Academic Calendar - 2024
Western University Academic Calendar. - 2024
return to: Administration
COURSE OUTLINES (SYLLABI) FOR UNDERGRADUATE COURSES
Course Outlines (Syllabi) for Undergraduate Courses
No later than the first day of class in the term a course is given, Faculties, Departments, Schools or Programs (hereafter called “Academic Units”) must post on a secure Web site a course outline for each course offered that includes the course name and number, and the location and days and hours that the course is scheduled (including lecture, laboratory and tutorial hours).
Each course outline must include the following information or direct students to a secure course Web site where these details are available:
1. Course Information
Prerequisite checking - the student’s responsibility
If applicable, a list of the prerequisites for the course and the following notation regarding the Senate regulation with respect to the student’s responsibility for ensuring that course prerequisites have been completed successfully or special permission from the Dean obtained:
“Unless you have either the requisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enroll in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.”
2. Instructor Information
Full name, title and appropriate contact information of the instructor and, if the course is taught by more than one instructor, the name of the person responsible for the course [course coordinator].
3. Course Syllabus
A description of the objectives and content of the course, which shall include a statement of what is expected of the student by way of preparation, tests, exercises, essays, laboratory reports, etc. (hereafter called "assignments"), and any specific requirements for attendance and participation.
4. Course Materials
A description of the materials that are required (or recommended) for the course, including text books, supplemental information, notes, manuals, laboratory or safety materials, and any specific electronic devices.
5. Methods of Evaluation
A statement of the methods by which student performance will be evaluated and the weight of each, including an exact timetable and schedule of assignments, is required. When exact dates cannot be supplied, a tentative schedule must be issued, with an exact schedule to follow as soon as possible. This regulation does not preclude the administration of surprise assignments and quizzes, as long as the total number, approximate frequency, and value of such assignments are specified in the course outline.
Any course-specific conditions that are required to pass the course must be outlined. Conditions might include (i) minimum attendance at lectures, tutorials or laboratories, (ii) minimum overall grade on laboratory, tutorial or essay components of the methods of evaluation, or (iii) minimum required grades on a final exam, to name a few.
A clear indication of how absences from midterms, tutorials, laboratory experiments, or late essays or assignments, will be dealt with must be provided. The course outline must direct the student to the Policy on Academic Consideration for Medical Illness – Undergraduate Students (https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/academic_consideration.pdf)
Course instructors who wish to change the evaluation procedure shown in the course outline must receive prior approval to do so from the dean (or designate) of the faculty concerned.
6. Additional Statements
Statement on Use of Electronic Devices
A clear statement of what electronic devices will or will not be allowed during tests and examinations.
Statement on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Instructors must indicate whether the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools/software/apps is acceptable, permitted in specific situations, or unacceptable in their course. Instructors may refer to the Centre for Teaching and Learning for resources on the use of generative Artificial Intelligence.
Statement on Academic Offences
The statement: “Scholastic offences are taken seriously and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following website: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf.”
Additionally,
A) If written work will be assigned in the course and plagiarism-checking software might be used, the following statement to this effect must be included in the course outline:
“All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between The University of Western Ontario and Turnitin.com (http://www.turnitin.com).”
B) If computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams will be given, and software might be used to check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating, the following statement must be added to course outlines:
“Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams may be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.”
Support Services
The websites for Registrarial Services (http://www.registrar.uwo.ca), and the same for affiliated university colleges when appropriate, and any appropriate Student Support Services (including the services provided by the USC listed here: http://westernusc.ca/services/) and the Student Development Services, should be provided for easy access.
Statement on Gender-Based and Sexual Violence
All course outlines must contain the following statement:
“Western is committed to reducing incidents of gender-based and sexual violence (GBSV) and providing compassionate support to anyone who is going through or has gone through these traumatic events. If you are experiencing or have experienced GBSV (either recently or in the past), you will find information about support services for survivors, including emergency contacts at the following website: https://www.uwo.ca/health/student_support/survivor_support/get-help.html To connect with a case manager or set up an appointment, please contact support@uwo.ca.”
All course outlines should contain the following statement: “Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Mental Health@Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.”
Retention of Electronic Version of Course Outlines (Syllabi)
At the same time that course outlines/syllabi are posted on the appropriate website, each Department must forward an electronic version of items 1-5 of each course outline (syllabus) to the Office of the Dean of the Faculty or College. By the fourth week after the start of term, the Dean’s Office will forward all of the collected outlines to Registrarial Services, where they will be maintained in electronic form in the faculty/staff extranet for a minimum of ten years after the completion of the course. (Final retention periods and disposition will be determined by the relevant records retention and disposition schedule approved by the President's Advisory Committee on University Records and Archives).
Senate Academic Policies, Examinations, Course Outlines
Graduate Courses
Policy available via the University Secretariat: Course Outlines for Graduate Students
return to: Administration
COURSE OUTLINES (SYLLABI) FOR UNDERGRADUATE COURSES
Course Outlines (Syllabi) for Undergraduate Courses
No later than the first day of class in the term a course is given, Faculties, Departments, Schools or Programs (hereafter called “Academic Units”) must post on a secure Web site a course outline for each course offered that includes the course name and number, and the location and days and hours that the course is scheduled (including lecture, laboratory and tutorial hours).
Each course outline must include the following information or direct students to a secure course Web site where these details are available:
1. Course Information
Prerequisite checking - the student’s responsibility
If applicable, a list of the prerequisites for the course and the following notation regarding the Senate regulation with respect to the student’s responsibility for ensuring that course prerequisites have been completed successfully or special permission from the Dean obtained:
“Unless you have either the requisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enroll in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.”
2. Instructor Information
Full name, title and appropriate contact information of the instructor and, if the course is taught by more than one instructor, the name of the person responsible for the course [course coordinator].
3. Course Syllabus
A description of the objectives and content of the course, which shall include a statement of what is expected of the student by way of preparation, tests, exercises, essays, laboratory reports, etc. (hereafter called "assignments"), and any specific requirements for attendance and participation.
4. Course Materials
A description of the materials that are required (or recommended) for the course, including text books, supplemental information, notes, manuals, laboratory or safety materials, and any specific electronic devices.
5. Methods of Evaluation
A statement of the methods by which student performance will be evaluated and the weight of each, including an exact timetable and schedule of assignments, is required. When exact dates cannot be supplied, a tentative schedule must be issued, with an exact schedule to follow as soon as possible. This regulation does not preclude the administration of surprise assignments and quizzes, as long as the total number, approximate frequency, and value of such assignments are specified in the course outline.
Any course-specific conditions that are required to pass the course must be outlined. Conditions might include (i) minimum attendance at lectures, tutorials or laboratories, (ii) minimum overall grade on laboratory, tutorial or essay components of the methods of evaluation, or (iii) minimum required grades on a final exam, to name a few.
A clear indication of how absences from midterms, tutorials, laboratory experiments, or late essays or assignments, will be dealt with must be provided. The course outline must direct the student to the Policy on Academic Consideration for Medical Illness – Undergraduate Students (https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/academic_consideration.pdf)
Course instructors who wish to change the evaluation procedure shown in the course outline must receive prior approval to do so from the dean (or designate) of the faculty concerned.
6. Additional Statements
Statement on Use of Electronic Devices
A clear statement of what electronic devices will or will not be allowed during tests and examinations.
Statement on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Instructors must indicate whether the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools/software/apps is acceptable, permitted in specific situations, or unacceptable in their course. Instructors may refer to the Centre for Teaching and Learning for resources on the use of generative Artificial Intelligence.
Statement on Academic Offences
The statement: “Scholastic offences are taken seriously and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following website: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf.”
Additionally,
A) If written work will be assigned in the course and plagiarism-checking software might be used, the following statement to this effect must be included in the course outline:
“All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between The University of Western Ontario and Turnitin.com (http://www.turnitin.com).”
B) If computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams will be given, and software might be used to check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating, the following statement must be added to course outlines:
“Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams may be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.”
Support Services
The websites for Registrarial Services (http://www.registrar.uwo.ca), and the same for affiliated university colleges when appropriate, and any appropriate Student Support Services (including the services provided by the USC listed here: http://westernusc.ca/services/) and the Student Development Services, should be provided for easy access.
Statement on Gender-Based and Sexual Violence
All course outlines must contain the following statement:
“Western is committed to reducing incidents of gender-based and sexual violence (GBSV) and providing compassionate support to anyone who is going through or has gone through these traumatic events. If you are experiencing or have experienced GBSV (either recently or in the past), you will find information about support services for survivors, including emergency contacts at the following website: https://www.uwo.ca/health/student_support/survivor_support/get-help.html To connect with a case manager or set up an appointment, please contact support@uwo.ca.”
All course outlines should contain the following statement: “Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Mental Health@Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.”
Retention of Electronic Version of Course Outlines (Syllabi)
At the same time that course outlines/syllabi are posted on the appropriate website, each Department must forward an electronic version of items 1-5 of each course outline (syllabus) to the Office of the Dean of the Faculty or College. By the fourth week after the start of term, the Dean’s Office will forward all of the collected outlines to Registrarial Services, where they will be maintained in electronic form in the faculty/staff extranet for a minimum of ten years after the completion of the course. (Final retention periods and disposition will be determined by the relevant records retention and disposition schedule approved by the President's Advisory Committee on University Records and Archives).
Senate Academic Policies, Examinations, Course Outlines
Graduate Courses
Policy available via the University Secretariat: Course Outlines for Graduate Students