Research shows that effective syllabi set a welcoming tone, communicate clear expectations and policies, highlight the relevance of coursework, and protect the boundaries of teaching staff (Artze-Vega et al., 2023, Palmer et al., 2016). Below you will find examples of how MIT instructors have incorporated this messaging into their syllabi, like a Built-in Flexibility for Late/Missed Coursework Policy. Each example will provide descriptive features of effective syllabi and explanations for why these features are important.
An inviting welcome message, right at the start of the document, establishes an early connection between you and your students. This welcoming tone can… Read more>
A strong emphasis on the purpose of coursework and its relevance to students’ careers, interests, and lives improves student motivation and engagement. This could… Read more>
Explicitly stating what students will need to do to complete the assessments, the learning goals, and how they connect to the assessments help clarify… Read more>
Clear communication about expectations and grading criteria can help guide students’ learning by preventing confusion about expectations or frustration about their grades. Grading criteria… Read more>
Students benefit from both clear structure (e.g., a course schedule or calendar with due dates; clear policies for late work or missed assignments) and… Read more>
Students are encouraged to collaborate and work in teams in many classes at MIT to practice explaining concepts and learn from one another. However,… Read more>
Your syllabus can explicitly communicate your commitment to creating a learning environment in which all students can learn and whose varied perspectives matter in… Read more>
Students benefit from having a positive classroom community, but they don’t always know what participation should look like. The syllabus can clearly communicate expectations… Read more>
Clearly describes actionable tips and concrete strategies on how to succeed in the course, which may also include external tools and campus resources to… Read more>
By clearly articulating course policies and the reasons underlying them, students recognize when policies are designed to support their learning and gain insight into… Read more>
An inviting welcome message, right at the start of the document, establishes an early connection between you and your students. This welcoming tone can… Read more>
A strong emphasis on the purpose of coursework and its relevance to students’ careers, interests, and lives improves student motivation and engagement. This could… Read more>
Explicitly stating what students will need to do to complete the assessments, the learning goals, and how they connect to the assessments help clarify… Read more>
Clear communication about expectations and grading criteria can help guide students’ learning by preventing confusion about expectations or frustration about their grades. Grading criteria… Read more>
Students benefit from both clear structure (e.g., a course schedule or calendar with due dates; clear policies for late work or missed assignments) and… Read more>
Students are encouraged to collaborate and work in teams in many classes at MIT to practice explaining concepts and learn from one another. However,… Read more>
Your syllabus can explicitly communicate your commitment to creating a learning environment in which all students can learn and whose varied perspectives matter in… Read more>
Students benefit from having a positive classroom community, but they don’t always know what participation should look like. The syllabus can clearly communicate expectations… Read more>
Clearly describes actionable tips and concrete strategies on how to succeed in the course, which may also include external tools and campus resources to… Read more>
By clearly articulating course policies and the reasons underlying them, students recognize when policies are designed to support their learning and gain insight into… Read more>
An inviting welcome message, right at the start of the document, establishes an early connection between you and your students. This welcoming tone can… Read more>
A strong emphasis on the purpose of coursework and its relevance to students’ careers, interests, and lives improves student motivation and engagement. This could… Read more>
Explicitly stating what students will need to do to complete the assessments, the learning goals, and how they connect to the assessments help clarify… Read more>
Clear communication about expectations and grading criteria can help guide students’ learning by preventing confusion about expectations or frustration about their grades. Grading criteria… Read more>
Students benefit from both clear structure (e.g., a course schedule or calendar with due dates; clear policies for late work or missed assignments) and… Read more>
Students are encouraged to collaborate and work in teams in many classes at MIT to practice explaining concepts and learn from one another. However,… Read more>
Your syllabus can explicitly communicate your commitment to creating a learning environment in which all students can learn and whose varied perspectives matter in… Read more>
Students benefit from having a positive classroom community, but they don’t always know what participation should look like. The syllabus can clearly communicate expectations… Read more>
Clearly describes actionable tips and concrete strategies on how to succeed in the course, which may also include external tools and campus resources to… Read more>
By clearly articulating course policies and the reasons underlying them, students recognize when policies are designed to support their learning and gain insight into… Read more>
An inviting welcome message, right at the start of the document, establishes an early connection between you and your students. This welcoming tone can… Read more>
A strong emphasis on the purpose of coursework and its relevance to students’ careers, interests, and lives improves student motivation and engagement. This could… Read more>
Explicitly stating what students will need to do to complete the assessments, the learning goals, and how they connect to the assessments help clarify… Read more>
Clear communication about expectations and grading criteria can help guide students’ learning by preventing confusion about expectations or frustration about their grades. Grading criteria… Read more>
Students benefit from both clear structure (e.g., a course schedule or calendar with due dates; clear policies for late work or missed assignments) and… Read more>
Students are encouraged to collaborate and work in teams in many classes at MIT to practice explaining concepts and learn from one another. However,… Read more>
Your syllabus can explicitly communicate your commitment to creating a learning environment in which all students can learn and whose varied perspectives matter in… Read more>
Students benefit from having a positive classroom community, but they don’t always know what participation should look like. The syllabus can clearly communicate expectations… Read more>
Clearly describes actionable tips and concrete strategies on how to succeed in the course, which may also include external tools and campus resources to… Read more>
By clearly articulating course policies and the reasons underlying them, students recognize when policies are designed to support their learning and gain insight into… Read more>
An inviting welcome message, right at the start of the document, establishes an early connection between you and your students. This welcoming tone can… Read more>
A strong emphasis on the purpose of coursework and its relevance to students’ careers, interests, and lives improves student motivation and engagement. This could… Read more>
Explicitly stating what students will need to do to complete the assessments, the learning goals, and how they connect to the assessments help clarify… Read more>
Clear communication about expectations and grading criteria can help guide students’ learning by preventing confusion about expectations or frustration about their grades. Grading criteria… Read more>
Students benefit from both clear structure (e.g., a course schedule or calendar with due dates; clear policies for late work or missed assignments) and… Read more>
Students are encouraged to collaborate and work in teams in many classes at MIT to practice explaining concepts and learn from one another. However,… Read more>
Your syllabus can explicitly communicate your commitment to creating a learning environment in which all students can learn and whose varied perspectives matter in… Read more>
Students benefit from having a positive classroom community, but they don’t always know what participation should look like. The syllabus can clearly communicate expectations… Read more>
Clearly describes actionable tips and concrete strategies on how to succeed in the course, which may also include external tools and campus resources to… Read more>
By clearly articulating course policies and the reasons underlying them, students recognize when policies are designed to support their learning and gain insight into… Read more>
An inviting welcome message, right at the start of the document, establishes an early connection between you and your students. This welcoming tone can… Read more>
A strong emphasis on the purpose of coursework and its relevance to students’ careers, interests, and lives improves student motivation and engagement. This could… Read more>
Explicitly stating what students will need to do to complete the assessments, the learning goals, and how they connect to the assessments help clarify… Read more>
Clear communication about expectations and grading criteria can help guide students’ learning by preventing confusion about expectations or frustration about their grades. Grading criteria… Read more>
Students benefit from both clear structure (e.g., a course schedule or calendar with due dates; clear policies for late work or missed assignments) and… Read more>
Students are encouraged to collaborate and work in teams in many classes at MIT to practice explaining concepts and learn from one another. However,… Read more>
Your syllabus can explicitly communicate your commitment to creating a learning environment in which all students can learn and whose varied perspectives matter in… Read more>
Students benefit from having a positive classroom community, but they don’t always know what participation should look like. The syllabus can clearly communicate expectations… Read more>
Clearly describes actionable tips and concrete strategies on how to succeed in the course, which may also include external tools and campus resources to… Read more>
By clearly articulating course policies and the reasons underlying them, students recognize when policies are designed to support their learning and gain insight into… Read more>
An inviting welcome message, right at the start of the document, establishes an early connection between you and your students. This welcoming tone can… Read more>
A strong emphasis on the purpose of coursework and its relevance to students’ careers, interests, and lives improves student motivation and engagement. This could… Read more>
Explicitly stating what students will need to do to complete the assessments, the learning goals, and how they connect to the assessments help clarify… Read more>
Clear communication about expectations and grading criteria can help guide students’ learning by preventing confusion about expectations or frustration about their grades. Grading criteria… Read more>
Students benefit from both clear structure (e.g., a course schedule or calendar with due dates; clear policies for late work or missed assignments) and… Read more>
Students are encouraged to collaborate and work in teams in many classes at MIT to practice explaining concepts and learn from one another. However,… Read more>
Your syllabus can explicitly communicate your commitment to creating a learning environment in which all students can learn and whose varied perspectives matter in… Read more>
Students benefit from having a positive classroom community, but they don’t always know what participation should look like. The syllabus can clearly communicate expectations… Read more>
Clearly describes actionable tips and concrete strategies on how to succeed in the course, which may also include external tools and campus resources to… Read more>
By clearly articulating course policies and the reasons underlying them, students recognize when policies are designed to support their learning and gain insight into… Read more>
An inviting welcome message, right at the start of the document, establishes an early connection between you and your students. This welcoming tone can… Read more>
A strong emphasis on the purpose of coursework and its relevance to students’ careers, interests, and lives improves student motivation and engagement. This could… Read more>
Explicitly stating what students will need to do to complete the assessments, the learning goals, and how they connect to the assessments help clarify… Read more>
Clear communication about expectations and grading criteria can help guide students’ learning by preventing confusion about expectations or frustration about their grades. Grading criteria… Read more>
Students benefit from both clear structure (e.g., a course schedule or calendar with due dates; clear policies for late work or missed assignments) and… Read more>
Students are encouraged to collaborate and work in teams in many classes at MIT to practice explaining concepts and learn from one another. However,… Read more>
Your syllabus can explicitly communicate your commitment to creating a learning environment in which all students can learn and whose varied perspectives matter in… Read more>
Students benefit from having a positive classroom community, but they don’t always know what participation should look like. The syllabus can clearly communicate expectations… Read more>
Clearly describes actionable tips and concrete strategies on how to succeed in the course, which may also include external tools and campus resources to… Read more>
By clearly articulating course policies and the reasons underlying them, students recognize when policies are designed to support their learning and gain insight into… Read more>
An inviting welcome message, right at the start of the document, establishes an early connection between you and your students. This welcoming tone can… Read more>
A strong emphasis on the purpose of coursework and its relevance to students’ careers, interests, and lives improves student motivation and engagement. This could… Read more>
Explicitly stating what students will need to do to complete the assessments, the learning goals, and how they connect to the assessments help clarify… Read more>
Clear communication about expectations and grading criteria can help guide students’ learning by preventing confusion about expectations or frustration about their grades. Grading criteria… Read more>
Students benefit from both clear structure (e.g., a course schedule or calendar with due dates; clear policies for late work or missed assignments) and… Read more>
Students are encouraged to collaborate and work in teams in many classes at MIT to practice explaining concepts and learn from one another. However,… Read more>
Your syllabus can explicitly communicate your commitment to creating a learning environment in which all students can learn and whose varied perspectives matter in… Read more>
Students benefit from having a positive classroom community, but they don’t always know what participation should look like. The syllabus can clearly communicate expectations… Read more>
Clearly describes actionable tips and concrete strategies on how to succeed in the course, which may also include external tools and campus resources to… Read more>
By clearly articulating course policies and the reasons underlying them, students recognize when policies are designed to support their learning and gain insight into… Read more>
We would love to have more examples of how these features show up in MIT syllabi. If you are proud of your syllabus, or impressed by another one, feel free to send it to us.
This resource was collaboratively developed by members of Health Promotion Working Group, TLL, GradSupport, and S3, bringing together perspectives from MIT instructors, students, and scholarly research.
