Policy & resource statements that help prepare your course

Sample Policy and Resource Statements for Course Outlines contains (links to) policies and (links to) sample language for a variety of course outline/syllabus needs. 

  • Official policy statements are indicated: the wording of these may not be altered.
  • Sample resource statements may be adapted as needed for your own instructional purposes.
  • For more information on course outline/syllabus preparation, see "Course Design." 
  • NOTE: This is a continually growing file, gathering useful syllabus inserts for easy perusal.

A. "Land Acknowledgement" (from the Strategic Plan; do not alter)

Lakehead University respectfully acknowledges its campuses are located on the traditional lands of Indigenous peoples.

Lakehead Thunder Bay is located on the traditional lands of the Fort William First Nation, Signatory to the Robinson Superior Treaty of 1850. Lakehead Orillia is located on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg. The Anishinaabeg include the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Pottawatomi nations, collectively known as the Three Fires Confederacy.

Lakehead University acknowledges the history that many nations hold in the areas around our campuses, and is committed to a relationship with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples based on the principles of mutual trust, respect, reciprocity, and collaboration in the spirit of reconciliation.

B. Academic Integrity

A breach of Academic Integrity is a serious offence. The principle of Academic Integrity, particularly of doing one’s own work, documenting properly (including use of quotation marks, appropriate paraphrasing and referencing/citation), collaborating appropriately, and avoiding misrepresentation, is a core principle in university study. Students are strongly advised to familiarize themselves with the Student Code of Conduct - Academic Integrity ("The Code") - and, in particular, sections 26 and 83 through 85. Non-compliance with the Code will NOT be tolerated in this course and the Code will be adhered to in terms of disciplinary action. The Code provides a full description of academic offences, procedures when Academic Integrity breaches are suspected and sanctions for breaches of Academic Integrity.

    C. Copyright Compliance 

    I understand and agree that all instructional, reference, and administrative materials to which I am given access in this course (the "course materials"), whether they consist of text, still or kinetic images, or sound, whether they are in digital or hard copy formats, and in whatever media they are offered, are protected in their entirety by copyright, and that to comply with this copyright and the law.

    (a) I may access and download the course materials only for my own personal and non-commercial use for this course; and

    (b) I am not permitted to download, copy, store (in any medium), forward or share, transmit, broadcast, show, post or play in public, adapt, or change in any way any text, image, or sound component of the course materials for any other purpose whatsoever except as expressly authorized, and only to the extent authorized, in writing, by the course instructor.

    I further understand and agree that, if I infringe the copyright of the course materials in any way, I may be prosecuted under the Lakehead University Student Code of Conduct – Academic Integrity, which requires students to act ethically and with integrity in academic matters and to demonstrate behaviours that support the University’s academic values.

    D. Exam/Assignment Integrity 

    I understand and agree that:

    (a) Unless otherwise allowed by the course instructor, I must complete the assignments in this course without the assistance of anyone else.

    (b) Unless otherwise allowed by the course instructor, I must not access any sources or materials (in print, online, or in any other way) to complete any course exam.

    I further understand and agree that, if I violate either of these two rules, or if I provide any false or misleading information about my completion of course assignments or exams, I may be prosecuted under the Lakehead University Student Code of Conduct – Academic Integrity, which requires students to act ethically and with integrity in academic matters and to demonstrate behaviours that support the University’s academic values.

    Resource: INFORMATION FOR INSTRUCTORS: Student Illness & Missed Exams (pdf) (updated Sept. 2021)

    E.  Generative AI Policy/Syllabus Statements

    The following Generative AI Policy/Syllabus Statements are being made available for instructors for use in their course outlines. Instructors are encouraged to adapt and modify the statements as they see fit.

    GenAI Use Prohibited
    Generative artificial intelligence (Generative AI or GenAI) is a category of AI systems capable of generating text, images, or other media in response to prompts. These systems include ChatGPT and its variants Bing (built by OpenAI) and Bard (built by Google) among several others. Other Generative AI models include artificial intelligence art systems such as Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, and DALL-E.

    Any use of GenAI systems to produce assignments for this course is not permitted. All work submitted for evaluation in this course must be the student's original work. The submission of any work containing AI generated content will be considered a violation of academic integrity (“Use of Unauthorized Materials”). 

    GenAI Use Permitted
    Generative artificial intelligence (Generative AI or GenAI) is a category of AI systems capable of generating text, images, or other media in response to prompts. These systems include ChatGPT and its variant Bing (built by OpenAI) and Bard (built by Google) among several others. Other generative AI models include artificial intelligence art systems such as Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, and DALL-E.

    GenAI tools can provide valuable assistance and support in academic work. However, it is essential to use them responsibly and ethically. The following information and guidelines apply to the use of AI-based tools in this course:

      1. Student Responsibility – It is the responsibility of the student to understand the limitations of AI-based tools. While these tools can provide suggestions and insights, final decisions and critical thinking should come from the student's own understanding and effort. Before submitting, review your work with this in mind. If you don’t understand what type of GenAI usage is appropriate, ask the course instructor for clarification.
      2. Formative Usage – In this class, you may use GenAI for formative, but not summative, work. That means it can be used as a “possibility engine” (brainstorm tool), a “study buddy,” a “collaboration coach,” a “guide on the side,” a “personal tutor,” a “co-designer,” etc. to help you learn course content, but it cannot be used as the primary vehicle for any work that is submitted for marks or evaluation. (See UNESCO’s “ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education Quick Start Guide,” page 9, for explanations and examples of these and other roles GenAI can productively serve in a formative capacity.)  
      3. Error & Bias – AI content is created by computer algorithms that have been trained using large amounts of data. The AI learns from patterns and examples in the data to generate new content that resembles what it has been trained on. If the training data used to train the AI model is biased or limited in scope, the AI may reproduce content that is inaccurate, incomplete, offensive, and/or biased. Students should weigh this as they consider material produced by AI.
      4. Trustworthiness – Generative AI can be vulnerable to manipulation and misuse. It can be used to generate fake news, misinformation, or deepfake content, which can have harmful consequences. Students should check AI generated content against reputable sources.
      5. Plagiarism – Since [writing and critical thinking ability] are learning outcomes of this course, all work submitted for evaluation must be the student's original work. Using the work of others (including content curated/generated by AI) without proper citation is considered plagiarism. See “Citing Artificial Intelligence” for assistance with correct documentation.
      6.  Citation of Sources – If you use material generated by an AI program for an assignment in this course, it must be cited like any other source (with due consideration for the quality of the source, which may be judged as poor). Failure to do so will be considered a violation of academic integrity. See Student Code of Conduct – Academic Integrity.

    F. Lakehead's Accommodation Statement (official statement [do not alter])

    Lakehead University is committed to achieving full accessibility for persons with disabilities/medical conditions. Part of this commitment includes arranging academic accommodations for students with disabilities/medical conditions to ensure they have an equitable opportunity to participate in all of their academic activities. If you are a student with a disability/medical condition and think you may need accommodations, you are strongly encouraged to contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS) and register as early as possible. For more information, please email sas@lakeheadu.ca or visit https://www.lakeheadu.ca/faculty-and-staff/departments/services/sas

    G.  Notice for Recording Lectures and Class Activities (official statement [do not alter])

    Official statement (do not alter; updated 30 Sept 2020)

    "In [Course Name, number, and section] instruction in the classroom will be recorded for confidential access by students registered in the course but who are unable to attend class due to the pandemic or other necessity.  To the greatest extent possible only the image and voice of the instructor will be recorded for this purpose but, due to class interaction, the images and voices of students present in the classroom may be incidentally recorded and, thus, be available for access by course students in remote locations.  These recordings, however, are strictly confidential and may be used only by the instructor and students registered in the course and only for purposes related to the course. They may otherwise not be used or disclosed.  Students in the classroom who are concerned about being recorded in this fashion may request the instructor to exclude them from the recording to the greatest degree possible on the understanding that total exclusion cannot be guaranteed. The recordings are made under the authority of sections 3 and 14 of The Lakehead University Act, 1965.  Questions about the collection of the images and sounds in the recordings may be directed to Questions about the collection of the images and sounds in the recordings may be directed to [Chair] [or Director] [or Dean] of [Name of Academic Unit], [Thunder Bay or Orillia campus address], [Unit's telephone number]".

    H.  Policy on Requiring Students' Webcams to Be On During Class (from the Provost's Office)

    Requiring student's use of a webcam is permissible only when it is required to achieve a specific learning outcome and when students have received prior written notification (i.e. within their course syllabus, or assignment description). 

    Requiring recording of a session with a student is permissible only when the recording itself is part of the learning activity and outcome and when students have received prior written notification (i.e. within their course syllabus, or assignment description).  

    I.  Student Privacy Statement

    During recording, to protect your privacy and those of others, each student should ensure that no other person is present in their video frame. If you choose not to have your image or voice recorded, turn off your webcam, and mute your microphone. Questions can be typed in the Chat window.  If you are concerned about your full name being captured in the Participant list or the Chat function, you can use a pseudonym. These privacy decisions must be communicated to your instructor in a timely manner.

    J.  Writing Support Syllabus Statement

    Your ability to write clearly and with purpose is crucial to your academic success. Because the writing process takes time and expectations vary across disciplines (and from one instructor to another), it is important to manage this process carefully. The following guidelines will help you do that:

    1. Start early – The writing process involves several steps: prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. You will do your best work when you follow all the steps. Prewriting involves thinking about what you’ve learned on a topic, often assisted by note-taking, so that your reflections become your writing. It is often the longest and most important step!
    2. Read the guidelines – Every assignment has a specific purpose, audience, length, and format. Pay close attention to these specifications and revisit them as you work on the assignment. Also, remember that different academic disciplines use different styles of documentation. In this course, we will use [____], information about which may be found [____]. 
    3. Seek support – Writing is hard work, but you are not alone. Your instructor is there to help you. Don’t be afraid to ask for guidance or drop in during office hours. 
    4. Put in the time – Writing is a valuable skill, and any time spent developing your writing ability will contribute to your success, both in university and in your personal career. 
    5. Visit the Academic Support Zone – The Academic Support Zone’s writing coaches will work with you at any stage of the writing process from interpreting the guidelines and finding sources to composing and editing drafts. Rather than editing your work for you, writing coaches will engage you in conversation about your writing and help you develop your skills in alignment with assignment expectations and course objectives. 

    Find Lakehead University’s free writing support at https://www.lakeheadu.ca/students/academic-success/student-success-centre/academic-support-zone and visit mysuccess.lakeheadu.ca to book an appointment.