Can I make changes to the syllabus after it is released to the students?

A common question I get is, can I make changes to the syllabus once the students have it? The answer is yes. Some folks like to think of a syllabus as a contract, and while there is some truth to that, a syllabus can be amended at any time should the need arise. The goal, of course, is to try and be as thorough and complete in your development of the syllabus so that changes aren’t frequent and only result from an unforeseen event. For example, a lecturer or two have to be rescheduled which means the material that needed to be covered won’t be at the pre-arranged time so you may need to push an exam back or switch the content of the test which leads to the need to adjust the weighted percentage of that exam. Or you may want to extend the due date of a significant project in the course. All of this can be done. The key in my experience is the importance of an open discussion with the entire class regarding the changes. Sometimes you alone will decide because it is more of a logistical issue such as the first example I gave – though I would still get out in front of the students and tell them the why of your decision. Other times, it may be extremely beneficial to give the students a voice in the decision. Keep in mind that the chance of getting 100% agreement from the entire class is unlikely. If you are offering to change an exam date, there will be those students who welcome the extended time to prepare. However, there will also be those students who prefer to leave the exam where it is. A few options in dealing with this is to go with a class majority vote – but openly acknowledging that you know not everyone will be happy with what the decision. Or sometimes, I engage the class president to discuss the potential change or options with the class, and then he or she lets me know the classes decision.

Sometimes making the students hash it out and come up with a decision without my input is helpful. Sometimes the students come back with an option I didn’t consider. What is most important here is two things. First, you present, discuss and explain the rationale behind the change you are making or thinking about making - and that whenever possible, you give the students a voice in the decision. These are adult learners, and I have found it to be true that they do better when they know what is going on and why in advance. Second, you need to formally amend the syllabus. This approach means you update your syllabus with the change by creating a revised version, including the date of the change and notation of what was changed. It is also helpful to keep a note for yourself about the rationale behind the change, and whether discussion occurred with the students and the percentage or number of students in favor of the change if a vote was taken. Then make the amended syllabus available to all students and send an announcement through your course again stating the change, the discussion with students (if applicable) and the date.

Why so many steps? Just like seeing a patient – education also includes the importance of document, document, document! You must be able to show that steps were taken to ensure the students were informed of the change. Here’s why. Let’s say you needed to change some of the requirements related to the major project in the course. The change would require students to adjust the focus of their proposals and what they were required to submit in terms of content.  Given this change, you also extended the due date out because these two components of the project would make up 60% of their project grade. At the end of a semester, one student fails the course. The main contributor to her failure is her project grade, in particular her scores on the first two components.  She is now appealing dismissal (due to failing a course), stating she was not informed about the changes related to the two components of the project, and if she had been, she would have done it correctly. She claims she followed the original course syllabus. [Keep in mind, students perceptions are their perceptions. This is not to say the course director didn't point this out to her after grading her submissions.]  Given the competitive nature for admission and high stakes of PA education, students understandable do not want to be dismissed.  The point I simply wish make here is the importance of documenting your steps clearly regarding the change, creating and republishing an amended syllabus reflective of those changes and showing that all students were informed. Otherwise, things could get a little sticky.