Course Outline Resources

The information on this page should be used to inform course outlines. Your Dean’s Office may also have a specific course outline template for you to use, including the following:

• FASS and FPGA
• Faculty of Science

Academic Accommodations

Carleton is committed to providing academic accessibility for all individuals. Please review the processes for academic accommodation requests.

Include the following paragraph in your course outline:

• Carleton is committed to providing academic accessibility for all individuals. You may need special arrangements to meet your academic obligations during the term. The accommodation request processes, including information about the Academic Consideration Policy for Students in Medical and Other Extenuating Circumstances, are outlined on the Academic Accommodations website (students.carleton.ca/course-outline).

Costs of Educational Material

In compliance with the directive issued by the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security (MCURES), all course syllabi (undergraduate and graduate) must specify the costs of textbooks and other learning materials. Specifically, course outlines should:

Specifically, course outlines are required to include the following information:

• Specify the mandatory and/or optional textbook(s) and/or learning materials and their associated estimated costs. Each textbook/learning material should be individually costed. In the event that the cost for the current year is not available at the time that syllabus is prepared, the most recent costs should be included with a note indicating that it may change. Costs must be as accurate as possible and be derived from publisher, commercial, third-party vendor websites or from the university bookstore.
• Indicate whether there are restrictions that would prevent students from using a second-hand copy of the textbook and/or learning material.
• Include the following statement if the course section does not require students to purchase textbook(s) and/or learning materials: Students are not required to purchase textbooks or other learning materials for this course.

Learning material is defined as either a physical or digital material that students may need to fully participate in a course. This could include publisher learning and assessment tools, course packs, online subscription-based platforms and services, and software not provided by the University, Faculty, Department or School.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Instructors can choose the extent to which the use of AI is permitted in coursework. Due to the prevalent nature of the use Generative AI, course outlines should include a statement that describes the acceptable use of AI in your course. Sample statements are available on the TLS website. At minimum, the statement should include:  

1. A description of how AI may be used in the course, including examples of what is permitted;
2. A description of how AI use should be documented, if at all;
3. Explain the rationale for the adoption of your AI policy; and
4. A description of limitations (what is “not permitted” in explicit terms, if applicable).

It is also recommended to include the following text:

As our understanding of the uses of AI and its relationship to student work and academic integrity continue to evolve, students are required to discuss their use of AI in any circumstance not described here with the course instructor to ensure it supports the learning goals for the course.

Note: Students can also access resources related to citing Generative AI on the MacOdrum Library website. Additional resources are also available on Carleton’s Artificial Intelligence Hub.

Exam Information

One month prior to the start of each term course instructors receive a memo from Scheduling and Exam Services outlining the examination services available. These include distance and external exams, e-Proctoring, exam service expenses and fees, exam paper submission deadlines, formally scheduled exams (final and deferred), the McIntyre Exam Centre, online and in-person digital exam services and term exam administration. This information is also uploaded to https://i.carleton.ca/mec/exam-memo. For questions that are not covered in the memo, contact Examinations@cunet.carleton.ca.

Important Dates

Please refer to the message sent from the Office of the Provost before the beginning of the Fall term, which outlines specific important dates that will inform your course outline. A copy of this message is available on the Provost’s Intranet. In terms of dates that must be identified on the course outline, please note:

• Fall Break: No classes will take place. Students cannot be required to attend class or submit coursework from Sunday, October 19 to Sunday, October 26. The following exceptions may apply:
  • If it is necessary to hold a test after Friday, October 17 due to exceptional circumstances, it can only be scheduled on Saturday, October 18. This timing must be announced on the course outline that is distributed at the beginning of the term.
• Winter Break: No classes will take place. Students cannot be required to attend class or submit coursework from Sunday, February 15 to Sunday, February 22. The following exceptions may apply:
  • If it is necessary to hold a test after Friday, February 13, it can only be scheduled on Saturday, February 14. This timing must be announced on the course outline that is distributed at the beginning of the term.
  • Final exams for Early Winter undergraduate courses may be held on February 21-22 and February 28-March 1.

Class Transition Time

Please respect the start and end times of courses in order to ensure a smooth transition between classes. In general, course instructors have five minutes to set up course materials before beginning teaching and five minutes to wrap up course materials before the next class commences. If you have questions, contact timetabling@carleton.ca.