Simple Syllabus
What is Simple Syllabus?
Simple Syllabus is a tool integrated with Canvas that provides pre-made syllabus templates customized with required and recommended University polices. You can view examples at the UT Austin Simple Syllabus Library. Simple Syllabus is available for all courses in the Navigation Menu in Canvas under “UT Simple Syllabus”.
Why Simple Syllabus?
Instructors who use Simple Syllabus can ensure they are providing consistent and accessible syllabi that also align with best practices. Over twenty-five Texas higher education institutions currently use the tool to support providing a streamlined and user-friendly syllabus experience for students.
Simple Syllabus can:
- Publish interactive syllabi directly in Canvas
- Offer tips to improve digital accessibility
- Pre-fill with registrar course information and University policies — including guidance on generative AI
- Show statistics on student views of your syllabus
- Import previous Simple Syllabus syllabi for future courses
- Provide a PDF version that you can submit to your department
- Satisfy the publishing requirement of the Canvas Adoption Policy
Training and Support are available from our Enterprise Learning Technology team through workshops, office hours, and one-on-one support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Simple Syllabus is available for all current term courses in the Navigation Menu in Canvas under “UT Simple Syllabus.” Faculty editors can make changes and publish their course syllabus directly from the “UT Simple Syllabus” tab. Additionally, faculty and staff editors can manage/edit their current term Simple Syllabus syllabi by logging into the UT Austin Simple Syllabus Library using their SSO login.
If you need additional support, visit the Academic Tech at UT Simple Syllabus page or contact the Enterprise Learning Technology team at canvas@utlists.utexas.edu.
The large majority of course content will be freely editable, and instructors will also be able to easily add content, sections, and media. Additionally, the University’s recommended and required language will be pre-populated for you. Recommend language will be freely editable.
Yes. Simple Syllabus workshops and consults are available with the Enterprise Learning Technology team. Training schedule and consult links are available on the AT @ UT Canvas page.
Yes! Simple Syllabus will update nightly and that information will be updated in your syllabus automatically.
Yes. At this time, Simple Syllabus is not replacing any departmental requirements to provide your syllabus. However, you can easily print your Simple Syllabus via PDF and provide that version to your department contact. We expect to streamline the submission process in 2025.
View published Simple Syllabus examples from UT faculty within the UT Austin Simple Syllabus Library.
View ExamplesTraining and support are from our Enterprise Learning Technology team through workshops, office hours, and one-on-one support.
We value your feedback on your experience with Simple Syllabus and actively use it to improve the process. Use the form link below to share your feedback.
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