INCLUSIVE STATEMENTS FOR SYLLABI
Preferred Name & Preferred Gender Pronouns
“Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender, gender variance, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student’s legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records.”
Policies and Expectations
This course involves participation in discussions and activities. We each have different experiences and that influence our perspectives of the world. You may feel uncomfortable or disagree with certain ideas or opinions expressed by others or with certain topics in the class. You may also find you share perspectives or experiences with others. The classroom should be a lively, interactive and comfortable place where information is shared ideas tested and issues debated. Comments shared within this course are to remain confidential to the audience of this course; do not copy or share statements or writings from this course with others, not in this course section. As an undergraduate student, you should expect the professor of the course to be prepared for each course, to treat each student with respect and compassion. Students will, in turn, come to each class prepared, complete assignments on time and will adhere to the university’s academic standards including those governing academic dishonesty including cheating plagiarism or fraud. The following link will provide further guidance on the Universities student rules and policies: http://student-rules.tamu.edu/
Non-Discrimination Policy
Texas A&M is committed to the fundamental principles of academic freedom, equality of opportunity and human dignity. To fulfill its multiple missions as an institution of higher learning, Texas A&M encourages a climate that values and nurtures collegiality, diversity, pluralism and the uniqueness of the individual within our state, nation and world. All decisions and actions involving students and employees should be based on applicable law and individual merit.
Texas A&M University, in accordance with applicable federal and state law, prohibits discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
It is the policy of Texas A&M University not to discriminate based on gender, age, disability, race, color, religion, marital status, veteran’s status, national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation. Harassment of a student in class, i.e., a pattern of behavior directed against a particular student with the intent of humiliating or intimidating that student will not be tolerated. The mere expression of one’s ideas is not harassment and is fully protected by academic freedom, but personal harassment of individual students is not permitted.
Professionalism and Respect
You are expected to treat your instructor and all other participants in the course with courtesy and respect. Your comments to others should be factual, constructive, and free from harassing statements. You are encouraged to disagree with other students, but such disagreements need to be based upon facts and documentation (rather than prejudices and personalities).
Unprofessional or disrespectful conduct will result in a lower grade on an assignment. Warnings will not be given; part of the learning process in this course is respectful engagement of ideas with others.
Students will need to contribute in intelligent, positive, and constructive manners within the course. Behaviors that are abusive, disruptive, or harassing may result in disciplinary actions as specified within the Student Rules. The student rules can be found at the website page: http://student-rules.tamu.edu/statement
Sensitive or controversial topics might be discussed in this course. Comments posted within this course are to remain confidential to the audience of this course; do not copy or share messages or writings from this course with others not in this course section.
Students in this course are also responsible for being familiar with the Universities student rules and policies: http://student-rules.tamu.edu/
Preferred name policy statement suggestion from the Center for Inclusion and Social Change at the University of Colorado - Boulder.
Syllabus Statements extracted from the syllabus of Sidney Gardner 10/23/13.