System Procedure 3.22.1 Course Outlines and Course Syllabi

System Procedures
 Chapter 3 - Educational Policies

Access a PDF copy of this procedure

for Board Policy 3.22

Part 1. Purpose

  1. To identify the characteristics of course outlines and course syllabi and their roles within Minnesota State.
  2. This procedure must not be interpreted to expand, diminish, or alter the academic freedom provided under board policy and Minnesota State collective bargaining agreements.

Part 2. Course Outlines

Subpart A. Purpose
Course outlines communicate information about college and university courses and on how the courses align with applicable accreditation requirements.

Subpart B. Creation
Course outlines are created and maintained by faculty members and approved through the appropriate college or university process.

Subpart C. Content
A course outline contains the applicable elements of the course, including the subject, course number, course title, course description, credits, lecture hours, lab hours, prerequisites, co-requisites, Minnesota transfer curriculum goals, learning outcomes, the effective date, revision history, and other elements determined by the college or university.

Subpart D. Uses
For college and university purposes, course outlines are used to advise students, to communicate with external parties, to determine course equivalencies for student transfers, for accreditation purposes, to communicate the essential elements of a course to faculty members teaching the course, for program and course reviews, for licensure applications and updates, and for grant applications. Students use course outlines for course selection, course transfers, and other purposes. Faculty members use course outlines to develop course syllabi, communicate the essential elements of a course to other faculty members, develop new or update existing curriculum or courses, and for program and course review.

Subpart E. Ownership
Pursuant to Board Policy 3.26 Intellectual Property, course outlines are considered institutional works owned by the colleges and universities.

Subpart F. Record Keeping
Colleges and universities shall enter course outlines into the student information system.

Part 3. Course Syllabi

Subpart A. Purpose
Course syllabi communicate the details of courses taught by individual instructors.

Subpart B. Creation
Course syllabi are created by faculty members.

Subpart C. Content
A course syllabus includes the pertinent information from the corresponding course outline and the details of the course as determined by each individual instructor. The details may include meeting dates, times, locations, instructor contact information, grading policies, required materials, course requirements, statements or references to college, university, or board policies, accommodation requests, etc.

Subpart D. Uses
Faculty members use course syllabi to organize class information and communicate the instructor's plan for conducting the course. A course syllabus helps clarify course goals and objectives, assessment and evaluation standards, grading policies, and student responsibilities associated with the course. Students use course syllabi as guides to learning and course expectations. Faculty and students may use course syllabi for student grade appeals.

Colleges, universities, departments, and programs may use course syllabi for accreditation and licensure applications/updates.

Departments and programs may request from faculty their course syllabi for program reviews and curriculum development and reviews.

A course syllabus may be used for other purposes if the owner of the intellectual property rights to the syllabus grants permission.

Subpart E. Ownership
Ownership is governed by Board Policy 3.26 Intellectual Property and the applicable Minnesota State collective bargaining agreements.

Related Documents:

System Procedure History:

Date of Adoption: 06/08/11
Date of Implementation: 06/08/11
Date of Last Review: 08/10/20

Date & Subject of Amendments:

08/10/20 – Relocated the course syllabi information after the course outline information, replaced “Integrated Statewide Record System (ISRS)” with “Student Information System” in Part 3, subpart F. Technical changes made throughout the document from application of new writing and formatting styles.

No additional HISTORY.

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