We found 117 results that contain "disability justice"

This article is a component of the Resources for Teaching After Crisis playlist.
#EnoughisEnough Syllabus: Responding to School Violence in the Classroom 
Collaborative syllabus by students and faculty in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Minnesota [online syllabus] This syllabus includes reading lists (with examples in many formats including from the arts), annotated resources, class responses and activities, and other related collective syllabi. The authors encourage us to be critical, complex, and hopeful as we wrestle with these topics.
Teaching on Days After: Educating for Equity in the Wake of Injustice
by Alyssa Hadley Dunn [book/ebook available at MSU Libraries; preview on Google Books]
Book description: What should teachers do on the days after major events, tragedies, and traumas, especially when injustice is involved? This beautifully written book features teacher narratives and youth-authored student spotlights that reveal what classrooms do and can look like in the wake of these critical moments. Dunn incisively argues for the importance of equitable commitments, humanizing dialogue, sociopolitical awareness, and a rejection of so-called pedagogical neutrality across all grade levels and content areas.
Restorative Justice Resources for Schools
Edutopia resource by Matt Davis including links and case studies [website]
Offers examples of and evidence for the benefits of restorative justice frameworks in K-12 schools.
Restorative Justice: What it is and What it is Not 
by the editors of Rethinking Schools magazine [article]
This article explains restorative justice approaches as an improvement over zero-tolerance policies in schools. It advocates for restorative practices that take time, build trust and community, require commitment and resources, and can’t be a band-aid for schools in crisis.
Transformative Justice, Explained 
by Kim Tran for Teen Vogue [article]
Describes the overall framework and examples of transformative justice, an approach aiming to reduce inequitable incarceration and facilitate community-centered healing. 
Transformative Justice: A Brief Description 
Article by Mia Mingus from the TransformHarm.org resource hub [article]
This article describes and introduces transformative justice, an approach aiming to break cycles of generational and state violence and to build resilient, accountable communities. Includes links to examples and case studies.

Resources for Moving Forward after Tragedy and Trauma 
Adapted from materials curated with love and solidarity by Kaitlin Popielarz, PhD  Dr. Popielarz is an MSU alum and you can contact her at: kaitlin.popielarz@utsa.edu
How to Respond in the Classroom

Teaching on the Day After a Crisis 
Navigating Discussions Following a School Shooting 

When Bad Things are Happening
Showing up strong for yourself—and your students—in the aftermath of violence 
A love letter to teachers after yet another school shooting

On Days Like These, Write. Just Write. 
Resources for Talking and Teaching About the School Shooting in Florida
PERSPECTIVE: Teaching Through Trauma
Support Students Who Experience Trauma 

Online Learning

Trauma Informed Distance Learning: A Conversation with Alex Shevrin Venet 

Self-Care for Educators and Students

College Students: Coping After the Recent Shooting
Slowing Down For Ourselves and Our Students 
Helping Teachers Manage the Weight of Trauma: Understanding and mitigating the effects of secondary traumatic stress for educators
Coping in the Aftermath of a Shooting 
Coping after Mass Violence
Tips for Survivors: Coping With Grief After Community Violence
Tips for Survivors of a Disaster or Other Traumatic Event: Managing Stress

Resources for Parents and/or Focusing on Children

Helping Your Children Manage Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting 
Resiliency After Violence: After Uvalde 
Responding to Tragedy: Resources for Educators and Parents 
Managing Fear After Mass Violence 
When Bad Things Happen: Help kids navigate our sometimes-violent world 
Childhood Traumatic Grief: Youth Information 

Further Reading: Trauma-Informed Resources

#EnoughisEnough Syllabus: Responding to School Violence in the Classroom 
Teaching on Days After: Educating for Equity in the Wake of Injustice

[book/ebook available at MSU Libraries; preview on Google Books]

Restorative Justice Resources for Schools
Restorative Justice: What it is and What it is Not 
Transformative Justice, Explained 
Transformative Justice: A Brief Description 

[External] Mental Health Resources

American Psychological Association
American School Counselor Association 
African American Therapist Database 
School Crisis Recovery and Renewal 
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network 

The NCTSN has prepared resources in response to the MSU incident here


GLSEN

Links for Taking Action (Particularly Related to Days After Gun Violence) 

March For Our Lives 
Everytown 
Sandy Hook Promise 
Moms Demand Action 
Mothers of the Movement 

Topic Area: DEI
Presented By: Sonja Fritzsche, Amy Martin, and Peter De Costa 
Abstract:
We propose an information session as a report out on the activities of our AAN Learning Community from AY 2020-21: Anti-racist Approaches to Learning and Teaching with Faculty, Staff and Students. This effort is part of MSU’s learning community program organized by the Academic Advancement Network (AAN). You can read more about this learning community and others on the AAN website.   
This year we created a learning community space where learners of all races and ethnicities could commit to reading, viewing, and listening to the research, creative scholarship, and voices of what our MSU campus colleagues and others have published on whiteness, social justice, and anti-racist issues. A group of over 20 faculty, graduate students, staff, and administrators from three different colleges and several administrative units spent time reflecting on our own areas of growth and what we needed to change about ourselves and our approaches to teaching and facilitating learning for others. Together we agreed on collective rules of engagement for respectful and sometimes difficult conversations where we could call each other in on issues and learn from them. We also committed to a set of individual and collective strategies where we become racial justice accomplices, envisioning a community free from racial injustice. Please join us for an interactive discussion about what we read, what we learned, and what actions we committed to undertake. We invite you to engage us, challenge us, and enhance the strategies we plan to implement during the next academic year. The panel will consist of members of the learning community.

Job Title: Librarian for Sociology, Social Work, Criminal Justice, and Human Development & Family StudiesDepartment: MSU Libraries Team: Social Sciences Bio: Carin Graves is the Library Liaison to Sociology, Social Work, Criminal Justice, and Human Development & Family Studies. She is a member of the Zotero team at the library offering workshops and troubleshooting throughout the year.

ChatGPT FAQ for MSU Educators
This Q&A is for educators who are interested in learning more about using ChatGPT in higher education. Use this list to learn the basics on how this technology can enhance teaching and learning experiences while also addressing concerns related to its potential misuse.
There are other chatbot platforms that existed before ChatGPT, such as Jasper.ai for marketing and creative content. There are also competing platforms that quickly entered the market following ChatGPT, such as Google Bard and Bing Chat. Many of the answers below also apply to these other AI platforms.
We are focusing on ChatGPT because of how often educators around the world are discussing its potential for disrupting current teaching and learning practices.

What is ChatGPT?
What can ChatGPT do and not do?
Can I trust ChatGPT?
How can I access ChatGPT to try it out?
What is ChatGPT Plus?
Are there tools that detect ChatGPT writing?
Does Turnitin detect AI generated text?
Are there other MSU supported tools that use AI?
What other tools can I use to compare AI detection results?
Is there a university policy on the use of AI tools like ChatGPT?
Is there a recommendation for how to address the use of AI tools in my class?
How can I improve the output from ChatGPT?
Could AI chatbots potentially create issues of digital equity for students?
What are the privacy concerns associated with using AI in education?
What is MSU doing and how can I stay connected with future developments?

Q1: What is ChatGPT?
A: ChatGPT is an AI chatbot that was launched by OpenAI in November 2022. GPT stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer. It is based on a Large Language Model (LLM) that checks for the probability of what words are likely to come next in a sequence. It is not the same as a search engine because it generates responses on the fly from a vast data source. The model is trained to sound like natural language and is optimized for dialogue. 
Q2: What can ChatGPT do and not do?
A: What ChatGPT can do:
ChatGPT can generate text related to natural language processing, including, but not limited to, answering questions, translating text from one language to another, providing writing assistance by proofreading, editing, and offering suggestions, generating content (e.g., writing an essay, creating a story or poem, summarizing a long article, brainstorming ideas), and engaging in conversations. The tool can also be used to generate and edit code.
In the context of higher education instruction, some educators have already started experimenting with ChatGPT for developing curriculum plans, learning activities, various types of assessments, and rubrics, as well as providing feedback on students’ writing. Students might use ChatGPT to explore different learning topics, get editing suggestions on their written work, brainstorm ideas for projects, and even generate responses to quizzes, exams, and essays, some of which would raise academic integrity issues.
What ChatGPT cannot do:
ChatGPT does not access current websites for information, and according to its statement of limitations, ChatGPT has “limited knowledge of world events after 2021,” and “may occasionally generate incorrect information” and “harmful instructions or biased content.” It is not very accurate at listing citations/references and all output should be checked, as it often makes things up. However, processes are improved with GPT-4 and results may change significantly with new versions over time.
While ChatGPT can create new content based on the data it has been trained on, it still lacks the ability to generate truly original ideas or solve complex problems that require higher-order thinking and creativity. Even though ChatGPT can assist with providing feedback on student work, it is important to note that OpenAI recommends against educators relying on ChatGPT, as giving student feedback involves possible decision making and complex, context-based considerations. See Educator Considerations for ChatGPT for more details of OpenAI’s discussion on the use of ChatGPT in education. 
ChatGPT can be used as an assistant for designing, developing, and teaching courses, but it is not a substitute for educators’ teaching expertise. The best way to learn about its capabilities and limitations is to experiment with ChatGPT within your specific teaching context.
Q3: Can I trust ChatGPT?
A: Ensuring that AI-driven data is accurate and unbiased is very important. The model’s output can sound convincing, but it doesn’t “know” what it is saying and will at times make things up. It is not a substitute for human expertise, judgement, and responsibility. Educators and students need to critically evaluate the information generated by ChatGPT. In practice, assume there are inaccuracies and possible biases (see OpenAI’s FAQ and the given limitations statement).
Ensuring that the collected data is secure and used ethically is also a major challenge. Avoid entering sensitive information. Do not provide any student information or student grades to ChatGPT, as it may be a FERPA violation for disclosing educational records to a third party without the student’s written consent.
Q4: How can I access ChatGPT to try it out?
A: The free version, GPT-3.5, is available at chat.openai.com. Sign up with an email address or Google account. You can create multiple sign-ins to use for work or personal use by using a different email. The sign-up process will ask for a phone number and send you a code for verification. You can use the same phone number for the verification process.
After signing up, go to chat.openai.com/chat. There is a text input field at the bottom where you will enter your prompt. Select “Regenerate response” for another version and scroll through the numbers to the left of the prompt to view each version. Continue refining your results by giving subsequent prompts or start a new chat from the menu on the left. You can edit chat labels or delete them by selecting the item in the menu. If you find an answer is incorrect, you can provide feedback by using the "Thumbs Down" button.
Q5: What is ChatGPT Plus (ChatGPT-4)?
A: ChatGPT Plus (ChatGPT-4) is available with a $20/month subscription. The upgrade provides better access during high demand, faster responses, and priority access to new features. One of the new plugins recently adds web browsing for more current data. GPT-4 surpasses ChatGPT in its advanced reasoning capabilities and can solve difficult problems with greater accuracy. You can access it from the menu options after signing up for the free version.
Q6: Are there tools that detect ChatGPT writing?
A: There are tools that claim to be able to detect AI generated text (e.g., Turnitin, CheckGPT, GPTZero). However, keep in mind that the only evidence is the presence of statistical markers about the likelihood of word patterns. It is possible for human writing to fall along similar patterns, leading to false positives, and it is also possible to produce AI-generated responses that go undetected, leading to false negatives. As of Aug. 1, no reliable detector has been identified, and the detectors that are widely available have been shown by multiple studies to be biased against English language learners and people with disabilities (e.g., GPT detectors are biased against non-native English writers by Liang et al. and A study of implicit bias in pretrained language models against people with disabilities by Venkit et al.). Do not assume AI detectors are giving you absolute facts (see Can AI Generated Text be Reliably Detected by Sadasivan et al.), rather let them guide you in addressing concerns with students. 
The best approach is to have a conversation with the student about whether, how, and why they used the tool. For example, an international student may have entered their own work to polish up language structure. Some students may not know using the technology constitutes academic dishonesty, or to what extent they are allowed to get AI assistance if it hasn’t been mentioned explicitly.Be careful how you approach students and consider refraining from mentioning the use of AI detectors as a threat. “The use of these tools to evaluate student text can increase students’ anxiety and stress (both of which have been found to inhibit learning), while also creating an atmosphere of distrust.” [source: Evaluating Student Text with AI Text Detectors]
Bottom line, dedicate some classroom time to educating students about AI and what you consider to be misuse in your class. Have open discussions about its benefits and limitations. Help students understand the downsides of relying on it and emphasize the importance of developing their own writing abilities.
Q7: Does Turnitin detect AI generated text?
A: Turnitin has its own AI writing detection tool, however, it was removed from within the tool on our D2L instance due to concerns over bias and unreliability. Turnitin acknowledges that false positives and false negatives are possible. Again, as of Aug. 1, no reliable detector has been identified, and the detectors that are widely available have been shown by multiple studies to be biased against English language learners and people with disabilities (e.g., GPT detectors are biased against non-native English writers by Liang et al. and A study of implicit bias in pretrained language models against people with disabilities by Venkit et al.).
Turnitin Disclaimer:
“Our AI writing assessment is designed to help educators identify text that might be prepared by a generative AI tool. Our AI writing assessment may not always be accurate (it may misidentify both human and AI-generated text) so it should not be used as the sole basis for adverse actions against a student. It takes further scrutiny and human judgment in conjunction with an organization's application of its specific academic policies to determine whether any academic misconduct has occurred.”
See the following for more Turnitin resources.

Turnitin’s AI Writing Detection FAQ
Academic integrity in the age of AI
AI conversations: Handling false positives for educators

Return to the Turnitin AI writing resource center for educators periodically to find current articles on this rapidly evolving topic.
Q8: Are there other MSU supported tools that detect AI?
A: Packback is an MSU supported AI tool that monitors student work. When using the Packback discussion tool, students are notified when AI generated text is detected, and guidance is provided on how to use AI tools with integrity. See the article, "Post may have been generated by AI" Reason for Moderation.
Packback also has a free AI detection tool called CheckGPT that can be used even if you don’t use the discussion feature, Packback Questions. CheckGPT will analyze a piece of text and suggest using what you learn to help create teaching moments with your students about ethical use and the importance of academic honesty. The tool author intentionally tuned CheckGPT towards a low false positive.Be aware that as of Aug. 1, no reliable detector has been identified, and the detectors that are widely available have been shown by multiple studies to be biased against English language learners and people with disabilities (e.g., GPT detectors are biased against non-native English writers by Liang et al. and A study of implicit bias in pretrained language models against people with disabilities by Venkit et al.).
Q9: What other tools can I use to compare AI detection results?
A: Some other tools being used include GPTZero, Hive Moderation, and AI Text Classifier. Try submitting your own original work, as well as AI generated results, to get a better understanding of the differences between tools.
GPTZero is a free AI detection tool for educators that is finetuned for student writing and academic prose. You can analyze pasted text or upload files. There is also a separate product with a similar name called ZeroGPT.
Hive Moderation has an AI detection tool that will score the likelihood of generated text by segment. On top of an overall score, results include which engine created an image and which segment of text has the most probable artificial content.
If you search the internet, you will likely find many others (e.g., Top 7 Best Plagiarism Checkers For AI-Generated Content). Experiment with the different tools to get a feel for their usefulness within the context of your teaching. Use the tools as a point of discussion, rather than considering them as proof of misconduct, which may not be the case. Due to the unreliability, it is unclear whether detection has an advantage in the long-term as all have disclaimers.
Q10: Is there a university policy on the use of AI tools like ChatGPT?
A: On August 1, 2023, the Office of the Provost at MSU posted the Generative Artificial Intelligence Guidance, and Technology at MSU also shared an Interim Guidance on Data Uses and Risks of Generative AI. Check for related policies within your college or department. Consider explaining the new university guidance, existing academic integrity policies, and your approach to the use of AI tools in your course syllabus. 
MSU policies and resources related to academic integrity:

Spartan Code of Honor
Integrity of Scholarship and Grades
Student Rights and Responsibilities Article 7
MSU Campus Resources for Academic Integrity

Q11: Is there a recommendation for how to address the use of AI tools in my class?
A: Generally speaking, educators have been responding to the rise of AI tools by either resisting or adapting (see ChatGPT and AI Text Generators: Should Academia Adapt or Resist). Resistors may see more issues than benefits in using AI for teaching and assessing students. They prohibit, bypass or discourage the use of AI tools by returning to in-person pen and paper assessments or using AI detection tools to detect AI generated content. Educators who take a more adaptive approach will likely see more benefits of using AI in teaching and learning and the need of better preparing students for the challenges they will face in a post-AI world. Of course, how you address the use of AI tools in your course depends on your specific teaching context and course goals. An instructor teaching writing classes and an instructor teaching AI-related courses are likely to take different approaches.
In your course syllabus, make your expectations clear on whether students can use AI tools,  what students can use them for, what students should not use them for, and whether they need to explain how they have used them. The more detailed your expectations are, the less likely students will misuse these tools.
Carefully (re)design your course activities and assessments, whether you are embracing AI tools or discouraging the use of them in your course. Consider designing activities or assessments that encourage higher-order thinking, critical thinking, and creative thinking (e.g., reflection activities or essays, activities that develop critical digital literacy, work that focuses on process over end-product, and real world, ill-structured problem-solving), which are essential for successful learning and resistant to students’ misuse of AI tools. Below are several resources for designing activities and assessments in the age of AI:

Five ways to prepare writing assignments in the age of AI by Turnitin
New modes of learning enabled by AI chatbots: Three methods and assignments by Ethan and Lilach Mollick, University of Pennsylvania - Wharton School

Q12: How can I improve the output from ChatGPT?
A: You can improve the output with targeted prompts and subsequent tasks, such as defining the structure type (essay, email, letter, blog, lesson, assignment, quiz, rubric, list, table, outline, etc.) and tone (professional, heartfelt, humorous, in the voice of a celebrity, for a fifth grader, etc.). You can give the chatbot a role and a task (prompt: “you are a college professor teaching __, write a ___ about ___). You can continue improving the output by providing more context details.
You can also train the model by providing a dataset of your own. It will not read text from a website by providing a url (try it sometime to see the model make stuff up). You will have to paste in the text with your request. For example, prompt ChatGPT to give you a summary of … “paste in article text” or ask for a list of discussion questions to give to students from the copied article text. If you want something more concise, give a subsequent prompt to “make it shorter”. If the text appears to have cutoff at the end, you can extend the length by telling ChatGPT to continue from “paste in the last sentence.” For more, see Open AI’s guide on prompt design.
Q13: Could AI chatbots potentially create issues of digital equity for students?
A: Using AI technology in the classroom may lead to unequal access for students. Those with slower internet speeds or no internet access at home may face disadvantages. Additionally, those who pay for subscriptions may have better access and results. Students at schools that prohibit the technology may also be at a disadvantage. However, AI technology can help alleviate inequity in some cases, such as assisting international students with grammar and improving communication with instructors. It can also provide academic support for students without access to private tutors.
Disclosure: The above paragraph was rewritten with the help of ChatGPT. The original is listed below.
The prompt given was simply “Rewrite: If you allow and even encourage the proper use of AI technology in your classroom, students will not all have the same level of access. Students who experience slower internet speeds or have no access to the internet at home may face a disadvantage. Additionally, during peak usage times, the free version may not be readily available. Those who pay for a subscription will have an advantage with better access and improved results. Students from schools that prohibit the use of the technology may find themselves disadvantaged relative to those who were trained to use it as a tool. The technology may help to alleviate inequity in other cases, such as helping an international student polish their grammar or improve communication with an instructor. Students without access to private tutors can potentially get assistance with their studies.”
Both versions are provided to give you an example of using ChatGPT to improve or shorten a piece of writing.
Q14: What are the privacy concerns associated with using AI in education?
A: The company collects information from you and/or your students when signing up for an account. Entering personally identifiable information related to your students in a prompt would be a FERPA violation because prompts may be reviewed by AI trainers to improve their systems. See the privacy-policy for more details. Instructors who are embracing the technology as a learning tool may be creating assignments that specifically encourage its use. However, students who are concerned about privacy issues may be reluctant to use the technology. Consider creating an alternative assignment for those cases.
Q15: What is MSU doing and how can I stay connected with future developments?
A: MSU offered a university-wide AI Symposium in February 2023, followed by on-going conversations within departments and academic programs around the topic. For example, there was an AI/IAH Workshop on April 14, 2023 (resources are posted on iTeach). Other AI coffee talks were posted on the MSU Library calendar. The MSU Spring Conference in May had sessions on the topic, as well as the EdTech Summit in June, 2023 MSU Educational Technology. Check with your department and the following areas to keep up on the latest developments.
iTeach & CTLI (Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation)

Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education (and Learning)
AI & Education Group – login to find the group and join the growing list of members.
MSU’s Spring Conference on Teaching and Learning - May 2023
Using AI in Teaching & Learning iTeach playlist

EDLI (Enhanced Digital Learning Initiative) and Broad College

Short Overview of ChatGPT for University Faculty By Jeremy Van Hof, Eli Broad College of Business, MSU
Quarterly Newsletter Apr 2023

OSSA (Office of Student Support & Accountability) and MSU Policy

When It Comes to Academic Integrity, Even ChatGPT Has the Answer By Jake Kasper, Office of Student Support & Accountability
Office of Student Support & Accountability

Spartan Code of Honor
Integrity of Scholarship and Grades
Student Rights and Responsibilities Article 4
MSU Campus Resources for Academic Integrity



Spartan Newsroom and MSU Today

Are teachers ready for the rise of Artificial Intelligence? - January 20, 2023
What if AI helped write a commencement speech? ComArtSci 2023 commencement

Additional Resources:

Educator Considerations for ChatGPT By OpenAI
ChatGPT Updates and FAQ By OpenAI
ChatGPT General FAQ By OpenAI
AI Chatbot FAQ By Western Carolina University
ChatGPT & Education By Torrey Trust, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Academic integrity in the age of AI By Turnitin
White Paper: How Academia is Adapting to Generative AI
How to Productively Address AI-Generated Text in Your Classroom By Indiana University Bloomington

Currently, there is an explosion of tools integrating Chat AI tools. For example, Quizlet has a new tool called Q-Chat, Khan Academy recently developed Khanmigo, and Grammarly introduced a ChatGPT-style AI tool. On a humorous note, there is CatGPT (not a typo). More guidance and updates are likely to follow this getting started FAQ.Originally posted: May 2023Updated: Nov 2023

Dr. Mark Auslander serves as director of the Michigan State University Museum and is an associate professor of Anthropology and History at Michigan State University. According to his bio at the MSU Museum Dr. Auslander is a sociocultural and historical anthropologist, who works at the intersection of ritual practice, aesthetics, environmental transformation, kinship, and political consciousness in sub-saharan Africa and the African Diaspora. With his students, Dr. Auslander has led numerous community engaged/service learning courses, partnering with vulnerable communities in developing collaborative exhibitions, documentary projects, and social justice initiatives, such as restoring and documenting historically African American cemeteries; collaboratively curating art exhibitions with African refugee communities; and co-curating poetry performances with incarcerated youth in correctional facilities. Here's what a fellow Spartan had to say about Dr. Auslander's impact:"Mark is a brilliant individual and MSU is fortunate to have him head up the MSU Museum. The way Mark works across the university while still being newer to MSU sets a standard we can all learn from. His depth and breadth of knowledge is significant, and he has taken on some of the most challenging projects on behalf of the university and makes it look easy. I am happy to know someone of his caliber and appreciate his partnership." For more on the MSU Museum: https://www.museum.msu.edu/To read Dr. Auslander's full bio: https://www.museum.msu.edu/employees/mark-auslander/To thank an educator yourself: http://bit.ly/ThankanEdMSU  

Title: Cohort Programs and Student Success at MSUPresenters: Renee C. Brown (Center for Community Engaged Learning); Stephanie Brewer, Ph.D. (Center for Community Engaged Learning) and Erin Kramer (Center for Community Engaged Learning)Format: WTMCDate: May 11th, 2023Time: 1:30 pm - 2:30 pmClick here to viewDescription:Join paper authors, Renee Brown, Director, Dr. Stephanie Brewer, Academic Programs Manager, and Erin Kramer, Program Coordinator as they share 7 years of program data and outcomes for the MSU Community Engagement Scholars Program. This program is a partnership between the Center for Community Engaged Learning and the Office of the President. It launched in the fall of 2016.This cohort scholar program focuses on students who wish to develop themselves as community engagement scholars. It has an emphasis on community and economic development. Scholars learn together and in cohort and individually through their year-long experiences with community partners from across the state of Michigan. This presentation will address the effectiveness of the cohort curriculum, a participants’ learning assessment, and an overview of how the intentionally inclusive application process has brought forth strong cohorts each year. Stories of success for both the undergraduate student participants and the graduate student coordinators will also be shared.Recognizing the need for this program to grow and in ways that better support the desires of partners and participants to focus on social justice within community and economic development, this program will introduce as new program version in the coming years. The presenters will also share a vision for the future of this type of cohort community engagement program and how it might better serve more students and partners as a sustainable model.

The purpose of a syllabus is NOT a contract, but instead:

A marketing document
An introduction to a course and its instructor
A ‘map’ to the course including:

expectations
requirements 
conditions of engagement
how to be successful


Key elements of a syllabus include:

Instructional objectives
Instructor contact information
Evaluation criteria
Expectations of students
Important due dates
Required and recommended materials
Required proctoring arrangements

Important syllabus statements and reminders:

Spartan Code of Honor
Academic integrity
OIE Information for Mandatory Reporters
Attendance policy
Model Statements for Disability Inclusion (from RCPD)
Emergency issues
Inclusion in the classroom
Religious Observance Policy
Mental Health Support (Developed by CAPS)
Participation guidelines

Include Course Objectives:

Must be consistent with University-approved course description found in MSU Descriptions of Courses catalog
Make them clear
Focus on a product/outcome, not a process
State each as single outcome
Personal learning goals

And of course, you need to cover how grading and evaluation will be approached:

Be explicit about how students will be evaluated
Share rubrics or grading criteria
Remind students of approaching deadlines frequently
Participation expectations
Include resources that may help
Primer on effective study skills
Reading critically/effectively
Writing tips

Remember, your syllabus is your opportunity to set the tone for your course. Make sure to include:

Office hours, offer other options to meet student needs
Set reasonable boundaries
Can be friendly/conversational and also set high expectations
Convey your passion about the subject


Accessible Document Templates
Templates for commonly used documents and content management systems.  Keep in mind that templates may only help in structuring your content, the main content still needs to be formatted with accessibility in mind.

Syllabus template
PowerPoint template

Photo by Arisa Chattasa on Unsplash