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Simple Syllabus Guide for Instructors

This guide walks instructors through the process of creating and managing syllabi in Simple Syllabus. It provides step-by-step instructions for accessing your syllabus, completing required components, formatting content, and using advanced tools like importing and resetting components. Following these steps ensures your syllabus meets university standards, remains accessible to students, and is properly published in the A-State Syllabus Library. For training, troubleshooting, and downloads, see ➡️ Simple Syllabus Support Overview.

12-Step Guide to Publishing your Syllabus

1) ? Access Simple Syllabus

Open Simple Syllabus from one of the following:

  • Direct: astate.simplesyllabus.com
  • Pack Portal:Faculty Services → Simple Syllabus.
    Simple Syllabus.png
  • Canvas (recommended): Open your course → Simple Syllabus in Course Navigation.
    Simple Syllabus in Canvas Course Menu.png

Navigation Tip – Show Only “Simple Syllabus” to Students
The native Canvas Syllabus tool can’t be removed. The School template disables it and enables Simple Syllabus by default, but if you copied an older course, the Simple Syllabus link may be disabled.
To Fix: Navigate to your Course Settings → Navigation → Syllabus. Click the three dot menut to select Disable. Then find Simple Syllabus and Enable→ Save.
➤ See: Managing Course Navigation Links in Canvas

Cross-Listed Courses: The Simple Syllabus link in Canvas only works for the main section. To edit a cross-listed section, use Pack Portal or the Direct link.

2) ? Review Your Dashboard & Start Editing

  1. After you log in, you’ll see a Tasks list with your courses.
    [Screenshot: Simple Syllabus instructor dashboard with task list]
  2. Find the course and select Edit to open the syllabus editor.
    [Screenshot: syllabus Edit button]

?If you’re teaching multiple sections, you’ll see a task for each section that requires a syllabus.

2a)? Copy from an Existing Syllabus (Optional)

If you taught this course previously, you can reuse content:

  1. In the editor, choose Copy from Existing Syllabus (if available in your view).
    [Screenshot: Copy from Existing Syllabus option]
  2. Select the term and course to copy.
  3. Continue to step 3 to review & update dates, textbooks, policies, and any time‑sensitive items.

Schedule Sync Note
If the previous syllabus had a manually edited schedule, the Canvas sync may be broken. Use Reset Content → Course Schedule/Outline later in Step 9 to restore sync.

Cross-Listed Sections: If you’re editing a cross-listed section, you can copy the syllabus from the main section to get started. 

3)?️ Course Information

This section is typically pre‑populated from Banner:

  • Course title, subject/number, CRN, section, credit hours
  1. Select the pencil to correct any discrepancies you notice.
    [Screenshot: Course Information module with edit pencil]
  2. Save.

?If the University Bulletin or Banner info is incorrect, fix it here for your syllabus and notify your department so the source systems can be updated.

4)? Instructor Information

  1. Select the pencil icon to edit. Required items are highlighted orange.
    [Screenshot: Instructor Information module with edit pencil]
  2. Confirm or update:
    • Name, title, department
    • Office location, office hours
    • Contact info (email, phone)
  3. (Optional) Add headshot.
  4. Save

?Co‑Teaching: 
If a co‑instructor isn’t listed from Banner, select Add New Instructor. If they still don’t appear, contact the Office of Accreditation & Assessment to associate them with the course.

♿ Use plain text for office hours (e.g., “Mon/Wed 2:00–3:30 PM, Library 610”)—screen readers parse it more reliably than tables or images.

5) ? Course Description

  1. Review the catalog description (usually pulled from the University Bulletin).
  2. If the field is editable and you need to add context, keep it brief to preserve the official description.
    [Screenshot: Course Description module with edit pencil]
  3. Save

♿ Avoid ALL‑CAPS and color‑only emphasis. Use bold for emphasis.

6) ? Required Textbooks & Materials

  1. Click the pencil to edit the Required section.
  2. Use Book Search to auto‑insert title, authors, ISBN, cover image; or type “No textbook required.”
    [Screenshot: Book Search panel and selected result with metadata]
  3. Add any required materials (e.g., calculator, lab coat). You can include an image.
    [Screenshot: Add Additional Required Materials]
  4. Optional Textbooks & Materials (if provided by your template) work the same way.
    [Screenshot: Add Optional Materials]

    ? If you leave this section blank, it won’t display in the published syllabus.

  5. Save

? Provide specific models or links to help students pick the correct item (e.g., “TI‑84 Plus CE”).

♿ If you insert an image, add alt text (e.g., “Cover: OpenIntro Statistics 4e”).
[Screenshot: image alt text entry field]

7) ? Program & Course Learning Outcomes

7a) Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

  • Usually maintained by your department/course master and prefilled from the Assessment site.
  • If your role permits editing: paste text (not tables) or update as instructed by your department.

7b) Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

  1. Select the pencil and add each outcome as a separate item.
  2. (Optional) Indicate the module/week when each outcome will be addressed.
    [Screenshot: Course Learning Outcomes editor with Week/Module tag]
  3. Save

? Use measurable verbs (e.g., analyze, apply, evaluate). Keep outcomes concise (1–2 lines each).

♿ If you include a curriculum map, use the editor’s Insert Table tool—do not paste tables from Word (pasted tables can break screen‑reader reading order).

8) ? Assessments & Evaluation Procedures

  1. Describe how students are assessed (e.g., quizzes, projects, labs, exams).
  2. Summarize weighting or point totals as text or a native table added via Insert Table.
    [Screenshot: Rich text editor with Insert Table menu open]
  3. Save
  • ♿ If you use a table, add a header row and keep it simple (no merged cells).
  • ♿ Provide text equivalents for any icons or images that convey meaning.

9) ? Course Schedule / Outline (Canvas Sync)

If you use Canvas assignments, Simple Syllabus can sync:

  1. Open the Course Schedule / Outline component.
  2. Ensure your Canvas assignments have names, due dates, and points set.
  3. The schedule will auto‑populate from Canvas and update when you change due dates in Canvas. Students are notified when the syllabus updates.
    [Screenshot: Schedule showing Canvas-synced items with due dates]

If you need to add items manually (e.g., non‑graded milestones):

  • Add them here—but note that typing in this component breaks the Canvas link.
  • Important – Sync Integrity
  • Manual edits in this component break the Canvas connection.
  • To restore sync, select Reset Content → Course Schedule/Outline → Next → Reset.

Cross‑Listed Sections
Simple Syllabus will only auto-populate to the main section. For cross‑listed sections, copy the syllabus from the main section. For the Schedule/Outline, add the note: “See Canvas for dates.”

10) ? Add Custom Syllabus Section(s)

If you want to add content that isn’t already in your template, create a new component.

To add a new section (component):

  • Select the “Add” button (➕) in the top left menu, or
  • Scroll to the very bottom and choose Add new component.
    [Screenshot: Add (+) button in top menu]
    [Screenshot: Add new component button at bottom of page]

Your new section appears at the bottom. To move it:

  1. Use Reorder to drag it to the desired position.
    [Screenshot: Reorder menu]
  2. Then Save to keep your changes.

? Seamless Blend
To make the new content look like part of an existing section, hide the heading of the new component before you add content.
[Screenshot: Component heading area with “Hide title” toggle]

  • ♿ Use built‑in heading styles (H2/H3) only if the title is visible; avoid “fake headings” using bold/size.
  • ♿ Avoid pasting formatted tables or content from Word; paste as plain text, then format with the editor.

11) ?️ Policies (University & Department)

  • University Policies (e.g., Academic Integrity, Title IX, Accessibility, Inclement Weather) are auto‑inserted into the template and update centrally.
  • Add department/program/course‑specific policies in the designated component (e.g., Lab Safety, Clinical Policies, Technology Use).
    [Screenshot: department/program/course-specific policies menu]

? Online Identity Verification (BioSig ID)
If your course uses BioSig ID, paste the standard statement into the SIG‑ID component (if present in your template).
[Screenshot: SID-ID menu]

12) ? Preview, ✅ Submit & ? Publish

  1. Select Preview to check layout and links.
    [Screenshot: Preview screen with left side navigation]
  2. Complete any remaining orange (required) fields—the Submit button stays grayed out until all required items are complete.
    [Screenshot: Submit button comparison]
  3. Select Submit. You’ll see ? confirmation and receive two links:
    [Screenshot: confirmation menu with two links]
    • Syllabus (Library View) – public view in the A‑State Syllabus Library
    • PDF Download – printable version (often 9+ pages even with minimal content)

♿ Before submitting, run the Accessibility Checker in Simple Syllabus to fix issues like missing alt text or heading errors.
[Screenshot: Accessibility Checker]

? After publishing, open the Library View and verify that headings, links, and the schedule display as expected.

Sharing your Syllabus

?Share with Colleagues

  • Select Share, enter their A‑State email, and choose View or Edit access.
    [Screenshot: Share dialog with permission options]

?Export a PDF

? The official version of the syllabus is the one in Simple Syllabus / A‑State Syllabus Library.

?‍? Student Features (What Students See)

  • Section Navigation: Students can jump to any section via the left navigation menu.
  • Acknowledgment (if enabled by the department): A progress bar and “I’ve read this syllabus” button can document student review.
    [Screenshot: Student Acknowledgment and progress bar]
  • Access: Students view syllabi in Canvas → Simple Syllabus or the public A‑State Syllabus Library.
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