We encourage you to use the YSU Common Syllabus. To ensure that you include all university-required elements and policies, the easiest method is to utilize the YSU Common Syllabus templates. In addition, by using the link to student support services and university policies, you ensure that students are always provided with the latest policies and office contact information.

Research shows that clearly defining expectations play an important role in student motivation for learning (Ambrose et al., 2010). That is why explaining to students what is expected of them is of such critical importance, particularly with how they will be evaluated. Explaining to students what and how they will be evaluated provides guidance to students on how to be successful.

Do you clearly outline what is due and when?

Click any of the student-centered strategies below to learn more about how you can implement the strategy in your course!

Students attend Youngstown State University with a wide range of life experiences and backgrounds. It is important to recognize the impact students' lives have on their experiences and learning in your classroom. You can do several things as faculty to recognize the way life outside the classroom impacts learning: support overall wellness for your students, build flexibility in your course design, teach with your students' strengths in mind, and connect your students to support.

One of the Essential Learning Outcomes of a liberal education, as defined by the American Association of Colleges and Universities, is the ability for students to integrate and apply their learning (AACU). Students learn best when work isn’t “a series of isolated problems” but is relevant and connected (Blad, 2018).

The goal of teaching is for students to learn. Regardless of an instructor’s personality traits or teaching style, with intentional choices, instructors can set up courses that encourage and support student learning. In addition to the course structure and design tips below, the following sections may be helpful in being encouraging, supportive, and approachable for your students:  

• Faculty cannot control everything, but they can create a classroom environment that can encourage students' motivation. Both intrinsic and extrinsic factors affect whether students feel interested in a course and are inspired to work hard in a class. Check out this video from José Antonio Bowen on How Student Thinking Works.

Patton Davis & Museus (2019) suggest educators avoid thinking about students as “at-risk” and focus their attention on the ways that institutions are failing students. Deficit thinking and language is unfortunately common in education.

As a result of remote learning during COVID-19, an increasing number of students feel isolated and like they do not belong on their respective campuses (HLC Trends Report).  At YSU specifically, students self-report lower perceived levels of feeling “valued” by YSU and feeling “part of the community” at YSU than students in past years (YSU NSSE Results, 2021).