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Home Office of Student Accountability For Faculty Syllabi Suggestions

Syllabi Suggestions


These statements are offered as suggestions and starting points for faculty member to utilize if they wish for their own syllabi.  These are not mandated or required, but simply offered as a resource.


Academic Integrity

The University of Memphis expects all student to behave honestly.  The Student Code of Rights and Responsibilities explains what constitutes a violation of our Academic Integrity policy. Please see the Office of Student Accountability's website for more information: https://www.memphis.edu/osa/. Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited. Students who violate the academic misconduct policy, either directly or indirectly, through participation or assistance, are immediately responsible to the instructor of the class in addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions which may be imposed through the regular institutional disciplinary procedures.

Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to:

  • Cheating – A student uses a smart phone to access the internet while taking a quiz.
  • Copyright infringement – A student uses a photograph found on the internet in a presentation without obtaining permission from the photographer.
  • Deception – A student gives a dishonest excuse when asking for a deadline extension.
  • Denying access to information or material – A student makes library or shared resource material unavailable to others by deliberately misplacing those resources.
  • Fabrication – A student invents data in an academic work.
  • Facilitating academic misconduct – A student knowingly allows a portion of their work to be used by another student.
  • Plagiarism – A student represents the ideas of another in a paper without citing and referencing the work or a student turns in the same or nearly the same assignment for credit in more than one class.
  • Sabotage – A student prevents others from completing their work by opening a window to affect a temperature controlled experiment.
  • Unauthorized collaboration – A student works with other students on a paper without the specific permission of the instructor.


Classroom Behavior

Students should be aware of the Student Code of Rights and Responsibilities which describes examples of unacceptable classroom behavior.  Disruptive classroom behavior will not be tolerated.  Instructors are empowered to remove students from class and refer behaviors for sanctioning to the Office of Student Accountability.


Equity, Inclusion, and Accommodations

Our class respects all forms of diversity.  The University of Memphis embraces the diversity of students, faculty, and staff, honors the inherent dignity of each individual, and welcomes their unique perspectives, behaviors, and worldviews. In this course, people of all races, religions, national origins, sexual orientations, ethnicities, genders and gender identities, cognitive, physical, and behavioral abilities, socioeconomic backgrounds, regions, immigrant statuses, military or veteran statuses, size and/or shapes are strongly encouraged to share their rich array of perspectives and experiences. Course content and campus discussions will heighten your awareness to each other's individual and intersecting identities.  In accordance with UofM Policy GE2004, the University will ensure students receive consistent and fair treatment and affirmation of the University's commitment to diversity.  The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on protected characteristics as stated in UofM Policy GE2030.

Please see the instructor if you need accommodations for a disability, or to fulfill cultural or religious obligations.  Students with requests for accommodations should contact Disability Resources for Students to register and learn about the services available to support their learning.  Students with disabilities are encouraged to speak with us privately about academic and classroom accommodations. It is strongly encouraged that you register with Disability Resources for Students (DRS) to determine appropriate academic accommodations. Disability Resources for Students is located in 110 Wilder Tower, their phone number is (901) 678-2880 (V/TTY), their email is drs@memphis.edu, and their website is https://www.memphis.edu/drs/.  Disability Resources for Students coordinates all accommodations for students with disabilities.

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate Disability Resources for Students staff at the University. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the Disability Resources for Students staff at the University. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with University's Disability Resources for Students staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.


Mental Health

As a student you can sometimes feel overwhelmed, lost, experience anxiety or depression, and struggle with relationship difficulties or diminished self-esteem. Mental health challenges can interfere with optimal academic performance. However, many of these issues can be effectively addressed with some help. If you find yourself struggling with your mental or physical health this semester, please feel free to approach me. I will try to be flexible and accommodating. As your instructor, I am not qualified to serve as a counselor, but UofM offers confidential counseling services on-campus and via telehealth that are available to students taking six or more credits at no cost. UofM Counseling Center is staffed by experienced, professional psychologists, clinical social workers, and counselors, who are attuned to the needs of college students. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of this valuable resource. To connect with Counseling Center services, please visit 211 & 214 Wilder Tower, or call 901.678.2068. To know more about their services, you can visit their website at https://www.memphis.edu/counseling. For mental health crisis that occurs after-hours, please contact the Tiger Care Line at 901.678.2068 and dial 2 to speak to a crisis counselor. Remember, getting help is an intelligent and courageous thing to do — for yourself and for those who care about you.


Personal or academic challenges including food & housing insecurity

If you are experiencing personal or academic challenges including, but not limited to food or housing issues, family needs, or other stressors, please visit the Dean of Students Office to learn about resources that can help.  Any student who faces personal challenges including, but not limited to securing their food or housing and believes this may affect their performance in the course is urged to contact the Dean of Students Office at 901.678.2187 located in the University Center, Suite 359 for assistance. If you are comfortable doing so, please also let the instructor know you are experiencing challenges as they may be able to assist you in connecting with campus or community supports.


Personal Relationships

There are special problems in any personal relationship between individuals where one party possesses direct academic, administrative, supervisory, evaluative, counseling or extracurricular authority over the other party.  Such positions include, but are not limited to, teacher and student or assistant, supervisor and employee, senior faculty and junior faculty, mentor and trainee, advisor and advisee, counselor and client, teaching assistant and student, coach and athlete, and the individuals who supervise the day-to-day student living environment and student residents.

In accordance with UofM Policy HR5050, no University employee shall enter into or maintain any personal relationships with students or with employees over whom they exercise or, reasonably can expect to exercise, direct or indirect control in areas such as academics, administration, supervision, evaluation, counseling or extracurricular authority or influence.  No University employee shall exercise any direct or indirect control in the areas of academics, administration, supervision, evaluation, counseling or extracurricular authority over any student or employee with whom that employee had previously been involved in a personal relationship.

Any employee, including faculty, who is currently in a personal relationship or becomes involved in a personal relationship that might be covered by terms of this policy, must disclose the relationship immediately to Human Resources-Employee Relations and Engagement so that any and all steps are taken to comply with this policy.


Title IX

The University of Memphis prohibits and will not tolerate sexual misconduct or gender-based discrimination of any kind.

Sexual Misconduct & Gender-Based Discrimination

The University is obligated to investigate sexual misconduct (including, but not limited to sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, dating violence, and domestic violence). More information about Sexual Misconduct can be found in UofM Policy GE2031.

Disclosure & Mandatory Reporting

If you disclose an incident of sexual misconduct to a faculty member, they have an obligation to report it to the University's Title IX Coordinator. "Disclosure" may include communication in-person, via email/phone/text message, or through in/out of class assignments.

Confidential Resources

If you wish to speak confidentially about an incident of sexual misconduct, please contact the University of Memphis Counseling Center (901-678-2068), the University of Memphis Student Health Center (901-678-2287), in Memphis/Shelby County Shelby County Rape Crisis Center (901-222-3950), or in Jackson/Lambuth WRAP - Domestic Violence Shelter/Sexual Assault Resources (800-848-0299). If you would like to learn more about sexual misconduct or report an incident, please visit https://www.memphis.edu/oie/.

Accommodations for Pregnant Students

Title IX prohibits the University from discriminating against a student based on pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these conditions. Title IX also prohibits a school from applying any rule related to a student's parental, family, or marital status that treats students differently based on their gender.  Additional information can be found on the Office for Institutional Equity website: https://www.memphis.edu/oie/resources/.