Student Learning Outcomes

Faculty Manual Statement:

V . Course Expectations and Requirements (revised 5 – 17 )

High expectations for student achievement are important for a high-quality education and allow students to optimally benefit from their educational experience at East Carolina University. Further, having students clearly understand course expectations is crucial for their successfully completing a course, which in turn affects student retention. The course syllabus informs students of the expectations and requirements of the course and reduces the likelihood of problems later in the semester. The syllabus is a tool that helps both faculty and students accomplish the university’s primary mission of teaching and learning. Faculty members are required to make a course syllabus available for students on or by the first day of each course.

For standard courses, whether delivery is regular face-to-face, online, or mixed, a course syllabus is required to clearly state the instructor’s office location, office phone, email, and office hours. The syllabus is also required to list the instructor’s policy on the following: textbook(s) and other required course materials, student learning outcomes, assignments and tests, evaluation system and grading scale, late work, academic integrity, and accommodations for students with a disability. Further, it is recommended that faculty members include in the syllabus a course description, a statement on attendance expectations, and a statement on continuity of instruction.

For non-standard courses, including Independent Study Courses, regardless of delivery method, a learning contract must be submitted for the approval of the unit administrator. The learning contract must clearly specify the course requirements, including but not limited to the expected student learning outcomes, number of hours of expected work, grading information, and scheduled meeting times with the faculty member. To generate a learning contract for a nonstandard course, faculty should complete a form similar to this example. When the form is submitted, a learning contract is automatically generated and sent by e-mail to the unit administrator for approval.

For campus resources for students with disabilities, contact the Department for Disability Support Services (http://www.ecu.edu/accessibility/). For definitions of academic integrity and procedures for dealing with infractions, see Part VI, Section II of the Faculty Manual (http://www.ecu.edu/csacad/fsonline/customcf/currentfacultymanual/part6section2.pdf) and the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (http://www.ecu.edu/osrr/). The University Writing Program can be contacted for consultation and support of writing activities and guidelines for writing-intensive courses (http://www.ecu.edu/writing/). The Office for Faculty Excellence (http://www.ecu.edu/ofe/) can provide assistance with the syllabus.

It is the responsibility of each unit administrator to have copies of syllabi and learning contracts for all courses taught in the school or department (FS Resolution #10-08, February 2010; FS Resolution #15-40, March 2015; FS Resolution #17-48, May 2017).

ECU Faculty Manual is available at the ECU Faculty Senate Website