Syllabi Resources

We encourage all instructors to include in their syllabi a statement about the student support resources available at the Harte Center. Below are three options, ranging from short and sweet to less short and still sweet.

Option 1

The Harte Center for Teaching and Learning (Leyburn Library, 1st Level) is designed to support students at all stages of their learning, from the first year to senior year, and engage all topics in all fields. For more information about various tutoring programs, the Writing Center, and other academic support, visit the Harte Center website. And if you're looking for space to collaborate or to study on your own, just come on in-the doors of the Harte Center are always open!

Option 2

The Harte Center for Teaching and Learning (Leyburn Library, 1st Level) is pleased to offer a range of high-quality academic resources to the student community. Academic Coaching, Peer Tutoring, and other services are available to support your academic growth and development. The Harte Center's resources are not only for students who are struggling but for those who would like to enhance their studying and learning to maximize their success in college.

To explore the range of resources available, please visit the Harte Center's website.

Option 3

The Harte Center for Teaching and Learning (Leyburn Library, 1st Level) is pleased to offer a range of high-quality academic resources to the student community. Whether you are experiencing challenges with your studying and learning or just want to perform better in college, academic coaching can help. Students benefit from academic coaching in many areas, including study strategies, time management, note-taking, and exam preparation. In addition, peer tutors are available to support you with the academic content of your courses. Upper-division students are available to tutor in most lower-level courses at the University, free of charge. To explore these and other academic resources, please visit the Harte Center's website.

Creating Accessible Syllabi

The Accessible Syllabus resource comes to us courtesy of Mackenzie Brooks. Simply put, it is a top to bottom resource for creating syllabi that not only talk about accessibility, but that are themselves accessible. An excellent resource, one that may well change the way you approach your syllabi for the rest of your career.

Creating Liquid Syllabi

Not sure what a liquid syllabus is? Fair enough. Essentially it's a more fluid, more detailed website that serves both as a syllabus and as a tuning fork for the semester: a liquid syllabus allows you to set a tone that goes beyond the often-legalistic formality of a traditional syllabus. The example that I'm providing here comes from Dr. Lindsay Masland who teaches at Appalachian State (and who has given me permission to share this material.) There's a lot here that's noteworthy - her tone, for instance, how she addresses course learning outcomes, or how she explicitly asks students to actively question what they're learning in the course. What's particularly striking, though, is how Dr. Masland constructs her students as thoughtful, active participants in the learning process (as opposed to many traditional syllabi, which don't really construct students as much of anything). Give it a look. This is a rich, thoughtful approach to setting the tone for a course even before it begins.

University Counseling

Generic Statement

As a student you may experience a range of issues that might interfere with learning. These might include strained relationships, anxiety, high levels of stress, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, or loss of motivation. The Student Health Center (Davis Hall) and the University Counseling Center (Early-Fielding) are here to help with these or other issues you may experience. You can learn about the free, confidential mental health services available on campus by visiting University Counseling or calling (540) 458-8590. In addition, you might have heard about My SSP, a FREE, confidential, online counseling service that offers mental health and wellbeing support for all students at W&L. My SSP is a standalone service that provides 24/7 access to contract counselors via text or phone. Tele-mental health services are also available by appointment, accessed directly by students separate from our university counseling services.

Course-Specific Statement

In this course we will be discussing a wide range of behaviors and psychological symptoms. You should not be alarmed if you begin to recognize some of these symptoms in yourself or someone you know - this often happens when students first learn about illness (it is sometimes called Medical Student Syndrome). However, if you are experiencing symptoms that are causing you distress or getting in the way of your life, it may be helpful to make an appointment at the University Counseling Center. It is located on the first floor of the Early-Fielding Building in Suite 116 and is open from 8:30 to 5:00 when undergraduate classes are in session. If you are interested in making an appointment, call 540-458-8590. Urgent drop-in times are also available at 3:00pm Monday through Friday when undergraduate classes are in session (call first) . For after-hours emergencies, students may reach a counselor 24/7 by text or phone using the My SSP app featured on the counseling center website. If safety is a concern, students are directed to call 911 or Student Health at x8401 or contact Public Safety at 540-458-8999.