Course policies reflect your pedagogical values and guide your students’ behavior in and out of the classroom. In agreement with best practices for teaching and learning, and Georgia Tech policies and regulations (regulation VI.I.1), there are six types of policies that should be articulated in your syllabus. Click on the items below for more guidance about how to incorporate these policies into your course and your syllabus, and to see example syllabus policies. For more information on Georgia Tech teaching-related policies, visit our Basic Rules and Regulations page.

Looking for some support establishing your course policies? Contact CTL!


Academic Integrity and Collaboration

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Attendance and/or Participation

Extensions, Late Assignments, and Re-Scheduled/Missed Exams

Remote Proctoring

Student-Faculty Expectations Agreement

Student Use of Artificial Intelligence

Student Use of Mobile Devices in the Classroom

Additional Policy Ideas

Footnotes

[1] While you can provide certain accommodations without recommendations from the Office of Disability Services, we recommend that you request documentation in order to determine which accommodations are best for the student.

[2] Note that current university policy affords students a makeup exam option when they have three or more exams scheduled in a twenty-four hour period.

Course Policy Tips
  • explain the rationale behind your policy
  • make your expectations clear
  • communicate consequences for policy-violating behavior
  • clarify what a student needs to do if extenuating circumstances arise (and about what counts as extenuating circumstances)
  • use language that emphasizes your students’ role in the process
  • communicate in a tone that expresses both authority and approachability

Remember that policy choices tend to involve tradeoffs between equally desirable options, so take time to consider what you’re giving up and why.