(Note: best practice suggests that a statement of Content or Trigger Warning in the syllabi, coupled with a verbal announcement before the class where the material referred is presented, supports a safe, inclusive, engaged learning environment)

Content Warning

I acknowledge that each of you comes to UConn with your own unique life experiences. This contributes to the way you perceive various types of information. In [class name], all of the class content, including that which may be intellectually or emotionally challenging, has been intentionally curated to achieve the learning goals for this course. The decision to include such material is not taken lightly. These topics include [list topics]. If you encounter a topic that is intellectually challenging for you, it can manifest in feelings of discomfort and upset. In response, I encourage you to come talk to me or your friends or family about it. Class topics are discussed for the sole purpose of expanding your intellectual engagement in the area of [subject/major], and I will support you throughout your learning in this course.

Trigger Warning

I acknowledge that each of you comes to UConn with your own unique life experiences. This contributes to the way you perceive several types of information. In [class name], we will cover a variety of topics, some of which you may find triggering. These topics include [list topics]. Each time this topic appears in a reading or unit, it is marked on the syllabus. The experience of being triggered versus intellectually challenged are different. The main difference is that an individual must have experienced trauma to experience being triggered, whereas an intellectual challenge has nothing to do with trauma. If you are a trauma survivor and encounter a topic in this class that is triggering for you, you may feel overwhelmed or panicked and find it difficult to concentrate. In response, I encourage you to take the necessary steps for your emotional safety. This may include leaving class while the topic is discussed or talking to a therapist at SHaW Mental Health. Should you choose to sit out on discussion of a certain topic, know that you are still responsible for the material; but we can discuss if there are other methods for accessing that material, and for assessing your learning on that material. Class topics are discussed for the sole purpose of expanding your intellectual engagement in the area of [subject/major], and I will support you throughout your learning in this course.

Templates for Syllabus Statements related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) use on course work

Please see CETL's information about ChatGPT and other AI tools.

Sample # 1 (Permitting use of Generative AI)

Academic Integrity
In this course we’ll conduct ourselves as a community of scholars and writers, recognizing that academic study is both an intellectual and ethical enterprise. Please build on the ideas and texts of others–that’s a vital part of academic life. You may certainly discuss readings and assignments outside of class, study in groups, share drafts with classmates or friends, and go to the Writing Center with your drafts.

When you use or borrow or closely imitate another’s ideas or language–or even syntax–you must formally acknowledge that debt by signaling it with a standard form of academic citation. This means documenting not just direct quotations but also paraphrases and summaries. In less formal or creative genres, you may show your debt to a source (or classmate!) with a signal phrase (“According to Jose Calabra….”) or acknowledgement statement (“In this essay I drew inspiration from…I got the_____ idea  from Kayla during peer review.”). If you have any questions about when and how to credit the work of others, please come talk to me.

You are welcome to use AI writing tools such as ChatGPT on most assignments (I’ll alert you when you can’t) but whenever you use them, you must include an acknowledgement statement that briefly shares that and how you used them. For example, “I used ChatGPT when I was struck at the start and retained substantial parts of what it produced, including X and Y ideas and most of the wording in paragraphs 3 and 4” or “After I wrote my first 2 paragraphs, I used GPT-3 playground to extend the text for another 200 words but then edited…” Please also note that all large language models still tend to make up incorrect facts and fake citations. You will be responsible for any inaccurate, biased, offensive, or otherwise unethical content you submit, regardless of whether it originally comes from you or an AI tool (these last 2 sentences adapted from the course policies of Ryan S. Baker.pdf, University of Pennsylvania).

If you engage in intentional academic dishonesty–whether plagiarizing or submitting the work of others or copying from others on a test or failing to acknowledge use of AI or other tools–you will fail not only that assignment but the course.

Sample # 2 (Prohibiting use of Generative AI)

All students are expected to act in accordance with the Guidelines for Academic Integrity at the University of Connecticut. If you have questions about academic integrity or intellectual property, you should consult with me or consult UConn’s guidelines for academic integrity. Posting course material on student tutoring and course sharing websites (e.g. Chegg, Course Hero) may be a violation of my copyright and intellectual property and a violation of academic integrity. Many of you may also be aware of the recent release of ChatGPT3, a Large Language artificial intelligence (AI) model that has the capacity to quickly produce text on a range of topics.  ChatGPT3 aggregates the ideas and insights of many researchers without giving them credit.  Submitting ChatGPT-generated text as your own work would be an act of plagiarism insofar as it would involve passing off the work of others as your own. For these reasons, you are not allowed to use this ChatGPT or other similar tools.to produce essays or other academic work for this class, unless otherwise explicitly permitted to do so.  You should also know that the university has AI detection software that distinguishes between AI generated content and human generated content.

For additional samples, see Lance Eaton's collection of syllabus policies.

Helpful Resource:

The Chronicle of Higher Education published a helpful guide entitled "How to Create a Syllabus" which you may find useful while drafting or revising your syllabus.

Additional Resources:

Bunce, D. M. “Teaching is More than Lecturing and Learning is More than Memorizing.”

Journal of Chemical Education, 2009, 86 (6), 674-680.

DiClementi, J. D. and Handelsman, M. M. “Empowering Students: Class-Generated Rules.”

Teaching of Psychology, 2005, 32 (1), 18-21.

Dornsife, R. “Good Teaching as Vulnerable Teaching.” Teaching Professor, December, 2012.

Gibson, L. “Self-directed Learning: An Exercise in Student Engagement. College Teaching,

2011 59 (3), 95-101.

Hudd, S. S. “Syllabus Under Construction: Involving Students in the Creation of Class

Assignments.” Teaching Sociology, 2003, 31 (2), 195-202.

O’Brien, J. G., Millis, B. J., and Cohen, M. W. The Course Syllabus: A Learner-Centered

Approach, 2nd Ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2008.

Singham, M. . “Moving Away from the Authoritarian Classroom.” Change, May/June 2005,

57. 51-57.

Singham, M. “Death to the Syllabus.” Liberal Education, 2007, 93 (4), 52-56.