Course Overview and Policies

This category of online course characteristics outlines the foundational elements that orient students to the course and clearly communicate expectations, policies, and support structures.

It emphasizes transparency, learner-centered objectives, access to resources and contacts, responsible technology and AI use, and standards for professional online behavior.

Course Overview and Policies Characteristics

Course Welcome and Overview

Welcome and overview that introduces students to the course.

Welcome, Overview

Resource(s) and Consideration(s):

OSCQR – Standard #1 – OSCQR – SUNY Online Course Quality Review Rubric
This is ideal for the first module (e.g., Getting Started, Module 0)
Easily create a video using D2L's Video Note Feature to begin establishing instructor presence. Remember to provide captions!

Note: If you have a resource you think would be a good example of this characteristic, please complete this form.

Faculty Introduction

Introduces faculty to the students in the course.

Welcome, Overview

Resource(s) and Consideration(s):

Video using D2L's video note feature recommended to begin establishing instructor presence. Remember to provide captions! (These can be reused in future courses as they are saved in your D2L media library.)

Note: If you have a resource you think would be a good example of this characteristic, please complete this form.

Syllabus Elements

Mandated syllabus elements are within Simple Syllabus.

Welcome, Overview

Resource(s) and Consideration(s):

Beginning in the Fall 2026 semester, AU course syllabi are now available to the public. Required elements are included in the Simple Syllabus template that each faculty is responsible for their course completing.

Note: If you have a resource you think would be a good example of this characteristic, please complete this form.

Course Structure Explanation

An explanation (e.g., video, text, etc.) to the course structure (e.g., navigation, modules, a pre-course technology checklist, assignment schedule) is provided.

Welcome, Overview

Resource(s) and Consideration(s):

Create a video using D2L's video note feature; screen sharing or presentation of slides are not an option. Remember to provide captions! (These can be reused in future courses as they are saved in your D2L media library).
Create a screen recording using Echo 360 or the recording feature in PowerPoint. Remember to provide captions!

Note: If you have a resource you think would be a good example of this characteristic, please complete this form.

Course Information Provided

Information about the course (e.g., schedule of assignments, late submission consequences, academic integrity expectations, and faculty response times) is clearly stated.

Welcome, Overview

Resource(s) and Consideration(s):

Some of this course information may be part of your syllabus. The schedule of time-sensitive information (e.g., due dates) can be provided through a shared document posted within D2L and/or by using the D2L Calendar
OSCQR – Standard #44 – OSCQR – SUNY Online Course Quality Review Rubric

Note: If you have a resource you think would be a good example of this characteristic, please complete this form.

University Policies Linked

Links to relevant University policies (e.g., Academic Honesty, Artificial Intelligence, computer use, filing grievances, accommodating disabilities, University credit hour requirements) are provided.

Welcome, Overview

Resource(s) and Consideration(s):

Some of this course information may be part of your syllabus and included in the Simple Syllabus template. . Share the additional information in the first module (e.g., Getting Started, Module 0) where students can easily locate it.

Note: If you have a resource you think would be a good example of this characteristic, please complete this form.

Prominent Learning Objectives/Outcomes

Course learning objectives/outcomes are prominent in the overview.

Objectives

Resource(s) and Consideration(s):

Your course learning objectives/outcomes (CLOs) should be introduced in the first module (e.g., Getting Started, Module 0) where students can easily find them. (We will discuss additional locations of the CLOs for alignment purposes in Category 3: Alignment.)

Note: If you have a resource you think would be a good example of this characteristic, please complete this form.

Contact Information Provided

Contact information for the instructor, program leadership, and department is provided.

Contact Information

Resource(s) and Consideration(s):

Help students get to know you, how to best contact you, your availability for assistance, office hours, and other members within your program and department they may need to contact. This information is also appropriately placed in the first module (e.g., Getting Started, Module 0) and/or through a Custom Widget that is added to your course's homepage. You could also add an Instructor's Office module like we have used in this course.
OSCQR – Standard #10 – OSCQR – SUNY Online Course Quality Review Rubric

Note: If you have a resource you think would be a good example of this characteristic, please complete this form.

Technical Requirements Listed

Technical requirements (e.g., browser version, mobile, publisher resources, secure content, pop-ups, browser issues, microphone, webcam) and requisite skills for technology tools supported with resources, are provided as well as vendor accessibility statements and privacy policies.

Technical Requirements and Support

Resource(s) and Consideration(s):

To assist your students' use of D2L and any other technologies that are part of your course, provide links to support resources and the vendor's accessibility statements and privacy policies.

Note: If you have a resource you think would be a good example of this characteristic, please complete this form.

Netiquette Outlined

Rules/standards for appropriate online student behavior are provided.

Netiquette

Resource(s) and Consideration(s):

Netiquette is important in establishing a safe and inclusive learning community within your online course. What are your expectations for student behavior in this area? Be sure to provide this information to facilitate students' adherence to the rules/standards.

Note: If you have a resource you think would be a good example of this characteristic, please complete this form.

Artificial Intelligence Guidelines

Instructor-specific guidelines for the use of Artificial Intelligence are provided

AI Guidelines

Resource(s) and Consideration(s):

While adhering to Augusta University's AI policy. faculty can establish guidelines for student use of AI in their courses. You may find these sample course policy statements. helpful when generating your specific guidelines. Samples for no AI use, AI use permitted for specific assignment types, AI use for courses that involve coding, AI use permitted with attribution, and discipline-specific AI use for a technical writing course are all included.

Note: If you have a resource you think would be a good example of this characteristic, please complete this form.

Resources

If you have a resource you think would be a good example of this characteristic, please complete this form.

Questions or Comments?

Contact AU Online Education at auoe@augusta.edu with any questions or comments you might have.