- How to prepare a syllabus

Most TAs do their own typing; others make use of their department/school's clerical and duplicating resources. Most departments have duplicating facilities. Some use the service bureaus on campus. The department office can also provide you with paper, pencils, chalk and other supplies. Some academic units on campus are schools while others are departments. Functionally, these two units are the same. Thus when we refer here to department, we include both academic units.

- Contents of a syllabus

You are required to distribute your syllabus on the first day of class, and it forms a kind of contract between you and your students to let them know what you expect of them and what they can expect of you. You can avoid many misunderstandings through a well developed syllabus. It need not b e lengthy but should be complete.

The Faculty Handbook lists the following as requirements on your syllabus:

- The instructor's name

- The call number

- The descriptive title

- The catalog number of the course.

- The basis for grading in the course.

- A statement of the instructor's attendance policy and the penalty for academic dishonesty.

- The instructor's office hours. Office hours are required.

Please note that a college, department or division might require additional information on your syllabus.

- The difference between a course number and a call number

The course title and catalog number refer to how the course appears in the university bulletin, such as Fundamentals of Philosophy, whose catalog number is PHIL 101. The call number is a five-digit number assigned to your class, such as 01583. There may be more than one section bearing your catalog number, but only your class has the call number listed in the schedule of classes.

- Ordering a copy of the textbook

The departmental office may have a copy. If not, they can help get one for you from the publisher at no charge. In the meantime you can buy a copy from one of the bookstores and then return i t when the publisher sends a desk copy to you. Explain to the bookstore manager what you are doing, and the manager will probably be cooperative. Ohio University does not run its own bookstore but is served by four privately owned stores: Follett's University Bookstore, College Book Store, Little Professor and Specialty Books.

- Ohio University's attendance policy

This is a matter decided by the instructor. If you are part of a group of TAs teaching a multi-section course and supervised by a faculty member, these decisions may already have been made. You are required to announce your attendance policy the first day of class by including it on your syllabus. It is acceptable for you to establish a policy of counting off from the final grade for excessive absences, (example, three absences lowers the final grade by 1/3 of a grade; four absences lowers the final grade a full grade; five or more absences results in course failure). Just spell out your policy, and then stick with it.

You are expected to make allowances for students after a legitimate absence. The Faculty Handbook gives as examples of legitimate absences such things as illness, death in the immediate family, religious observance, and involvement in university-sponsored activities. You are obligated to allow students with legitimate absences to make up missed exams. If you are planning activities that by their nature cannot be made up (such as field trips or outside speakers) and feel that you have to impose some limitations on the absences you will allow, announce this the first day of class.