Syracuse Sun

Syracuse University is focusing on improving undergraduate education by integrating its six Shared Competencies into the curriculum. To aid faculty in this endeavor, the university is organizing Assignment Design Days.

These sessions are intended to help faculty (re)design assignments that align with the university's learning goals. The aim is to create transparent assignments that foster student development in knowledge and skills related to these competencies.

The objectives of Assignment Design Days include engaging in iterative teaching practices, redesigning assignments to match competency outcomes, and crafting assignment prompts that link competency learning outcomes with course objectives and assignments.

All Syracuse University faculty members who teach courses tagged with one or more Shared Competencies, or those who wish to tag their courses, are eligible to participate. Participants will receive a $300 stipend for their involvement. During the sessions, faculty will map their course assignments to the Shared Competencies rubrics and create transparent assignments using the Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) framework.

Assignment Design Days are scheduled as follows:

- May 27, 2025: Ethics, Integrity, and Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion from 9:00 a.m. to noon; Critical and Creative Thinking from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

- May 28, 2025: Scientific Inquiry and Research Skills from 9:00 a.m. to noon; Civic and Global Responsibility from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

- May 29, 2025: Communication Skills from 9:00 a.m. to noon; Information Literacy and Technological Agility from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

All sessions will take place in person at 400 Ostrom Ave., Executive Conference Room. Faculty interested in participating should apply by May 1, 2025.