Syllabus Information

In compliance with University policy, students with disabilities who require academic and/or auxiliary accommodations for this course must contact the Student Accessibility Resource Center (SARC), located in Downing Student Union, Room 1074. SARC can be reached at 270‑745‑5004 [TTY: 270‑745‑3030] or by email at sarc.connect@wku.edu.

The Faculty Notification Letter (FNL) is the official documentation from SARC confirming a student’s registration with our office and outlining their approved accommodations and is meant to be a communication tool between the student and faculty member. Students should provide their FNL to instructors as early as possible and discuss the listed accommodations or services with them, as needed, to ensure understanding and timely implementation. Please do not request accommodations directly from the instructor without first registering with SARC and obtaining your FNL.  A complete and signed copy of this FNL must be on file at the SARC. In lieu of a printed copy, the SARC office will also accept (and encourages) correspondence from a faculty members WKU email. Simply add sarc.connect@wku.edu in email correspondence.  If an accommodation is deemed not applicable, or is otherwise not provided to the student, the SARC should be notified in writing (sarc.connect@wku.edu). Reminder: Accommodations are not retroactive. Accommodations listed the FNL become effective the date the student presents the FNL to the faculty member.

Western Kentucky University does not discriminate against any student or exclude any student from its educational programs or activities, including classes or extracurricular activities, on the basis of pregnancy and/or pregnancy-related conditions such as, but not limited to, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery therefrom. Students who seek pregnancy or pregnancy-related accommodations should make their requests as soon as possible via WKU’s Title IX Website at www.wku.edu/titleix/ under the heading, “Pregnancy or Pregnancy-Related Conditions.” Students can also contact the Title IX Coordinator, Ena Demir, via email at ena.demir@wku.edu or by phone at (270) 745-6867 to request accommodations or seek assistance. We encourage students and faculty to work together to establish a plan that allows the student to complete the class and coursework without jeopardizing academic integrity and course standards. The Title IX Coordinator can help facilitate conversations between students and faculty regarding appropriate and reasonable accommodations.

If you are a WKU student and believe that you have experienced an incident(s) of discrimination or harassment based on pregnancy (or pregnancy related conditions or issues), please report it to the Title IX Coordinator via email at ena.demir@wku.edu or by phone at (270) 745-6867.

Additional resources for pregnant and parenting students can be found on WKU’s Title IX Website at www.wku.edu/titleix/.

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is committed to supporting faculty, staff and students by upholding WKU’s Sex and Gender-Based Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation (#0.070) and Discrimination and Harassment Policy (#0.2040). Under these policies, discrimination, harassment and/or sexual misconduct based on sex/gender are prohibited. If you experience an incident of sex/gender-based discrimination, harassment and/or sexual misconduct, you are encouraged to report it to the Executive Director, Office of Institutional Equity/Title IX Coordinator, Ena Demir, 270-745-6867 or Title IX Investigators or Michael Crowe, 270-745-5429. Please note that while you may report an incident of sex/gender based discrimination, harassment and/or sexual misconduct to a faculty member, WKU faculty are “Responsible Employees” of the University and MUST report what you share to WKU’s Title IX Coordinator or Title IX Investigator. If you would like to speak with someone who may be able to afford you confidentiality, you may contact WKU’s Counseling and Testing Center at 270-745-3159.

Sexual Assault Resources

The U.S. Department of Education requires that distance education courses must include regular and substantive interaction between students and faculty.  For more information about Regular and Substantive Interaction at WKU, please visit the Regular and Substantive Interaction in Online and Distance Learning webpage. 

In this course, regular and substantive interaction will take place in the following ways:

• Description of RSI activity, and
• Description of RSI activity.

Example:

The U.S. Department of Education requires that distance education courses must include regular and substantive interaction between students and faculty.  For more information about Regular and Substantive Interaction at WKU, please visit the Regular and Substantive Interaction in Online and Distance Learning webpage. 

In this course, regular and substantive interaction will take place in the following ways:

• Weekly synchronous sessions with faculty and students,
• Faculty participation in weekly discussion boards,
• Weekly announcements, and
• Timely and detailed feedback on assignments provided within one week of submission.

Note: Your activities may look different from these as they are used solely for the purpose of this example.

This course is designed in accordance with Western Kentucky University’s dedication to academic freedom and the delivery of a rigorous, quality education. Reflecting WKU’s values, this course explores complex issues through established academic disciplines and peer-reviewed scholarship. The goal is not to promote any particular ideology, but to help students develop critical thinking skills and the ability to assess evidence and independently reach conclusions. Open inquiry and respectful, evidence-based discussions are central to the learning process, and students are encouraged to engage thoughtfully and ask questions about course materials and discussions.

As we all learn how to best navigate the rise in and accessibility of artificial intelligence (AI) generators such as ChatGPT and Dall-e, you might consider some of the following options as ways to address how you would like students to utilize (or not) AI tools in the classroom. Please feel free tweak these statements to best suit your course and teaching philosophy. 

Full Use of AI Permitted: 

In this class you are free to use generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as (list relevant examples) on assignments and activities in this course. If you chose to utilize AI, you will be expected to properly document and cite this information. For this course, we will use (insert preferred citation style. Examples of citing AI are available at: https://libguides.wku.edu/stylewrite/ai.)  

Limited or Specific Use of AI Permitted: 

In general, I expect that the work you submit in this class will be your own and you are not authorized to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as (list relevant examples). However, there will be specific assignments or activities in which we will utilize these tools to enhance your learning experience. In these instances, I will provide you with additional information about the assignment and how AI will be employed and cited. Again, unless permission is granted, you are expected to complete assignments without substantive assistance from others, including AI tools. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as (list relevant examples) may be use for (list assignments or types of activities such as brainstorming or gathering ideas) with appropriate citation, but not for (list assignments). If you are unsure if you are using AI tools appropriately in this course, I encourage you to visit with me. Examples of how to cite AI tools are available at https://libguides.wku.edu/stylewrite/ai. (You may also want to provide additional resources appropriate to your course.) 

AI tools prohibited: 

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are not permitted for any type of work in this class. If you choose to use these tools, your actions will be considered academically dishonest and a violation of the WKU Student Code of Conduct. 

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