Online Course Syllabus Template



College of Engineering Research Course Syllabus TemplateAbout this templateThis template is provided to assist College of Engineering faculty in preparing syllabi for independent, graduate-level research courses (e.g., 899 Master’s Thesis Research, 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research, or departmental independent study courses for graduate students). Syllabi are required for all courses by the MSU Code of Teaching Responsibility. Given the individual nature of research courses, this syllabus template provides a framework to guide communications about research goals and course expectations between the student and the instructor (who typically also serves as the research advisor). This syllabus template is designed to meet all MSU syllabus content requirements and to be compliant with accessibility standards for both printed and online documents (as of August, 2020).All headings, tables, web links, and sample text are formatted to optimize the document for all students, including those students who rely on assistive technologies to read their syllabus.This syllabus template is adapted from the College of Engineering Course Syllabus Template, with additional input from the College of Natural Science Course Syllabus Template (which was adapted from the Broad College of Business Course Syllabus Template by Jeremy Van Hof)Instructions for using this Course Syllabus TemplateText in red must be customized for each course, each semester.Items highlighted in gray are notes to guide your customization of the syllabus, and should be deleted from the final version. (Delete all highlights from the final syllabus, too!)Items highlighted in yellow are required (see the MSU Syllabus Checklist from the Ombudsperson Office and the MSU Code of Teaching Responsibility). Items highlighted in green are required and pertain to the unusual circumstances of FS20 (see the revised MSU Syllabus Checklist from the Council of Undergraduate Education Deans). For additional details about these new policies and procedures, see other content is strongly recommended for all syllabi by the Ombudperson’s office. Rearrange, edit, or revise this text as you see fit.If you reformat the headers, lists, or text be sure to use Word’s styles feature; if you reformat or add charts or images, be sure to use Alternative Text (text that describes the image displayed) so screen readers can provide a verbal description of the image for the visually impaired. You can read instructions on creating Alt Text on the MS Word help page.Be sure to remove references to tools, activities, or outcomes that you do not plan to use.For questions or feedback, please contact Dr. Katy Luchini Colbry (colbryka@msu.edu)~~Delete this page from your finished syllabus before distribution~~COURSE NUMBER: NAMEInstructor InformationName: Instructor (pronouns) Information on preferred pronouns: : office number and buildingOffice hours: enter information about your office hours for Fall 2020 (which must be provided by phone or videoconference; office hours may NOT be in person during Fall 2020 per MSU). Indicate the platform where office hours will be held and how appointments can be made outside office hours. Be explicit about communication channels and expectations, e.g. if you'll need 24 hours to reply to student emails. Phone: (Specify if the office phone will be forwarded to the instructor's personal phone or if some other means of communication is to be used)E-mail: (specify preferred address)Course InformationCourse: XYZ 899 Master’s Thesis Research / XYZ 999 Doctoral Dissertation ResearchSemester: Fall 2020Credits: variable (1-8) for 899, variable (1-24) for 999; or as appropriate for other coursesCourse Time, Location and Modality: this course is coded as “in person” by MSU; during Fall 2020 we will make use of virtual meeting modes when possible due to COVID-19 restrictions. Meetings times, locations, and modes will be arranged by the instructor and student.Catalog Course Description:Master’s thesis research. – OR – Doctoral dissertation research.The course description must be consistent with the course description as approved by the University Committee on Curriculum and the University Council, and as written in the University Online Catalog: . Typically, for an 899 course the official description is “Master’s thesis research” and for a 999 course the official description is “Doctoral dissertation research.” However, please double check for the course(s) in your unit.Course Overview and Learning Objectives:This course is designed to assist graduate students in making progress in their research. Students often enroll in this course in multiple semesters during their graduate program, allowing them to develop and refine research skills over time. By participating in this course, students will:Develop appropriate technical, analytical, and/or computational skills to plan and execute a body of research work appropriate to meet the requirements of their graduate degree programGain an understanding of the structure of research literature, develop skills for identifying appropriate references within their field of research, identify and organize citations, and be able to write an annotated discussion of relevant resources within their field of research Gain an understanding of the appropriate structure of research writing in their field of study, and be able to compose research posters, papers, articles, and a thesis or dissertation as required for their degree programLearn about research presentations, and be able to generate and deliver presentations about their own research in both formal and informal settingsLearn about ethical practices for research, and be able to articulate key principles for conducting research responsibly within their own domainGain experience in working in research teams and communicating with individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, and research disciplinesCourse Schedule, Assignments, Final Exam, Assessment Dates and Proctoring Arrangements:Research courses are unique in that the goals and milestones vary by semester and as students progress in their graduate studies. Thus, for this course the student and instructor will work together to develop specific research goals, assignments, deliverables and timelines for this course during this semester (hereafter called the “plan”), including a timeline for reviewing the plan regularly and revised as needed. The plan should be developed based on a review of the student’s academic and research progress to date, and should outline reasonable milestones that the student should meet in order to make appropriate progress in the graduate program during the semester. Examples of typical research assessments that may be appropriate to include in the plan include reports, manuscripts, presentations or exams (e.g., qualifying, comprehensive, final defense). The schedule for this course is as follows:Week 1: the student will draft a copy of the plan for this semester, and submit it to the instructor by email no later than the 5th day of classes.Week 2: the instructor will review and revise the plan in collaboration with the student; the final plan will be in place by the 10th day of classes. Both the student and instructor will retain a written copy of the final plan and all subsequent updates; these may be stored electronically and/or in hardcopy.Subsequent weeks’ activities will be detailed in the plan, which will be reviewed regularly (according to the schedule indicated within the plan) and revised as needed based on research progress.As part of the plan, the student and instructor must detail the specific assessments for this course, including the final assessment or exam for the semester. As applicable, the plan must detail the date, time, location, and modality of each assessment, and must indicate all technologies and materials that will be required to complete the assessment. If proctoring is required for any course assessments, this must be detailed in the plan. At a minimum, the plan must include the following elements:The start and end dates of the semester ().A list of minimum projects/activities/goals for the semester.Optionally, a list of “stretch” projects/activities/goals for the semester, which may be completed as time and resources permit, but are not required.A detailed timeline for the semester that includes a weekly breakdown of:Minimum projects, goals and deliverables (stretch goals may be included if desired).Dates by which the instructor will provide feedback on projects, goals and deliverables, as needed (e.g., if the student submits a paper draft, when will the instructor provide written feedback on the draft?).Other commitments and events during the semester that may impact student progress or instructor availability (conferences, holidays, etc.).The schedule and format for written progress reports from the student (weekly is recommended, monthly is the minimum) and for receiving written feedback from the advisor (weekly is recommended, monthly is the minimum); note that the College of Engineering recommends a “3x3” weekly update email method, as described here: schedule for reviewing and revising the plan, which must happen at least twice during the semester – but may need to happen more frequently and/or be tied to key milestones.An indication of which activity or deliverable will serve as the final exam for the course.A description of how each required project, activity or goal in the plan will be evaluated. Examples include:If one of the goals is preparing a manuscript, the plan should detail the requirements (topic, format, length, deadlines) and evaluation process (e.g., the instructor will provide detailed written feedback by a specific date, and the student will have a certain amount of time to revise and resubmit).If one of the activities for the semester is participating in research group meetings, the plan should describe minimum attendance expectations as well as any additional work required to fulfill the requirements for this activity (e.g., give a monthly research update to the group that includes 3-5 slides).Grade Determination and Dissemination:This course is graded on a pass/fail basis, with grades deferred until after the student’s final defense has been completed and recorded with the Graduate School. [Note that this is true for 899/999 courses, but if you’re using this template for a different course you will need to double check the grading method and timing for that class; delete this note from your final syllabus!] The instructor will provide regular written feedback on the student’s progress in achieving the minimum goals for the semester identified in the course plan. The schedule for this feedback will be outlined in the plan, and will be monthly at a minimum (or about 4-5 times per semester). This feedback from the instructor will clearly indicate (1) whether the student is making appropriate progress in achieving the minimum activities described in the plan, based on the evaluation criteria outlined in the plan; and (2) whether the plan needs to be reviewed/revised based on current progress, and a timeline and process for accomplishing this, if needed. It is important to recognize that research is not a linear process, and the plan may need to be adjusted. The minimum expectations may also need to be adjusted, although the overall work load should remain reasonably consistent for the semester. Students or instructors with concerns about revising the plan or minimum expectations are encouraged to seek guidance from their graduate program director.If the written instructor feedback indicates that the student is making appropriate progress, then the student should continue to pursue the activities described in the plan. If the written instructor feedback indicates that the plan needs to be reviewed/revised, then the student should follow up with the instructor to accomplish this review.If the written instructor feedback indicates that the student is NOT making appropriate progress, then the instructor must provide a specific remediation plan (including goals, deadlines, and a schedule for communication between the student and instructor at least weekly). The goal of this remediation plan is to outline a very clear pathway for the student to follow to get “back on track” in making progress on the course plan, and for the instructor and student to communicate at least weekly about progress. While conversations are encouraged to identify challenges and solutions, it is important that the significant decisions or outcomes are recorded in writing to ensure that both the student and instructor understand the next steps.If the student consistently fails to make progress in the course plan and also fails to “catch up” by following the remediation plan, then the instructor will email a written warning that the student is not making appropriate progress in research activities for the course and will copy the graduate program director for the major. In this case, both the instructor and student are encouraged to follow up with the graduate program director to discuss challenges to the student’s research progress and potential solutions. If necessary, the student may be placed on probation by the department for up to 1 semester with a specific remediation plan to follow and clear consequences for meeting these requirements, or not.Students or instructors who have concerns about the grading process in this course, or who feel that both parties are not living up to the agreement outlined in the plan, should seek guidance from one or more of the following resources: the graduate program director in their program; the chairperson of their unit; or the Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Services in the College of Engineering (contact information for these individuals may be found through or ). The MSU Office of the Ombudsperson is another resource that may be helpful, particularly in providing information on the MSU Code of Teaching Responsibility, the MSU Graduate Students Rights and Responsibilities, and other applicable MSU policies and procedures: Policy:Regular, consistent communication between the student and instructor is key to success in this course. Students and instructors are expected to make significant effort to attend and participate in all activities outlined in the plan or otherwise arranged during the semester, including scheduled meetings and research group activities. As a courtesy, students and instructors should provide a minimum of 24 hours advance notice of schedule changes whenever possible. Students who experience an unexpected or emergency situation should communicate with their instructor as soon as possible afterwards. If you have specific expectations for attendance or participation, be certain to include them hereRequired and Recommended Textbook & Course Materials:No textbooks or materials are required or recommended to be purchased for this class. MSU students have access to a variety of research materials through the MSU Libraries: . Students in this research course may find the resources compiled by the MSU Engineering Librarian, Tom Volkening, to be of particular help: specific textbooks or materials are required, list them here. Include details such as full name of textbook, author, edition, ISBN, description (if desired), and where it can be purchased. If a required text is available online, indicate where it can be accessed. As appropriate, detail how and where students should access other course materials.Required Technologies:Students enrolled in research courses will need access to computer hardware and software sufficient for word processing, email and videoconference meetings (including a webcam or phone with camera that can be used for videoconferencing). Reliable, high speed internet access is also required. Students who experience unexpected difficulties or outages should contact their instructor by phone or email as soon as possible to make alternative arrangements. Students can test their internet speed at and can find information on how to access internet connections, including companies offering students free or reduced cost internet, here: course involves frequent communication between the instructor and student via email, phone and/or videoconference. MSU graduate students and faculty have access to robust videoconference tools through Microsoft Office365 () and Zoom (). Graduate students in the College of Engineering also have access to a variety of technology and support through DECS ()If you use an online course management system (like D2L) or other shared resource (like a group website or research drive) when working with your research students, include that information here and provide a description of how that system will be used, along with links to appropriate technical support.Specify any additional materials, including software, and hardware, that students must purchase (or have access to) for the course. For research courses, this may include your research group’s preferred word processing tools (LaTex, Microsoft Office, etc.) or software/hardware required for analysis. This list only applies to items that the student must purchase or procure on their own – you do not need to list laboratory equipment, hardware or software that is provided for research students in your group. State if any hardware or software is required for assessment or meetings (e.g. a webcam, headphones/microphone). In selecting/preparing materials abide by the MSU Accessibility Policies.Contingency Planning:Students who become ill or unable to participate in the course for an extended period of time should contact the instructor as soon as possible. The instructor will work with the student to make appropriate adjustments to the plan to accommodate the illness or absence. Students will not be penalized for a lack of progress in the plan due to documented illness or other significant interruption.Should the instructor become ill or unable to participate in the course for an extended period of time, they will let the student know as soon as possible. The instructor will work with the student to identify an alternative research mentor to supervise progress in the plan, if possible. Depending on the circumstances, the student may be able to continue working on the plan with an alternate supervisor, or the plan may need to be revised to accommodate the instructor’s absence. In either case, the student will not be penalized for a lack of progress in the plan due to the instructor’s absence.Important Dates to Remember:Tentative deadlines and timelines for projects, activities and assignments in this class will be outlined in the plan. The instructor may revise these dates as needed at their discretion, with appropriate notice to the student. The tentative Fall 2020 calendar for MSU includes the following key dates:Fall 2020 MSU Holidays and Breaks (tentative)Classes Begin: Wednesday Sept. 2All In-Person instruction ends: Wednesday Nov. 25University Closed: Monday Sept. 7University Closed: Thursday Nov. 26 – Friday Nov. 27Classes End: Friday Dec. 11Final Exams: Monday Dec. 14 – Friday Dec. 18Additional Policies, Syllabus Statements and Resources for StudentsAccommodations for Students with Disabilities: Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. Requests for accommodations by persons with disabilities may be made by contacting the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities at 517-884-RCPD or . Once your eligibility for an accommodation has been determined, you will be issued a Verified Individual Services Accommodation ("VISA") form. Please present this form to the instructor at the start of the term and/or two weeks prior to the accommodation date (test, project, etc.). Requests received after this date will be honored whenever possible.Academic Honesty and Research Integrity: Article 2.III.B.2 of the Student Rights and Responsibilites (SRR) states that "The student shares with the faculty the responsibility for maintaining the integrity of scholarship, grades, and professional standards." In addition, the College of Engineering adheres to the policies on academic honesty as specified in General Student Regulations 1.0, Protection of Scholarship and Grades; the all-University Policy on Integrity of Scholarship and Grades; and Ordinance 17.00, Examinations. Therefore, you are expected to develop original work for this course and appropriately cite all research sources. Students who violate MSU academic integrity rules may receive a penalty grade, including a failing grade on the assignment or in the course. Contact your instructor if you are unsure about the appropriateness of your course work. (See also the website of the MSU Research Integrity Officer and the Spartan Code of Honor.)Limits to confidentiality. Essays, journals, and other materials submitted for this class are generally considered confidential pursuant to the University's student record policies. However, students should be aware that University employees, including instructors, may not be able to maintain confidentiality when it conflicts with their responsibility to report certain issues to protect the health and safety of MSU community members and others. As the instructor, I must report the following information to other University offices (including the Department of Police and Public Safety) if you share it with me: suspected child abuse/neglect, even if this maltreatment happened when you were a child, allegations of sexual assault or sexual harassment when they involve MSU students, faculty, or staff, and credible threats of harm to oneself or to others. These reports may trigger contact from a campus official who will want to talk with you about the incident that you have shared. In almost all cases, it will be your decision whether you wish to speak with that individual. If you would like to talk about these events in a more confidential setting you are encouraged to make an appointment with the MSU Counseling Center ().Drops and Adds: Please check the MSU Schedule of Courses (schedule.msu.edu) to determine the last day to add this course; the last day to drop this course with a 100% refund and no grade reported; and the last day to drop this course with no refund and no grade reported. You should immediately make a copy of your amended schedule to verify you have added or dropped this mercialized Lecture Notes: Commercialization of lecture notes and university-provided course materials is not permitted in this course.Disruptive Behavior: Article 2.III.B.4 of the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SRR) for students at Michigan State University states: "The student's behavior in the classroom shall be conducive to the teaching and learning process for all concerned." Article 2.III.B.10 of the SRR states that "The student and the faculty share the responsibility for maintaining professional relationships based on mutual trust and civility." General Student Regulation 5.02 states: "No student shall . . . interfere with the functions and services of the University (for example, but not limited to, classes . . .) such that the function or service is obstructed or disrupted. Students whose conduct adversely affects the learning environment in this classroom may be subject to disciplinary action through the Student?Judicial Affairs office.Grief Absence Policy: Student Rights and Responsibilities: Withdrawal: of Scholarship and Grades: Policy: Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy: Observance Policy: Ombudsperson: College of Engineering Graduate Program Contacts: Graduate School: Counseling Center: Student Health Services (Olin): Community Compact regarding COVID-19: The novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, has been declared a worldwide pandemic. The COVID-19 virus is extremely contagious and is believed to spread mainly from person-to-person contact. The COVID-19 pandemic represents an unprecedented public health crisis that has impacted every facet of life, including the classroom environment. As a result, significant changes in how we conduct in-person classes must be made. This section of the syllabus discusses the policies and procedures we will use in class.This class abides by all principles, guidelines, and requirements detailed in the MSU Community Compact. Specifically, all participants in the class will adhere to the following:Face coverings. Face coverings must be worn by everyone (including all faculty, staff, students, vendors, and visitors) indoors and outdoors while on property owned or governed by MSU and while participating in MSU-related or MSU-sponsored activities. Thus, unless you are unable to tolerate a face covering for medical reasons you must wear a face covering inside and outside of class. This face covering must cover your mouth and nose. Physical distancing. We will be practicing physical distancing in the classroom. Thus, all students should maintain at least six feet distance between themselves and others (excluding those with whom they live). This applies to all aspects of the classroom setting, including seating arrangements, informal conversations, and dialogue between faculty and students.Personal Hygiene. All students must maintain proper hygiene and health practices, including:Washing hands frequently with soap and water or, if soap is unavailable, using hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcoholRoutinely cleaning and sanitizing living spaces and/or workspaceUsing the bend of the elbow or shoulder to shield a cough or sneezeRefraining from shaking handsAdherence to Signage and Instructions. Students will (a) look for instructional signs posted by MSU or public health authorities, (b) observe instructions from MSU or public health authorities that are emailed to my “msu.edu” account, and (c) follow those instructions.Self-Monitoring. Students will self-monitor for flu-like symptoms (for example, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fever, sore throat or loss of taste or smell). If a student experiences any flu-like symptoms, they will stay home and contact a health care provider to determine what steps should be taken.Exposure to COVID-19. If a student is exposed to someone who is ill or has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, they will stay home, contact a health care provider and follow all public health pliance and reporting. Those who come to MSU facilities must commit to the personal responsibility necessary for us to remain as safe as possible, including following the specific guidelines outlined in this syllabus and provided by MSU more broadly (see below). There may be times when action will be necessary to reinforce expectations. If you do not wear appropriate face coverings (see MSU’s guidelines), do not wear your face covering appropriately (i.e., over your mouth and nose), or do not adhere to physical distancing guidelines (i.e., six feet apart), you will be asked to correct the situation or leave the facility. In addition, MSU will utilize the processes already in place to respond to any issues of noncompliance with standards established for the health and safety of our community. For classroom disruptions or issues, the responses and processes that have been used previously remain the first line of action. If necessary, the student conduct system will be the avenue used to adjudicate student disciplinary situations. Additional information. See for details about these new policies and procedures and see for more details about the cloth face coverings guidelines.*** ................
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