Your syllabus guides the course structure, expectations, and resources. It includes objectives, grading policies, materials, and key dates. A well-designed syllabus can positively impact student learning and support effective course design. Review it thoroughly and refer to it throughout the semester to stay on track.
There are several established best practices associated with syllabus design, and the provides statements of what to include in your syllabus.
Georgia Southern’s Move Toward Public-Facing Syllabi with Simple Syllabus
ĚÇĐÄVlog is joining other University System of Georgia (USG) institutions in moving toward public-facing syllabi through the adoption of Simple Syllabus. This transition aligns with the USG’s broader effort to increase transparency, consistency, and accessibility in course information for students and the community. A public-facing syllabus helps prospective and current students make informed decisions by offering clear, easily accessible information about a course before registration. For faculty, Simple Syllabus streamlines the process of syllabus creation and ensures compliance with USG and university standards, while still allowing for individual teaching styles and flexibility.
Each public syllabus includes key information such as, but not limited to:
- Course title, description, and learning outcomes
- Instructor contact information and office hours
- Required materials and texts
- Major assignments and grading structure
- University policies and student resources
Faculty can upload a broader, preliminary version of their syllabus early—allowing students to preview course expectations—then update it later with a more detailed version once the semester approaches.
Deadline
Spring 2026 and Summer 2026: Core IMPACTS courses and all education-related courses within the College of Education must be posted at least one week before classes begin, approximately January 4, 2026. For all other courses and Fall 2026, deadline is March 5, 2026, or by the time registration opens. Courses offered through eCore/eCampus should post a link directing students to the eCore Syllabus page:
Watch Simple Syllabus Training
- (password: simple)
- (password: simple)
- Browse other
Simple Syllabus FAQs
You can access Simple Syllabus:
- Through your Folio course shell in D2L Brightspace(Spring 2026 or Simple Syllabus Dashboard)
- Click on Resources from the top navigation menu
- Select Simple Syllabus from the drop-down menu.
Yes. All GS faculty, including part-time and lecturers, must post syllabi for their courses and a faculty CV.
Note: If a section doesn’t apply to you, write “Not Applicable.”
Tip: Complete all information as accurately and completely as possible, but do not post personal information.
By drafting and publishing your syllabus within your Folio course section, your syllabus is generated and automatically included in the public syllabus library.
Yes. The public sections of your syllabus are viewable by anyone.
Note: Anything toggled to private will only be seen by students registered for that particular class.
Be as detailed and accurate as possible in your syllabus.
Note: If your class requires flexibility (e.g., updated readings), indicate this clearly, for example: “Additional readings on [topic] from [journal name] may be added as needed.”
Tip: Include all known required materials in your syllabus template.
If unexpected changes occur (e.g., due to weather or schedule adjustments), you may modify your assessments.
Tip: To allow flexibility, include a grading breakdown (e.g., “Exams 40%, Quizzes 20%, Practice 10%”) instead of listing an exact number of assignments.
All syllabus changes must be approved by your department chair.
Yes. Faculty can use Simple Syllabus for their full syllabus by adding any additional components at the end of the structured template. These additional sections can be set as private and visible only to enrolled students.
Including a class schedule is optional. You may add it as an additional component in Simple Syllabus or upload a separate schedule as a Word or PDF document to Folio.
Yes. Departments can include specific components agreed upon at the departmental level. Faculty will need to add these the first time, but they can be copied into future syllabi to reduce manual entry. Departments cannot remove information required by USG or Georgia Southern.
Yes, syllabi can be updated as needed, with the approval of the department chair.
Chairs should confirm that all required USG and institutional information is included.
Yes, if the lab is graded for separate credit or has a separate CRN. If not, the lab information (including instructor details) should be included within the lecture syllabus.
Contact Simple Syllabus support accessible from within the syllabus authoring tool or the Faculty Center.
Any instructor with a secondary instructor role within your Folio course. However, this does not automatically mean a TA or a GA, it will depend on their role of record and contact hours.
When a course is cross-listed (e.g., AAAA 1000 and BBBB 1000), the instructor of record is responsible for ensuring that a syllabus is uploaded for each course number on the public-facing side of Simple Syllabus. Although the same syllabus may be used for both sections, separate uploads are required because the public cannot see that the courses are cross-listed. If a member of the public searches for BBBB 1000 and finds no syllabus, it appears as though the course is missing required information, which could signal non-compliance—particularly for USG reporting. This requirement applies only to the public view; on the private student side, a single syllabus is sufficient.
CV – FAQs
Any item marked “public” on the Simple Syllabus or CV templates can be viewed by anyone. “Public” truly means visible to everyone. However, some details—like your contact information or office location—can be manually set to private.
No. It is solely the faculty’s responsibility to ensure that the information on the public facing CV is updated and accurate and will not need prior approval before posting.
List the most relevant items that best reflect your professional standing. Note: There’s no required timeframe.
Tip: An average of five entries is typical, but you can include more based on your judgment.
Publications include printed or online research and opinion pieces. Scholarly output refers to broader professional work such as conference posters, presentations, panels, or exhibits.
Yes. All GS faculty, including part-time and lecturers, must post syllabi for their courses and a faculty CV.
Note: If a section doesn’t apply to you, write “Not Applicable.”
Tip: Complete all information as accurately and completely as possible, but do not post personal information.