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Inclusive & Accessible Syllabus
If you’re thinking about fall semester, you may want to take a look at your syllabus. Here’s a template from Dr. Alison Sloat that you can use to make your syllabus more inclusive, welcoming, and accessible.
Make your syllabus more equitable in three steps:
Step 1: Add a welcome statement to set the tone of your class. Is your syllabus welcoming, or does it read like a punishing legal contract? Small changes can set the tone from the very beginning of class. A sample Welcome statement is provided in the template linked above.
Step 2: Explain jargon. Do you explain terms such as Office Hours, Cumulative Exam, MWF, Credits? Examples are provided in the “Faculty Information and How to Contact Me” section.
Step 3: Normalize struggle. Demystifying success makes your course more equitable and inclusive. Consider adding a “How to Succeed in This Class” section. Do you provide information about student support resources? Two sections on the last page of this template (Campus Resources and Emergency Funding) provide links to students who may be experiencing housing and/or food insecurity and financial difficulties.
Thanks for sharing this resource, Dr. Sloat!
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