All instructors are expected to have a syllabus for the courses they teach. A syllabus is where students learn about the course, the instructor, and the instructor's expectations. This page contains information to make the syllabus an effective learning tool that complies with University policies.

Syllabus Resources

The following statements are required for all syllabi.

Diversity Statement 

As approved by University Senate in February 2017:

  • Option 1 – Includes Bias Response Team Information

    Ball State University aspires to be a university that attracts and retains a diverse faculty, staff and student body. We are committed to ensuring that all members of the campus community are welcome through our practice of valuing the various experiences and world views of those we serve. We promote a culture of respect and civil discourse as evident in our Beneficence Pledge. For Bias Incident Response information, go to https://www.bsu.edu/campuslife/multiculturalcenter/bias-incident-reporting or email mc2@bsu.edu.

  • Option 2 – Does not include Bias Response Team Information

    Ball State University aspires to be a university that attracts and retains a diverse faculty, staff, and student body. We are committed to ensuring that all members of the community are welcome, through valuing the various experiences and worldviews represented at Ball State and among those we serve. We promote a culture of respect and civil discourse as expressed in our Beneficence Pledge and through university resources found at https://www.bsu.edu/campuslife/multiculturalcenter.

Disability Services Statement

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, please contact me as soon as possible. The Office of Disability Services coordinates services for students with disabilities; documentation of a disability needs to be on file in that office before any accommodations can be provided. Disability Services can be contacted at 765-285-5293 or dsd@bsu.edu.

Attendance Policies

Faculty are required to establish attendance policies for their courses and ensure that they communicate these policies through their course syllabi. In some cases, faculty may be asked to provide the last date of attendance for a student in association with financial aid requirement.

Students are expected to review course syllabi regarding absence guidelines and follow those guidelines.

Course attendance policies must be consistent with University policy. The University has a number of specific policies regarding student absences that are housed within different areas. Please find a link to attendance policies here.

Many faculty find it helpful to make students aware of both the academic ethics policy and the grade appeal policy.

You may consider clearly articulating your expectations regarding email and other course correspondence. Do you typically take 24-48 hours to respond? If so, consider mentioning that on the syllabus.

Do you have particular expectations for your students to use your correct pronouns or title? If so, consider including some guidance on those issues.

It may help for students to know what counts as a classroom disruption and how you plan to deal with those disruptions.

There are a wide variety of academic support services offered through Academic Affairs and University College. It is helpful for students to see those resources on a syllabus. Consider including the language below regarding the The Learning Center or the Writing Center. It is also helpful to put a link to the Counseling Center. And maybe even Cardinal Kitchen and other student success services. 

The Learning Center

The Learning Center offers free Tutoring and Academic Coaching for many courses at Ball State.  Students can make appointments for online (Zoom) or in-person (NQ 350) appointments. Unvaccinated students are required to wear masks and practice physical distancing in the Learning Center.  

To make an appointment, visit my.bsu.edu and click on “TutorTrac” in the Additional Tools section, or just go directly to https://ballstate.go-redrock.com.

Testing accommodations for students with disabilities are available for students who have received the appropriate documentation from Disability Services.  Tests may be administered in the Learning Center.  

Supplemental Instruction is available in select courses.  If you have an SI leader for your course, that person will provide students with information the first week of school regarding weekly study sessions.

For more information about all of our programming, visit bsu.edu/learningcenter or call 765-285-1006. Follow us on Instagram: BallStateLC.

The Writing Center 

All writers improve with practice and feedback, so as a student in this course, you are encouraged to use the Writing Center (in Robert Bell 295, Bracken Library, or online) to get additional feedback on your writing. To schedule a free appointment to discuss your writing, go to www.bsu.edu/writingcenter. Online and in-person appointments are available seven days a week; however, plan ahead because appointments book quickly!

  • Continuity of Instruction Page

  • Learning Center Canvas Module
    Want to add the Learning Center Spring 2022 Resources module to your Canvas course or community? Just click on “Commons” in your left menu bar in Canvas, then search for “Ball State University Learning Center Resources Spring 2022.”  From that screen, you can import the module into your course or download the materials. More instructions.

    Included in the module: a Learning Center packet describing all of our programming, instructions and a video explaining how to make an appointment with a tutor or Academic Coach, and a linked list to over 600 video tutorials (housed on YouTube) created by tutors for hundreds of different courses.

  • Consider including the following information about the Learning Center on your syllabus and Canvas site:
    The Learning Center offers free Tutoring and Academic Coaching for many courses at Ball State.  Students can make appointments for online (Zoom) or in-person (NQ 350) appointments.  

    Students can begin making appointments on Thursday, January 13, 2022.  Tutoring and Academic Coaching will begin on Tuesday, January 18, 2022.  

    To make an appointment, visit my.bsu.edu and click on “TutorTrac” in the Additional Tools section, or just go directly to https://ballstate.go-redrock.com.

    Testing accommodations for students with disabilities are available for students who have received the appropriate documentation from Disability Services.  Tests may be administered in the Learning Center.  

    Supplemental Instruction is available in select courses.  If you have an SI leader for your course, that person will provide students with information the first week of school regarding weekly study sessions.

    For more information about all of our programming, visit bsu.edu/learningcenter. 

  • Request a visit from the Learning Center to your classroom or organization!
    Academic Coaches from the Learning Center are available to present 5-45 minute presentations, talks, and workshops on many different aspects of collegiate success, such as Learning Center services, goal-setting, time management, organization, strategies for reading the textbook, note-taking, and locating campus resources.  

    To request a presentation, talk, or workshop, please fill out the request form on our website. If you have any questions, please contact the Learning Center Director, Jenny Haley.

    We suggest scheduling your presentation starting Week 2 of the semester.

  • Refer your students to the Learning Center
    We have great academic resources such as tutoring and Academic Coaching.  Students are more likely to take advantage of our resources when faculty and staff send them our way.

  • Refer students who would make great tutors
    We are experiencing a hiring crisis like so many others on campus and across the country.  Please refer your high-performing students to the Learning Center to work as tutors.  All jobs are posted through Cardinal Career Link.  Critical areas are chemistry, math, business, physics, and pre-nursing.