For Faculty
SCAI Tips
Syllabus Support: Introduction
The Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity (SCAI), through our day-to-day work, has the opportunity to read many syllabi during the course of investigating alleged academic misconduct. We have learned that the directions and clarity of expectations delivered in a syllabus can be crucial to a students’ understanding of what is expected and what is prohibited. Recognizing that we see some excellent examples of clear, precise and consistent expectations/instructions SCAI put out the call for help in developing suggested language for use in a course syllabus. This language IS NOT intended to replace the required inclusions that the Provost distributes on an annual basis.
With the help of 10 colleges and schools across the university, SCAI compiled this document with the goal of providing support to the faculty as they prepare their syllabus for each course. This document contains a variety of language options that can be used or modified to suit the needs of a particular course, assessment or assignment. Where given permission from the authors, SCAI has included the faculty member’s name and course where the language is used under each entry.
In addition to the language options that exist in this document, we have added a few tips or helpful hints of our own for you to consider. These are tips born out of experience with all types of cases, in all types of courses over the years.
It is our sincere hope that this document is helpful to you as you prepare your syllabus. We will add to this document as we continue to learn and grow our knowledge surrounding academic misconduct, so please check back periodically. Also, if you have tips to share, please do!
Thank you,
Student Conduct and Academic Integrity
Examples of Language used in Syllabi
The following is language taken from actual syllabi. We have not corrected syntax, typos, or the references to the Honor Policy (versus the VCU Honor System), etc.; you can adjust the language if you choose to use a particular passage.