment of their academic obligations. It is never acceptable for an instructor to compel a student to choose between religious observance and academic work. Absence from classes or examinations for religious reasons does not relieve students from responsibility for any part of the course work required during the period of absence. It is the obligation of students to provide faculty with reasonable notice of the dates of religious holidays on which they will be absent.
Generative AI
Rice University's AI Advisory Committee recommends that all instructors include a syllabus statement that outlines the appropriate use of AI in their course. We provide optional syllabus language here, but encourage instructors to adapt the template below or craft their own policy to fit with their course objectives and teaching philosophy. Instructors may also wish to adopt different AI usage policies for particular assignments or modules; if you would like to discuss your course's AI policy with a CTE faculty member, please schedule a one-on-one consultation here.
Guiding Principles
The syllabus language suggested here was crafted to adhere to guidelines endorsed by the committee regarding the use of AI tools at Rice (including but not limited to Grammarly Go, CoPilot, ChatGPT, and Dall-E) in the context of teaching and learning:
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Ethical Use: Be mindful of the inherent biases in AI outputs; it is your responsibility to ensure that your use of these tools aligns with the ethical standards of the course and the university. Be aware that sharing sensitive or personal information with AI platforms may come with certain risks.
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Academic Integrity: AI-generated content cannot replace your own intellectual effort. You are expected to engage critically with AI outputs, refine them, and ensure that submitted work reflects your own understanding and effort.
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Accountability: You are responsible for the quality, originality, and accuracy of any work you submit, even if AI was used in its creation.
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Transparency: Disclose the use of AI in your work, including citations of the tools that were used and any underlying references cited by that tool.
Additional university resources regarding AI are available on Canvas and through the Office of Information Technology's website.
*These guidelines and language for these policy options were developed in collaboration with ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2024) and Claude (Anthropic, 2024)
Sample Options for AI Usage
Option 1: Focus on Individual Work without AI
In this course, we prioritize the development of your individual skills without the use of AI tools. All coursework, including assignments, exams, and projects, should be completed using your own knowledge and abilities. This approach aims to assess and nurture your personal growth and understanding of the subject matter. If you have specific learning needs that may require accommodations, please discuss these with the instructor.
Option 2: Supportive AI Usage
This course allows for the thoughtful use of AI tools to support your learning process. You may use AI for purposes such as:
- Enhancing your writing through proofreading and grammar checks
- Exploring initial ideas or creating preliminary outlines for essays or projects (which you will then develop independently)
- Verifying facts or identifying relevant sources
The primary intellectual contribution, including analysis, argumentation, and original content creation, should come from you. When you use AI tools, please provide a brief explanation of how they contributed to your work and include appropriate citations. If you're unsure about how to use AI tools effectively or have limited access to them, please consult with the instructor for guidance or alternative options.
Option 3: Integrated AI Learning
In this course, we recognize AI tools as an integrated part of your learning. You're encouraged to explore their use to help you achieve the course's learning objectives; for example:
- Generating drafts from outlines or iterative prompts
- Supporting your research and information-gathering process
- Assisting with problem-solving or coding tasks
However, it is essential that you critically engage with any AI-generated content. This means thoroughly reviewing, analyzing, fact-checking, and refining the output to ensure it aligns with your understanding and the course objectives.Your final submissions should reflect your own comprehension and effort. Please provide detailed documentation of how you used AI tools in your work, including appropriate citations. If you have any concerns about access to our use of AI tools, please discuss them with the instructor to ensure equitable participation for all students.
Suggested Syllabus Statement
[Instructor: Please adapt one of the template options above or insert your customized course policy here]
We are committed to creating an inclusive learning environment. If you have any concerns about your ability to adhere to the selected AI usage policy due to learning differences, technological access issues, or any other reason, please do not hesitate to discuss this with your instructor. We will work together to find appropriate solutions that support your learning while maintaining the academic integrity of the course.
By participating in this course, you agree to follow the AI usage policy outlined above; additionally, you acknowledge that using AI tools to complete entire assignments, exams, or assessments is prohibited unless the instructor explicitly states otherwise. Use of unmodified or undisclosed AI-generated content will be treated as a violation of the Rice Honor Code. In addition, students should review OIT's AI Usage Guidelines here.
Accessibility and Inclusivity
Rice faculty member Anne-Marie Womack has created a website with a curated set of evidence-based suggestions for building an inclusive syllabus. She is also the co-author of the book Inclusive College Classrooms, which is available in the CTE library.
Rice Syllabus Maker
Please visit this page to access the Rice Syllabus Maker.