Enhancing Clarity in College Science Course Syllabus

Case Study: Improving Syllabus Clarity in a College Science Course

Overview

I worked with an instructor teaching a college-level science course who was dealing with a lot of student confusion around deadlines, policies, and expectations. The syllabus technically included everything it needed, but students were still asking the same questions over and over once the semester started.

The goal wasn’t to change the course itself, just to make expectations clearer and easier for students to understand.

The Problem

The syllabus had good content, but a few things were getting in the way: Deadlines were listed, but not always clearly tied to dates or submission times Some policies were scattered across different sections Similar assignments were described using slightly different wording There was an assumption that students would figure things out by checking the LMS In practice, this led to confusion, deadline disputes, and a lot of avoidable emails during the term.

What I Did

I reviewed the syllabus with a student-facing lens, focusing on how someone unfamiliar with the course would read it.

I flagged places where deadlines or policies could be interpreted more than one way.

I standardized wording across assignments and the course schedule.

I reorganized sections so key information appeared where students would actually look.

I tightened language without changing the instructor’s intent or tone.

The goal was clarity and consistency, not adding more rules.

Result

The revised syllabus was easier to navigate and much clearer about expectations. Deadlines were explicit, policies were easier to find, and the document worked better as a reference during the semester.

The instructor shared that they saw fewer clarification emails early on and felt more confident pointing students back to the syllabus when questions came up.

Tools Used: Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Blackboard Ultra.

Takeaway

Clear, well-structured syllabi save time and reduce friction. Small changes in wording and organization can make a noticeable difference for both instructors and students.