Frequently Asked Questions

Simple Syllabus is a centralized, template-driven platform built by Simple Higher Ed that enables instructors to quickly personalize and publish interactive class syllabi—directly within Canvas.

Simple Syllabus provides an extremely customizable system along with unparalleled technical support and customer service.

• To ensure course instructors have a voice in this process.

• Listening sessions will be ongoing through summer and fall.

From an institutional effectiveness perspective – Simple Syllabus will help provide better consistency, improved accreditation reporting, and better student access. Simple Syllabus has highly customizable templates than can be prepopulated, reducing workloads for faculty and while ensuring current policy statements are accurate.

Academic Standards Committee has proposed 15 items to be included in the “AU community syllabus library.”

• Course information

• Instructor information (to be excluded from Simple Syllabus)

• Course description, objectives, learning outcomes, and prerequisites/corequisites

• Recommended and/or required text and other materials/resources

• Course structure, teaching methods, and modality

• Course communication policy

• Assessments and grading structure

• Course schedule

• Use of Canvas or any other technology/tool

• Attendance and/or participation policy

• Academic integrity policy

• Accommodation and accessibility policy

• Use of technology policy

• Classroom conduct policy

• Required university or college policies not specifically mentioned above

• Elasticity statement indicating instructor’s right to modify course syllabus and course content during the semester and how this will be communicated.

The level of detail for each standard is at the discretion of the course instructor and department chair. In addition, the proposed policy has an “elasticity statement” which allows instructors to amend other headings as appropriate with sufficient communication to the students.

• AU login credentials required for all syllabi

• De-identified information for course instructor

• Keyword search function removed

• Simple Syllabus offers a keyword search function, primarily due to states with mandates (FL, TX).

• Auburn University will not include this feature in its implementation.

• August 2026 available for course instructors

Department heads/chairs and program coordinators will be responsible for ensuring course syllabi meet the 15 minimum standards proposed by the Academic Standards Committee. AI will not be used in those processes.

Yes. Simple Syllabus has different roles that can be assigned to allow certain administrative permissions – including downloading syllabi. An example of this would be for specialized accreditation reporting. These roles will be determined at the local level in a way that works best for that unit.

Simple Syllabus provides a framework to help standardize certain required elements per the proposed policy from the Academic Standards Committee. Course instructors will have full discretion with the content and layout of that content in their course syllabi. In addition, Simple Syllabus has a rich text editor to make formatting easier and more personalized. You may also paste or edit HTML-formatted content.

Simple Syllabus is designed to reduce administrative burden while preserving faculty control over course design and content. Key benefits to faculty include:

• Less time on formatting and compliance
• One place to make updates.
  • Fields within the templates can be pre-populated no ensure accurate policy updates, which will reduce faculty workload.
  • Provides an easier way for department heads/chairs to review course syllabi.
• Once syllabi are created, copying or importing old syllabi to new courses and semesters reduces time and workload
• Embedded ADA compliance checker

Most higher education institutions have a syllabus management system. Among those, here is a non-exhaustive list of several institutions who use Simple Syllabus.

• University of Alabama
• Clemson University
• University System of Georgia eCampus
• University of Alabama Birmingham
• University of North Alabama
• University of Tennessee Health Science Center
• University of Florida
• Florida State University
• Texas A&M
• The Ohio State University
• University of Kansas

Simple Syllabus will improve the process to confirm policy statement accuracy and consistency of the 15 proposed syllabi standards across campus.

• Creating a single syllabus repository will expedite reporting requests
• Improving accuracy, consistency, and transparency for syllabus elements (learning outcomes, grading policies, assessment, policy statements, student support services)
• Demonstrates systematic oversight while preserving faculty control over course content
• Supports continuous improvement narratives through historical syllabus records

Simple Syllabus provides a structural framework to help mitigate risk for course instructors. It protects both faculty and the institution by making expectations clear, documentation reliable, and processes sustainable. Examples of risk mitigation:

• Reducing accidental omissions
• Ensuring accessibility by default
• Preventing outdated or inaccurate policy language