Required & Recommended ISU Syllabus Statements

Required & Recommended ISU Syllabus Statements

Required Statement

Free Expression

Iowa State University supports and upholds the First Amendment protection of freedom of speech and the principle of academic freedom in order to foster a learning environment where open inquiry and the vigorous debate of a diversity of ideas are encouraged. Students will not be penalized for the content or viewpoints of their speech as long as student expression in a class context is germane to the subject matter of the class and conveyed in an appropriate manner.

Recommended Statements

Table of Contents

Iowa State University developed these syllabus statements to communicate a consistent message to all students about strategic policies that impact their experience.

The academic misconduct definitions and syllabus statements, developed by the Dean of Students Office (DSO), are available on the DSO Academic/Research Misconduct for Faculty/Staff page.

All who teach at Iowa State are encouraged to review and become aware of rights and responsibilities along with Chapter 10: Instruction within the ISU Faculty Handbook website. This handbook contains information on state and federal policies, Board of Regent’s policies, administrative policies, and policies approved by the Faculty Senate on behalf of the faculty.

Additional statements were developed collaboratively by the Government of the Student Body (GSB) and the ISU Faculty Senate. On April 3, 2012, the ISU Faculty Senate passed the following recommendations for inclusion in all ISU syllabi (download the Faculty Senate S11-22 PDF). By passing this recommendation, the Faculty Senate requests that all ISU instructors include information regarding these issues in their syllabi.

The following is example language to meet this request.

Academic Dishonesty

The class will follow Iowa State University’s policy on academic misconduct (5.1 in the Student Code of Conduct). Students are responsible for adhering to university policy and the expectations in the course syllabus and on coursework and exams and for following directions given by faculty, instructors, and ISU Test Center regulations related to coursework, assessments, and exams. Anyone suspected of academic misconduct will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct in the Dean of Students Office. Information about academic integrity and the value of completing academic work honestly can be found in the Iowa State University Academic Integrity Tutorial.

Accessibility Statement

Iowa State University is committed to advancing equity, access, and inclusion for students with disabilities. Promoting these values entails providing reasonable accommodations where barriers exist to students’ full participation in higher education. Students in need of accommodations or who experience accessibility-related barriers to learning should work with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to identify resources and support available to them. Staff at SAS collaborate with students and campus partners to coordinate accommodations and to further the academic excellence of students with disabilities. Information about SAS is available online at www.sas.dso.iastate.edu, by email at accessibility@iastate.edu, or by phone at 515-294-7220.

Discrimination and Harassment

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 3410 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612,  Hotline 515-294-1222, email eooffice@iastate.edu

Mental Health and Well-Being Resources

At Iowa State, we’re committed to your success and well-being. As a Cyclone, you can access 24/7 resources, services, and people dedicated to helping you achieve your goals and be your best in and out of the classroom. Whether you need academic support or just someone to talk to, we’re here for you at Cyclone Support (cyclonesupport.iastate.edu).

Prep Week

This class follows the Iowa State University Prep Week policy as noted in section 10.6.4 of the Faculty Handbook.

Religious Accommodation

Iowa State University welcomes diversity of religious beliefs and practices, recognizing the contributions differing experiences and viewpoints can bring to the community. There may be times when an academic requirement conflicts with religious observances and practices. If that happens, students may request the reasonable accommodation for religious practices. In all cases, you must put your request in writing. The instructor will review the situation in an effort to provide a reasonable accommodation when possible to do so without fundamentally altering a course. For students, you should first discuss the conflict and your requested accommodation with your professor at the earliest possible time. You or your instructor may also seek assistance from the Dean of Students Office at 515-294-1020 or the Office of Equal Opportunity at 515-294-7612.

Optional Statement

Student Code of Conduct

Students in this course are responsible for being familiar with the Iowa State University Student Code of Conduct in the ISU Policy Library.

ISU Syllabus Resources and Tools

Statement Revision Log

  • October 13, 2023: Updated the Mental Health and Well-Being Resources to be consistent with the Cyclone Support information.
  • October 13, 2023: Added the Optional Statement – Student Code of Conduct
  • October 12, 2023: Removed the Contact Information for Academic Issues per SVPP
  • January 5, 2023: Removed the Required Public Health Statement per SVPP
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