Student Council unanimously passed a resolution at their meeting last night to encourage professors to post course syllabi on Toolkit 10 days before the start of classes.
The resolution was introduced at Council's meeting last week by members of the Academic Affairs Committee and by Executive Vice President Darius Nabors, sponsor of the legislation.
According to the resolution, advanced posting of syllabi would result in shorter electronic wait lists for courses, decreased use of Course Action Forms, and reducing the stress of meeting add and drop deadlines.
Council President Jequeatta Upton said the next step in the process involves talking to the administration.
"We'll start with the deans and see where they're coming from, and then encourage professors and TA's to post their syllabi" within 10 days of the start of classes, Upton said.
Nabors agreed with Upton, but also mentioned a difficulty associated with the resolution.
According to Nabors, the legislation only encourages professors to post their syllabi -- it does not compel them to do so.
"We can't force professors to do something," he said. "But we can get the deans to support [the resolution] and push it through."
Landscape Prof. Nancy Takahashi said a similar system is already in use at the Architecture School.
"In my experience at the Architecture School, most syllabi are posted [before course registration] at the school -- not on the Internet," Takahashi said.
She said the system seems to work well at the Architecture School and a similar system online could be helpful for students.
"I'm sure it's quite useful for giving [students] better insight into classes," she said. "I think it's completely fair that students see what the course is about and what the expectations are."
According to Gavin Reddick, Council Graduate School representative, advanced posting of syllabi will not have much of an effect on teaching assistants.
Reddick explained that graduate students go through an application process to become teaching assistants, and one part of the application includes formulating a syllabus.
"In terms of TAs, it shouldn't affect them because they have to do it anyway," he said.
Both Upton and Nabors said the resolution will greatly aid the registration process.
"It'll make course sign-ups more efficient and students will be spending less time on ISIS," Nabors said. "Students can learn about the class before they sign up."
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