simple syllabus ucf
Simple Syllabus at UCF is the official, template-based online syllabus system integrated into Webcourses@UCF (Canvas), and it is now the required way instructors post course syllabi.
What Simple Syllabus Is
- Simple Syllabus is a centralized, template-driven platform where instructors create and publish interactive syllabi for their UCF courses.
- It automatically stores all syllabi in a campus-wide repository, making them accessible to students and other stakeholders with appropriate access.
- The tool pulls in core course information (like title, instructor, and schedule) from UCF’s catalog and class schedule to reduce manual data entry.
Why UCF Uses Simple Syllabus
- UCF adopted Simple Syllabus to comply with Florida Statute 1004.085 and Florida Board of Governors Regulation 8.003, which require accessible and posted syllabi.
- A centralized syllabi repository also supports UCF Student Government’s request for easier access to course syllabi across the university.
- The system ensures that required university policies automatically appear in each syllabus, promoting consistency and policy compliance.
How It Works for Instructors
- Instructors access Simple Syllabus through their Webcourses@UCF (Canvas) course shell by enabling the Simple Syllabus link in the course navigation settings.
- Within the Simple Syllabus interface, instructors fill out required fields such as instructor information, learning outcomes, materials, grading, policies, and schedule; required fields are highlighted and must be completed before submission.
- The syllabus saves automatically as it is edited, and once complete, instructors can preview and then submit it so that it becomes visible to students for the term.
How It Works for Students
- For students, Simple Syllabus appears as a dedicated link in each Canvas course, and this online syllabus is considered the official syllabus for grade appeals and other academic decisions.
- Students see a consistent layout across courses, including university-wide policy statements that cannot be edited by individual instructors.
- Some components can be marked public, meaning certain parts of a syllabus may be visible more broadly when allowed and required; private components are only visible to enrolled users.
Extra Notes and Current Sentiment
- UCF policy makes Simple Syllabus the required method of posting syllabi for almost all courses, and it replaces the need for PDF or DOCX uploads in most cases.
- There is active discussion among UCF community members online, with some posts expressing frustration about the transition to Simple Syllabus and its user experience, especially from the student perspective.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.