The dean during orientation suggested keeping a notebook with just the syllabus for each class as proof of what covered, how the grades were calculated, the books used, etc.
Has my child done this? Of course not.
I am studyiing for my MSW and all my syllabi have been at least 15 pages including the grading rubric.
My son is taking an online class this winter break. I encouraged him to print out the syllabus and to follow what I used to do, which was to check off each reading, assignment or goal as it was done. He has said that this method is helpful, so perhaps he will continue it when he returns to school. I will say that this syllabus is much longer than any I had in college as it contains warnings about plagiarism and learning goals.
I never put my exact schedule or assignments in the syllabus, because I always find those things to be somewhat plastic. I dislike the idea of being rigidly bound to something like that. Grading schemes and breakdowns, yeah.
I’ve kept pdfs of each syllabus because for a while, I was thinking of transferring out-of-state and I figured having syllabi would help me get credits.
As a student, I appreciate when professors do put a rough schedule in the syllabus - helps me keep abreast and evaluate how much time the class will take me (at the beginning of the semester, when I can still adjust other classes and commitments, instead of in the fourth week when I can’t drop without a W).
I used my syllabus to challenge a grade in college, successfully. The prof literally read aloud from our textbook in class. The entire class, every class. I was commuting from Harlem to the upper east side to go to this class. I noted the syllabus said attendance was worth 10% and decided to take the hit, as I could read the textbook chapters myself much faster than prof could, out loud.
I got high As on every paper and exam, but prof gave me an incomplete and refused to change it. So I went to the dept head and it was changed to an A- (90).
“Merit is overrated” - says society to young adults.
“Then don’t grade me on my merit, grade me holistically” - say students.
You reap what you sow. If colleges do not value students with perfect SAT/HS grades (Adcoms are looking for kids with circumstances) Professors get students that know that circumstances are more important than achievements. Once you take merit out of equation, you can’t bring it back.
I haven’t seen my kids’ syllabi, but have seen mine where I am a student at a big state U. They are long and detailed, including not just information about the class, but also from the department and the university. I have been fortunate in that my profs have seen the syllabus as a contract with the students and abided by it except where a change would benefit students.
Sure, sometimes there are deviations from the syllabus, especially if a prof falls behind in covering material. Some professors have been deliberately vague about the exact scheduling of midterms or quizzes, but have told us upfront that these dates aren’t set yet. In my limited experience, the prof announces changes in class and on the web. My classes have had all kinds of electronic communication and the profs have used these avenues to remind us of stuff on the syllabus as well as to announce changes and updates. If there is a test coming up, the prof will mention it in class and also sent out electronic reminders, for example.
@Lizardly have you been to the parents going back to college thread?
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/2003130-parents-going-back-to-college-p1.html
I haven’t. Thanks!