Syllabus Statements: Pronouns
Syllabus statements are an important way for faculty to accomplish a number of useful goals at the outset of each course: Reduce the number of predictable questions from students, help establish students' expectations about the course at the outset, reduce students’ uncertainty (and increase their comfort level) about you and the course, generate more positive perceptions about who you are and how you will conduct the class, and convey your commitment to supporting them as individuals. These pages offer information about several categories of recommended syllabus statements, each offering examples and downloads of language that can be copied or revised for individual faculty use in course syllabi.
Pronouns
Consistently using personal pronouns and preferred names contributes to creating a more inclusive campus culture. A statement about pronouns can be included as part of a more extensive statement on inclusion or can be included as a separate statement. We also recommend reviewing the statement with your students at the beginning of the term. The following statement is adapted from Binghamton University’s Creating a Classroom that Affirms All Gender Identities.
Syllabus Statement Example Language
At Cal Poly everyone has the right to be addressed by their preferred name and the personal pronouns that correspond to their gender identity. Students can update their pronouns in PolyProfile and in their Canvas user settings. If you have not yet updated your pronouns in Canvas, you can do so at the beginning of the term so that I can make sure to refer to you using the correct pronouns. If your pronoun set is not available in Canvas, please let me know in the survey that I will distribute to students. I will survey all students in this course so that you can indicate the name and pronouns you would like me to use when addressing you in this course.
As part of our commitment to equity and inclusion in this course, it is important that all students in this class respect the pronouns and preferred names of their peers. Mistakes in addressing one another may happen. If you make a mistake or are corrected, please briefly apologize and correct yourself. I will not tolerate intentional disrespect or discrimination towards other students based on their pronouns, preferred name, gender identity, or any other social identity. I recognize that preferred names and personal pronouns may change during the course of the quarter, if at any point during the class you would like to be addressed differently, please let me know. To learn more about personal pronouns and why they are important please visit Cal Poly’s Pronouns Matter website and mypronouns.org.
[Note for faculty: To learn more about preferred names and pronouns visit Pronouns and Preferred Names Resource Page and Pronouns and Preferred Names FAQ]
