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The following are a optional Inclusion Statements to include on your syllabus:

Michigan State University is committed to providing access and promoting/protecting freedom of speech in an inclusive learning environment. Discrimination and harassment based on a protected identity are prohibited. Please review MSU’s Notice of Non-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment, and Non-Retaliation.  
In this class, we will work together to create and maintain a respectful teaching and learning environment where we engage in conversations that challenge our perspectives and understanding.  
Please let me know if you would like me to use a name for you that is not reflected in the University system or if there is anything else I can do to support your access to this class. 

 
Language that should NOT be included in a syllabus 

Language that appears to promote protected identity-based preferences or otherwise violates federal or state civil rights laws  
Language that appears to restrict First Amendment rights  
References to any “policy” that is not a University or unit-level policy 


Also, for your reference:Religious Observances & Holidays: Michigan State University has long had a policy to permit students, faculty/academic staff, and support staff to observe those holidays set aside by their chosen religious faith.
Links to the policies can be found below:

Religious Observance Policy (students, faculty, academic staff)
Support Staff Policy for Observance of Religious Holidays (support staff)

More information about religious holidays and traditions can be found online.

Interfaith Calendar
Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education
Ramadan at MSU

Provisional Land Acknowledgement: (This paragraph is intended to be read at the beginning of formal events or published in printed material.)
We collectively acknowledge that Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary Lands of the Anishinaabeg – Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi peoples. In particular, the University resides on Land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw. We recognize, support, and advocate for the sovereignty of Michigan’s twelve federally-recognized Indian nations, for historic Indigenous communities in Michigan, for Indigenous individuals and communities who live here now, and for those who were forcibly removed from their Homelands. By offering this Land Acknowledgement, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty and will work to hold Michigan State University more accountable to the needs of American Indian and Indigenous peoples.Visit MSU's American Indian and Indigenous Studies page for more information on Land Acknowledgements. 

Land Acknowledgements at MSU
 
What are land acknowledgments?
A Land Acknowledgement or Land Recognition is a formal statement, often given orally at the beginning of organized events, celebrations, or activities. It recognizes, respects, and affirms that there is an irreducible and ongoing relationship between Indigenous people and the Land. Land Acknowledgements are especially important in contemporary nation-states, like the US and Canada, in which the political structures are based on settler-colonialism and the expropriation of Lands from Indigenous peoples.  Land Acknowledgements or Land Recognitions serve to illuminate ongoing Indigenous presence, as well as recognize and counter settler-colonial legacies of violence and Land expropriation.
 
Land Acknowledgements Are a Responsibility
We respect the desire to recognize the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary stewards of the Land. However, we ask that when offering a Land Acknowledgement, remember that these Acknowledgements must be preceded by relationships with living Indigenous people, communities, and nations. This declaration must then be followed with ongoing commitments to these same communities. Land Acknowledgements are a responsibility.
 
Provisional Land Acknowledgement
We collectively acknowledge that Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary Lands of the Anishinaabeg – Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi peoples. In particular, the University resides on Land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw. We recognize, support, and advocate for the sovereignty of Michigan’s twelve federally-recognized Indian nations, for historic Indigenous communities in Michigan, for Indigenous individuals and communities who live here now, and for those who were forcibly removed from their Homelands. By offering this Land Acknowledgement, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty and will work to hold Michigan State University more accountable to the needs of American Indian and Indigenous peoples. 
– The previous paragraph is intended to be read at the beginning of formal events or published in printed material.
 
Inquiries can be sent to Dr. Dylan Miner (dminer@msu.edu), Director of American Indian and Indigenous Studies
 
This Provisional Land Acknowledgement was developed in Binaakwe-giizis // Leaves Falling Moon – October 2018. The Provisional Land Acknowledgement is a living document developed by American Indian and Indigenous Studies and will be further developed and revised in conversation with communities.
 
Citation: The above information can be found on the American Indian and Indigenous Studies Website. Please visit https://aiis.msu.edu/land/ for more information (as well as an extended land acknowledgement). 
 
 
 

Title: Senior Educational Accessibility CoordinatorTeam: Instructional Technology and Development Team
Education & Certifications:
US Naval Nuclear Power Program - Nuclear Reactor Operator and Nuclear Qualified Electronics TechnicianBA - Interdisciplinary Humanities, Michigan State UniversityMA - Media & Technology, Michigan State UniversityCPACC - Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies
Bio: Kevin has worked in IT at MSU since 1998 across a number of areas including healthcare IT, web development, educational technology, digital media, and instructional technology and design. After completing a graduate degree focused on Universal Design, Design Research, and User Experience his interests began shifting to digital accessibility and assistive technologies in educational settings. Kevin currently works as part of the Instructional Technology and Development team supporting accessibility and accessible technologies, and collaboratively with multiple groups and units across campus helping to improve all aspects of usability and accessibility in the education space at MSU.
Resources:

WebAccess Website
Spartan Ally - D2L accessibility tool
Spartan Ally self-help resource
Free MSU Academic Technology Tools

Below is a list of resources that promote student success. All links provided are direct links (ONE CLICK) connecting you to contact information or an educator who can respond to your questions and/or help your students who need academic help. Thank you for helping our students achieve their goals.
Academic Advising
For students in a particular college or department:

Agriculture and Natural Resources
Arts and Letters
Broad College of Business
Hospitality Business
Communication Arts and Sciences
Education
Engineering
Music: Please click on Associate Deans’ Offices; contact Talitha Wimberly, Director of Undergraduate Student Affairs
Natural Science
Nursing
Social Science
Veterinary Medicine

For students in a residential college:

James Madison
Lyman Briggs
Residential College in the Arts and Humanities (RCAH)

For students selected to be in the Honors College:

Honors College

For students who have not yet selected a major [Exploratory Major preference]; usually first year students or sophomores):

University Advising 

For students in an ROTC Program

Air Force
Military Science

Help Rooms
Business Courses for Students in Multicultural Business Programs Please click on the link and contact Ed Tillet, Director Multicultural Business Programs/ Darrell King, Sr. Associate Director/ Anne Crain, Academic Advisor and Program Coordinator
Accounting 201 & 202
Economics 201 & 202
Math 103, MTH 103A, & MTH 103B
Statistics 200
CSE 102
 
Help Rooms Housed in the College of Natural Science
Help Rooms Housed in the College of Social Science
James Madison Writing Consultancy (MC 201)    
Music Theory Learning Center (MTLC)  
Packaging Help Room
Veterinary Medicine
Other Academic Support  
Collaborative Learning Center: For students wanting to develop their academic skills [study skills, note taking, time management, etc.] and for students interested in becoming peer educators
CoRe Experience [Cornerstone Engineering Residential Experience]: All first-year engineering students are considered part of CoRe where they engage in academic [i.e., tutoring, advising] and co-curricular activities; some students choose to join a living-learning community in Wilson or Wonders Halls
English Language Center: For international students needing to improve their English language skills before beginning their academic course work
ESL Writing Lab:  For international students seeking help with course assignments i.e., reading comprehension, writing, etc. 
Writing Center: For students seeking assistance with brainstorming, writing, making multimodal projects, and interpreting writing assignments

The University Policy on Grief Absence can be found in the Spartan LIfe, as well as in Academic Programs.
"The faculty and staff should be sensitive to and accommodate the bereavement process of a student who has lost a family member or who is experiencing emotional distress from a similar tragedy so that the student is not academically disadvantaged in their classes or other academic work (e.g. research)... It is the responsibility of the instructor to work with the student to make reasonable accommodations and to include appropriate language describing such accommodations in their course syllabus, so that the student is not penalized due to a verified grief absence."
(excerpt from MSU Registrars Office)
Here is an example statement from PSL 475L: Capstone Laboratory in Physiology syllabus (FS23)
Grief Absence Policy:http://splife.studentlife.msu.edu/regulations/student-group-regulations-administrative-rulings-alluniversity-policies-and-selected-ordinances/grief-absence-policyThe goal of this policy is to provide a mechanism to standardize, monitor, and accommodate students who request temporary absence from a course, or special accommodations for a quiz or an exam because of loss or serious injury of a family member (parent, grandparent, sibling, spouse, or child). Students are directed to notify the Assoc Dean of their college and document the reason for the grief absence, and the Assoc Dean in turn is charged with notifying the student’s instructors that the bereavement event has been verified. It is the student’s responsibility to make up any missed work. 
The MSU College of Social Science has a college-wide policy that can be referenced in individual course syllabi:
Grief Absence PolicyThe College of Social Science follows the official MSU (Michigan State University) grief absence policy, which can be found here. Students will need to complete the grief absence form in their StuInfo portal, and email supporting documentation to SSC.GriefAbsence@msu.edu.Students may request a grief absence to support their academic success when faced with a significant interpersonal loss that may require time away from the classroom to attend to matters related to the loss and to afford time for grieving. Examples of losses include the death or grave illness of a family member or close loved one. Documentation is requested so that the absence's timing can be determined and provided to instructional faculty. Requests for grief absences to address other serious stressors will also be considered, with approval dependent upon the circumstances and the suitability of the grief absence mechanism for addressing the impacts of the stressor on academic progress.For requests related to interpersonal losses, documentation can include official notification of a death (e.g., funeral home verification, published obituary, funeral program). For other types of requests, students may submit other forms of documentation pertinent to the circumstances that prompted the request. Documentation should be emailed to SSC.GriefAbsence@msu.edu.Most grief absences are valid for a few days, with the maximum approval being two academic weeks (that is, 10 business days). Shorter absences typically support maintaining academic progress; therefore, shorter absences are recommended unless the circumstances do not make a shorter duration feasible. Absences requested for more than 5 business days must be supported by the rationale and documentation provided by the student. Duration determination will consider circumstances such as whether extended travel is required, if the student has documented responsibilities created by the loss, and other relevant considerations. The timing of the absence must be consistent with the documentation and rationale provided. For example, if travel is involved, the timing of the absence should include the dates of travel. If you anticipate needing 10 business days away from your coursework, you may need to consider a longer term pause on or change to your academic program, such as a withdrawal or drop of one or all courses. If this is possible, please contact your academic advisor to discuss the requirements and consequences of these different options.Students must submit the request for a grief absence as close as possible to the date of the absence, typically within 2 days of the student learning of the circumstances that prompted the request for the absence. Except under extenuating circumstances, students should submit their request prior to being absent; retroactive grief absences are not guaranteed approval. The rationale for this is that after-the-fact requests complicate the process of working with instructors to manage the impact of the absence on academic work. Absences will be denied if the College requests additional documentation and the student fails to provide it.When grief absences are granted, the College will contact the student’s instructors informing them that the student has been approved for an absence and its length. The student will be copied on the emails so they can follow up directly with their instructors. Students are responsible for making direct contact with each instructor to work out the details of the absence as it impacts any assignments or assessments that are scheduled during the period of the approved absence. Different forms of accommodation may be appropriate for different classes depending on the course. It is within the instructor’s right to suggest accommodations that fit with their course. Instructors are expected to adjust due dates for assignments and/or exams that fall within the approved absence period but are not expected to eliminate any exams or assignments. Timely contact by students allows for students and instructors to come to a mutual understanding of how exams, assignments, and other class matters will be handled. Students undergoing a significant loss or stressor should review additional support on campus that might also be useful. Working with advisors to identify and connect with these support systems is highly recommended. The Associate Dean’s Office for Undergraduate Studies can also meet with students to help navigate this process.If the student needs any assistance with their request or has questions, they can call (517) 432-3598 or email SSC.GriefAbsence@msu.edPhoto by Kristina Tripkovic on Unsplash