The Syllabus – A tool to use for academic success

By Valarie R. Austin, September 14th, 2021, 12:00 PM EDT

(Previously Published on LinkedIn)

In the past few weeks, across the nation, colleges and universities have started the fall 2022 academic year. On the first day of classes, college professors typically review their syllabi (plural of syllabus) with their students. The syllabus is a roadmap that tells students what to expect in a class and establishes a timeline to reach the course’s goals. The course syllabus also serves as an agreement between instructors and their students that details the course outline, the anticipated course schedule and grading objectives. Additionally, a syllabus communicates a professor’s emphasis on specific material that will be covered in a class. Unfortunately, many freshman and even more senior college students treat the syllabus like another piece of paper to throw in their backpacks without another glance. Or, if the syllabus is online, the students do not take the time to read or print it out. The syllabus, however, is the most important document that students can use to succeed in their classes. This significant document tells a student everything they need to know about a course and what they will learn during each class period.

The structure of a course syllabus is simple and includes

o The professor’s name, contact information and dates/times for office hours
o Class location, days and times
o Required reading material/books and supplies such as a calculator for a math class
o Course goals and objectives (these should link to a student’s program of study)
o Topics by each class period (this information is great as a study guide)
o Class assignments, homework, papers, projects, participation requirements and associated weight for each assignment
o Assignment due dates and the course grading policy (typically using the letter grade A to denote the top students and grades of D or F for those who did not pass the class)
o Exam schedules and percentage of importance to the course grade
o Any additional policies and procedures that pertain to the class such as accommodations for students with learning disabilities, notification process for student absences or the college’s cheating policy

Organized students read and use the syllabus as a way to prioritize their study time and meet assignment deadlines. In fact, students would be far ahead of their classmates if they annotated major course events on a calendar and set reminders for upcoming class assignments and exams.

One key piece of information on a syllabus is the instructor’s office hours. Numerous professors willingly provide guidance and support to help students to succeed in their classes. Office hours are dedicated periods when the professor is available to answer questions about the class. Unfortunately, many students do not take advantage of this benefit and instead suffer in silence when having difficulty in a class. Professor office hours provide a means for students to get back on track and make a connection with their instructor. Unless a student takes the initiative to set up time to go to office hours, the instructor may not know that the student is struggling to understand the course material. Therefore, office hours can be a means for a student to pre-empt a failing grade for an exam, assignment, or the course. The professor may offer extra time on an assignment, go over homework, provide extra credit work, or explain step-by-step complex concepts, especially in technical courses. Think of office hours as a student’s opportunity to ask for help and a means to improve a grade. Often, professors schedule time for office hours but no one ever shows up.

A syllabus has another value because it describes a course’s content and requirements. A best practice for a student is to file paper copies or upload their syllabi to a computer at the beginning of each semester. This practice serves dual purposes: 1) easy access to locate a syllabus for a current course and 2) when transferring to another institution. When a student transfers, the syllabi may establish equivalency for the new institution’s courses and allow the student to obtain transfer credits. Between colleges, course titles and numbers may or may not be the same. According to the College Affordability Guide website, “Similar course names (between originating/receiver schools) don’t necessarily mean credit will transfer. It’s the content of the course that counts and different schools could assign different equivalency measures (https://www.collegeaffordabilityguide...).” The new school administrators, however, can review the student’s syllabi to determine if the completed courses covered the same material as the new school’s equivalent courses. Student save time and money when they receive transfer credits. They also do not lose momentum toward graduation due to retaking courses that cover the same material at their new school.

Students should take advantage of the wealth of information contained in the syllabus. They are leveraging one of the best tools that can lead to success in the college classroom. A well-written syllabus typically contains 90% to 95% of questions that students may have about a course. It also establishes the standard for students to pass the course and meet its learning objectives. By reading the syllabus for each class, you will know what to expect, critical dates and the means to seek out the teacher if you need academic help. The syllabus is the light at the end of the tunnel, directing you to success. I encourage you to start walking toward the light. Have a great semester!

Valarie R. Austin is the author of The Student’s Comprehensive Guide for College & Other Life Lessons. She has a wealth of knowledge on the subjects of career and college preparation. She also conducts career and college readiness workshops for high school students and parents. Check out her author’s pages on https://www.linkedin/in/valarie-r-austin, https://www.goodreads.com/valarie_r_austin and https://www.amazon.com/author/valarie_r_austin. A Youtube.com review of her book can found at https://youtu.be/xy_GSHlJsa0. This article was edited by Raffie Johnson. Copyright 2021, Vauboix Publishing LLC. (Article 1 of 5, fall 2021)

The Student's Comprehensive Guide For College & Other Life Lessons
La Guía Comprensiva del Estudiante para la Universidad & Otras Lecciones de Vida