[ONLINE COURSE SYLLABUS TEMPLATE for Blackboard Learn– you should include items in upright text; instructions, comments and options are in italics and should be replaced with specifics for your course or deleted]

THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO–LOS ALAMOS
SYLLABUS
Course Number and Name
Semester
Instructor:  Name	Office Hours/Location:  (if applicable)	
Phone:  (best phone to reach you)	Email: (external, beside class Learn messages or email)	
Texting ok? (yes, no)  (optional, good idea to specify if your phone # is mobile)	Other ways to contact you: (optional, e.g. Skype, Twitter)	

Catalog Description  
(This must be as stated in the current UNM–LA catalog and/or UNM catalog.  Description should list all prerequisites for the course.)
Textbook or eBook
 (Provide all information a student needs in order to obtain the textbook, including Author, Title, edition, publication date, publisher, ISBN.  It is helpful to mention if the textbook is available in more than one format, e.g., hard cover, soft cover, e-book. If students can use prior editions, mention which ones.

Mention any course-packs, publisher-provided supplements, course keys, or other information that students will need.  If required material may be purchased separately with used books, mention how the student can obtain it.  E.g., how would a student get a publisher’s access code to the publisher’s online materials if the student purchases a used book? 

Provide information about where to obtain the textbook.  MBS is the online bookstore used by UNM-LA (http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/unm.htm ).  Do not mention alternative booksellers by name. You should mention that any books purchased through an alternative source cannot be sold back to the MBS bookstore. You should also mention whether supplemental material or publisher’s access code is required or optional, and that they probably will not be packaged with used books or books purchased from another seller.   

Note that YOU will be responsible for working with the textbook publisher’s representative to find out this information, and you will need to supply it to the person setting up textbook orders.  You should also verify your course’s textbook entry on the MBS site before the semester begins, in time for corrections to be made if necessary.) 
Online Learning at UNM-LA Student Guide 
(Optional:  Instructors may also choose to require students to email back a statement that they have read this guide (and/or whatever syllabus/orientation materials you also want to include)).
Students should read the Online Learning at UNM-LA Student Guide – Blackboard Learn
http://losalamos.unm.edu/academics/online-learning/students/online-learning-student-guide-blackboard.pdf . 
Students can find video training on how to use Blackboard Learn at http://ondemand.blackboard.com/students.htm   
and online help at https://help.blackboard.com/en-us/Learn/9.1_SP_10_and_SP_11/Student  [Note – this will change when a new version of Learn is installed. The most recent version at UNM is 9.1 SP 11, installed May 18, 2013.] 
Course Objectives 
(Course objectives must be included.  Check with your DC to see if your department uses standardized objectives for your course.)
1.
2.
etc.
 Learning Outcomes 
(Learning outcomes must be included. Check with your DC to see if your department uses standardized learning outcomes for your course.)
At the conclusion of the course, students should be able to:
1.
2.
etc. 
Assignment Schedule/Course Outline 
 (Attach Assignment Schedule/Course Outline or direct students to where that can be found within the online classroom.) 
Evaluation Criteria/Grading   
(You should list evaluation criteria and how grades will be assigned. Also include specifics (i.e., your policy on test re-takes, late assignments, missed exams, reductions in points, extra credit, resolution of grading disputes, etc.)
Evaluation will be based on the following and weighted as indicated:
1.
2.
etc. 
Unexpected Cancellations 
(If you don’t use Announcements, specify where students can find this info.)
Students can find information about unexpected cancellations of events (exams, chats, discussions) in the Announcements section of the online classroom. 
Attendance and Participation Policy 
(Define your policy here.  The paragraph below contains suggested policy.)
“Attendance” and “participation” mean something different in an online class, so policies in this class may differ from the policies students are used to seeing in their traditional classes.  [State your policy on participation in discussions, group work, chats, etc.  For example, “Students are expected to login to the course at least twice a week to check for new announcements, email, or posting of course materials, and to contribute at least one new topic and three substantive comments to each discussion.”] Students should discuss any planned absences or problems regarding attendance with the instructor. In addition, they should talk with the instructor as soon as possible anytime they cannot login for more than a few days or if they fail to complete assigned work.
Drop Policy 
(This is the new drop policy, as of 8/15/2012).
If students decide to drop the class, it is their responsibility to do so; they should be aware of University-wide posted deadlines for tuition refunds and mandatory assignment of grades. Students should not assume that the instructor will drop them before a deadline if they simply stop attending a live class or logging in to an online class. 
Dropping a course may affect students’ financial aid status and/or tuition refund. A drop will result in a grade of “W”.  Students who do not officially drop the class will receive the grade earned based on the syllabus grading criteria, which may be an “F”.
Response Time Policy 
(Include a statement about what response time students can expect from you in answering their emails, text messages, and phone calls, and your expectations for their response times. A suggested statement is below.)
Students should allow the instructor 24 hours on weekdays and 48 hours on weekends to respond to email messages, text messages, or phone calls. When students receive a communication from the instructor, they should attempt to reply within 48 hours. 
Students’ Online Classroom Participation May Be Monitored 
(You should add to the following paragraph your policy on monitoring and specify how that information will be used in your class (e.g., will it impact grades or just be used to identify students having problems)).
The online classroom provides tools for the instructor to monitor students’ participation in online classes.  In addition to seeing all of the posts and comments that are made in Discussions and Blogs, the instructor has access to records of when students logged in, what course materials they opened during each session, and when they submitted exams and assigned coursework.  This data is made available to the instructor to enable evaluation of class participation and to help the instructor identify students having difficulties using online classroom features.
Computer Requirements 
Since this course is taught entirely online, frequent use of a computer is required.  Students must have access to a computer and to the internet, and they will need to be familiar with the use of a browser such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Safari, or Firefox.  Access at least part time to a broadband  (high speed) internet network, such as DSL, cable, wireless, or satellite, is strongly recommended, since some of the assignments may involve audio and video clips.  Students can access a broadband network at many libraries and on campus.
Since this is an online course, some minimum hardware and software are required in order to complete the course.  For recommended operating system requirements and web browser compatibility, see Blackboard Help for Students, Service Pack 11, here:   https://help.blackboard.com/en-us/Learn/9.1_SP_10_and_SP_11/Student/002_Browser_Support_SP_11  .  [Note – this link may change when a new version of Learn is installed.]  Note that Learn works with a limited number of browsers and versions, so students should make sure they are using one of these.    For all browsers, JavaScript and cookies must be enabled.  To use some other functions, Java must also be enabled. 
(List any required course-specific software here that students must have, e.g. PowerPoint, Adobe Reader, Flash, video players, etc. Provide links or information about how students can obtain each one.)
At present, Learn is not officially supported on mobile devices (tablets or smart phones) and some functions run poorly on these, if at all.  Students can try using them, but if they run into difficulties, UNM and UNM-LA personnel will NOT be able to help.  Students should NOT ATTEMPT to use one of these devices to submit critical work, such as an assignment, exam, or discussion post.  
UNM-LA Computer Account Policy 
All students are required to have a UNM campus account (NetID). Students will use this account to access this course via Blackboard Learn.  Students will also use this account to register for classes through MyUNM, http://my.unm.edu.  This account is also used to read and send e-mail (the UNM email address looks like NetID@unm.edu), print transcripts, check financial status, and check degree progress).  The NetID and password for Learn are the same as for a student’s login to their UNM main campus account. 
Students are required to check their UNM email (LoboMail) periodically, as this is the main communication method used by the university. Students may forward their LoboMail to another email address; however, this is not encouraged by UNM and not supported by University IT personnel.  https://unm.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/6701/kw/forward%20lobomail   .
Students can access MyUNM by clicking on the “MyUNM” link on either the UNM–Los Alamos web page (http://losalamos.unm.edu  ) or the main campus web page (http://www.unm.edu  ), or by typing in the web address http://my.unm.edu.  Students must then login using their NetID and password.
From the UNM-LA campus, students can access Learn and MyUNM from public computers, from computers in computer labs, and from computers in the library.  If students wish to use their own computers, they can connect to one of the UNM-LA Wireless networks.  Instructions for accessing these are given here:  http://losalamos.unm.edu/campus-life/computing-services/wireless-network.html .
Students should be aware of the computer use policies as they affect any aspect of their education at UNM-LA.  See Computer Use Policy links on this page: http://losalamos.unm.edu/campus-life/computing-services/index.html .  
Technical and Academic Support
If students are having technical problems with Learn, they can contact free technical support in one of the following ways:
•	Phone:  505-277-0857, option 2 (M-F 8:00 am – 5:00 pm) – IT and Learn support on main campus. 
•	Web:  http://learn.unm.edu  – Technical Support box
•	UNM Fast Info:  https://unm.custhelp.com/   (UNM searchable knowledge base)
•	UNM-LA IT support:  go to http://losalamos.unm.edu/campus-life/computing-services/index.html    
UNM-LA ASC (Academic Support Center) :  go to http://asc.unm.edu   , for tutoring and academic help.  Questions related to course organization or setup should be directed to the instructor.   
Course Email Policy 
(Instructors should clarify if and how you will use Blackboard Learn Messages, Learn email, or external email.  Note that Learn Messages are internal to the course, and Learn email sends a message to the student’s or instructor’s UNM LoboMail email address.  One cannot use an external email account to send email to an internal Learn address.)
Dishonesty Policy 
(Include a statement about academic dishonesty.  A suggested statement is below)
Each student is expected to maintain the highest standards of honesty and integrity in academic and professional matters.  The University reserves the right to take disciplinary action, including dismissal, against any student who is found responsible for academic dishonesty.  Any student who has been judged to have engaged in academic dishonesty in course work may receive a reduced or failing grade for the work in question and/or for the course. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, dishonesty on quizzes, tests or assignments; claiming credit for work not done or done by others (plagiarism); and hindering the academic work of other students.  A brief guide to what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it can be found here:  http://losalamos.unm.edu/library/docs/avoiding-plagiarism.pdf .
Students should take care not to leave their computers or thumb drives where others can steal or copy their work or make their files “public.”
Assessment
UNM-Los Alamos conducts ongoing assessments of student learning so that we can continue to improve the curriculum to give students the best education possible.  The data collected for this assessment will be selected by the instructor and may come from exams, projects or other assignments.  The assessment will focus on the learning outcomes listed in this syllabus.  The data from this assessment will be collected and reported anonymously.  Data summaries will be reported to the department, to the Office of Instruction, and posted on the web.  The information collected will be used to make improvements to curriculum and teaching.  This assessment is not a reflection of your grade and is not a grading exercise; it is simply an evaluation of how well students are mastering certain skills.
Course Evaluations
Students will be requested to participate in an online course evaluation near the end of the course.  It is similar in intent, but somewhat different from, the paper course evaluation that is given in face-to-face classes.  UNM-LA requests that all students participate, because the information they provide is helpful in improving courses for future students.
American Disabilities Act
“In accordance with University Policy 2310 and the American Disabilities Act (ADA), reasonable academic accommodations may be made for any qualified student who notifies the instructor of the need for an accommodation. It is imperative that you take the initiative to bring such needs to the instructor's attention, as the instructor is not legally permitted to inquire. The student is responsible for demonstrating the need for an academic adjustment by providing Student Services with complete and appropriate current documentation that establishes the disability, and the need for and appropriateness of the requested adjustment(s). However, students with disabilities are still required to adhere to all University policies, including policies concerning conduct and performance. Students who may require assistance in emergency evacuations should contact the instructor as to the most appropriate procedures to follow. Contact Accessibility Services at 505-661-4692 for additional information."
Recommendations:  You are not presently required to include this information in your syllabus, but it is recommended, in order to help students become oriented to the class and to help them figure out how YOU will be using Learn, since that differs markedly across classes.
1.	Specify what the student needs to do during the first week of classes.
2.	Provide a brief orientation to your class and how Learn will be used in your class
3.	Discuss specific features of how your online class will be run, e.g., 
-	where further information about the class can be found in the online classroom, 
-	if there are any typical weekly activities and what they are, 
-	which Learn tools you will be using and how they will be used in YOUR class, e.g., Calendar, My Grades, Discussions, Blogs, etc.
-	rules/guidelines for participating in discussions or blogs, if you use them, 
-	guidelines for assignments, tests,  papers, etc., 
-	grading rubrics if you use them,
-	expectations for Netiquette, 
-	how you will handle religious holidays if any overlap due dates, 
-	what to do if the computer crashes in the middle of an exam, etc.

This makes a longer syllabus, but it gives students explicit information so that they are not left guessing.

Some of this information, especially the first two items, may also be included in the welcome letter you send to your students before classes begin, and it should also be available within the Learn classroom (because students don’t always read their UNM email promptly.)