Additional Syllabus Content Linked to WCU Canvas Courses 2023-24

The following information is recommended for all syllabi at Western Carolina.

This version was updated on January 2, 2024

Common Syllabus Statements and Resources

Community Vision for Inclusive Excellence Statement:

The diverse perspectives encountered at WCU are an important part of the preparation of students for roles as regional, national, and global leaders who contribute to the improvement of society. It is expected that members of the WCU community will not only coexist with those who are different from themselves but also nurture respect and appreciation of those differences. We encourage civil discourse as a part of the learning enterprise, and as a campus, we do not tolerate harassing or discriminating behavior that seeks to marginalize or demean members of our community.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Western Carolina University is committed to providing equal educational opportunities for students with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Office of Accessibility Resources located in Killian Annex or call 828-227-2716. For additional information, visit go.wcu.edu/oar (Links to an external site.)

Course Recording and Broadcasting:

Students may make visual or audio recordings (Recording) of any class-related content, using any approved recording device (e.g., smartphone, computer, digital recorder, etc.) upon the prior permission of the instructor and subject to the following restriction(s).  The Recording, along with the video capture of visible course materials (e.g., visible PowerPoint slides and/or visible lecture notes), shall be limited to the student’s personal, course-related, educational use and shall be subject to all applicable copyright laws and institutional policies.  The student may not transfer, transmit, or otherwise disseminate the Recording to any third party, including classmates, without the permission of the instructor.  Any violation of these restrictions, or any other restriction verbally communicated by the instructor, may subject the student to the provisions of the WCU Academic Integrity Policy (Links to an external site.), the WCU Code of Student Conduct (Links to an external site.) or both.

Meetings of this course may be broadcast and/or recorded. Broadcasting and recording are intended to complement the classroom experience. Instructors may broadcast and/or record courses for pedagogical use, student reference, to meet the accommodation needs of students with a documented disability, or any other reason deemed appropriate by WCU and/or the instructor.

Any recording of class that includes the image or voice of a student, or reference to the student’s name, would be considered FERPA. Thus, protected. If faculty intend on making the recording available for future viewing (any viewing that is not live) will require a waiver by each student.  The waivers may be collected by email or as a Blackboard discussion board post or assignment with the following statement attached: By sending this email (by replying to this discussion board, by completing this electronic form – any use of WCU official identity verification) and typing my name below I acknowledge I have read and fully understand the terms of the VIDEO CONSENT AND RELEASE FORM FOR CLASS RECORDING (University Policy 122) (Links to an external site.) and hereby release the University as stated in the Form.

If a student refuses to sign the waiver, then their likeness may not be included in any video made available. In other words, they would need to be excluded from video and not allowed to ask questions. If this happens faculty would be able to grade consistently with syllabi. In other words, the faculty member has the right to penalize the student by lowering their grade for not participating.  The faculty member is also free to create alternative assignments at his or her discretion.

Course recordings will be available to students registered for the course pursuant to applicable University policy and instructor preference.  All broadcasts and recordings are limited to personal, course-related, and educational use and may not be transmitted, transferred, distributed, sold, or posted on social media outlets without the written permission of the instructor. Unauthorized transmission, transfer, distribution, sale, or posting of the broadcast and/or recording for any purpose other than the student’s personal, course-related, or educational use is not permitted. Students are expected to follow appropriate university policies and maintain the security of passwords used to access recorded materials.

Lockdown Browser and Recording Policies

If the Lockdown Browser and Monitor are being used, it is necessary that the instructor have both a syllabus statement and a waiver on file.

Any course recordings for purposes beyond the normal conduct of a course (promotional videos, videos related to a governed research project, etc.) will require an additional waiver and appropriate approval (such as IRB approval).

University Policy 122 (Links to an external site.)

For a more detailed version of when a waiver might be needed see:

Policy Considerations of Classroom Technology Use (Links to an external site.)

Academic Integrity: Use of Software to Encourage Original Effort

Students may be required to submit written assignments for this class to Turnitin, a web-based plagiarism detection software, prior to submitting the assignment for grading.  Be advised that assignments submitted to Tunritin will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism in such papers.  If an assignment contains personally identifiable information, and a student is uncomfortable submitting personally identifiable information to Turnitin, the student should speak to the faculty member in consultation with Coulter Faculty Commons about alternatives.

AI and ChatGPT

WCU does not have a specific policy about artificial intelligence use. Faculty may consider reviewing information about artificial intelligence and sharing their clear expectations with students. For example syllabus statements and more information about AI, see CFC’s Tips for Teaching (AI/ChatGPT Edition) blog post.

Academic Integrity Policy and Reporting Process:

This policy addresses academic integrity violations of undergraduate and graduate students.

Students, faculty, staff, and administrators of Western Carolina University (WCU) strive to achieve the highest standards of scholarship and integrity. Any violation of the Academic Integrity Policy is a serious offense because it threatens the quality of scholarship and undermines the integrity of the community. While academic in scope, any violation of this policy is by nature, a violation of the Code of Student Conduct (Code) and will be addressed as outlined in that document. If the charge occurs close to the end of an academic semester or term or in the event of the reasonable need of either party for additional time to gather information timelines may be extended at the discretion of the appropriate academic dean.

General:

This policy addresses academic integrity violations of undergraduate and graduate students. Students, faculty, staff, and administrators of Western Carolina University (WCU) strive to achieve the highest standards of scholarship and integrity.  Any violation of this policy is a serious offense because it threatens the quality of scholarship and undermines the integrity of the community.

Instructors have the right to determine the appropriate academic sanctions for violations of the Academic Integrity Policy within their courses, up to and including a final grade of “F” in the course in which the violation occurs.

Definitions:

Cheating – Using, or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise.

Fabrication – Creating and/or falsifying information or citation in any academic exercise.

Plagiarism – Representing the words or ideas of someone else as one’s own in any academic exercise.

Facilitation – Helping or attempting to help someone to commit a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy in any academic exercise (e.g. allowing another person to copy information during an examination).

Undergraduate and Graduate Academic Integrity Process:

Additional information is available on the Student Success website under Student Community Ethics: http://www.wcu.edu/experience/dean-of-students/academic-integrity.aspx

Academic & Campus Resources

The resources available on this page are for academic and technical support to help you succeed!

Top 5 Frequently Requested Resources

  1. myWCU(Links to an external site.)
  2. Registrar’s Office(Links to an external site.)
  3. Canvas Student Guides(Links to an external site.)
  4. Supported Browsers & Computer Requirements(Links to an external site.)
  5. Policies(Links to an external site.)

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