A course outline is intended to provide the overall structure and requirements of a course and inform students with respect to what they can expect in the course.
Each instructor responsible for a course is required to make a course outline available to each student no later than the first meeting date for the course. It is expected that the outline will be available as a Web based document or through the learning management system (i.e. Blackboard). If it is not, a paper version of the outline will be handed out to every student at the first meeting of the class, and made available for those unable to attend the first class.
In addition to the required general information (number and title of course, name of the instructor, day, place and time of regular classes, prerequisites/co-requisites, etc.) each outline must contain the following:
(a) Whether or not a passing grade on any particular component of a course is essential if the student is to pass the course as a whole;
(b) Information on grading methods and/or scales used in the course;
(c) Whether students in the course may be expected to participate as subjects or researchers when research on human subjects may take place;
(d) Whether or not there will be a final examination and if an examination is held, whether the use of aids such as open book, etc. are permitted;
(e) A list and description of approved optional and mandatory supplementary fees for courses;
(f) The weights to be assigned to the various components which are to be considered in determining the final grade (term papers, laboratory work, class participation, tests, final examinations, etc.). This weighting may not be changed during the term or at the time of grade reporting;
(g) When writing and the grading thereof is a factor in the evaluation of the student's work. (See E.2 Writing Across the Curriculum statement.)
(h) Academic Accommodation Policy;
(i) Information regarding the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and how this impacts the receipt and delivery of course material;
(j) Information on academic misconduct and the consequences thereof;
(k) Emergency Evacuation/Assembly Points (http://www.ucalgary.ca/emergencyplan/assemblypoints);
(l) Internet and Electronic Communication Device information;
(m) Safewalk information; and
(n) Student Union or Graduate Student representative contact information and link to the Student Ombudsman's Office.
Instructors will also indicate in the course outline the use of calculators and/or computers that will be allowed. In the absence of a written statement, the presumption is that the use of any calculators and/or computers during examinations will not be allowed.
Instructors have the authority, at the discretion of the dean of their faculty, to require that specific course assignments, term papers and academic exercises be submitted in an electronic format. Instructors cannot require that multiple copies of an assignment be submitted.