An American college course begins with a syllabus that lists what will be done, by whom and by when. Penn State’s guidance for instructors says: “In essence, it is a contract between the instructor and the student.”
The University of Tennessee describes it as “an implicit or explicit agreement between the instructor and the student regarding what will be done by each party and how decisions related to assignments and interactions will be made.” Students know the answer to many questions: “It’s in the syllabus.”