Teaching & Learning
Syllabus Information
A syllabus is more than a document, it is a foundational academic agreement between instructors and students that defines the course structure, expectations, and responsibilities. A well-designed syllabus sets the tone for learning, outlines objectives, and ensures accountability for both faculty and students. It clarifies goals, grading policies, and behavioral expectations, creating a transparent and equitable learning environment.
At the USF, clear and timely communication is a priority. To strengthen this commitment and enhance the student experience, beginning Summer 2026, USF will transition to Simple Syllabus, a platform that streamlines syllabus creation and ensures consistency across courses.
USF syllabi are subject to , which requires that all course syllabi be publicly posted at least 45 days before the first day of the semester.
Please note, this does not apply to courses where students follow an individualized path (e.g. dissertation hours, independent study, internships, clinical experience, etc.).
| Summer A & C (2026) | April 3, 2026 |
| Summer B (2026) | May 15, 2026 |
| Fall (2026) | July 10, 2026 |
Review more syllabus-related information -
*Note pending an upcoming revision, all course syllabi will be required to be posted
45 days before the first class.
Core Syllabus Guidelines
Simple Syllabus includes references to these guidelines as required.
Additional Policies and Accessibility Accommodation Information
Syllabus Requirements
Every scheduled academic course, regardless of delivery method (e.g., on campus, online), must have a written syllabus. This syllabus must be posted electronically in Canvas via Simple Syllabus, at least 45 days before the course begins.
Courses with multiple sections will require a separate syllabus in the Simple Syllabus for each section. Simple Syllabus allows easy copying of the syllabus from one section to another.
While instructors are encouraged to avoid major changes to the syllabus after classes begin some adjustments may be necessary. In such cases, changes must:
- Be made for compelling reasons.
- Be communicated with fair and adequate notice via email, written announcement, or Canvas.
- Ensure students are not unfairly disadvantaged, with efforts made to prevent penalties resulting from the changes.
The items that must be included to meet the BOG 8.003 and USF Policy 11-008 show up as Required in the Simple Syllabus.
Instructors email, contact information, office location, office hours, class meeting time, and locations will be accessible only to students registered in a course section.
The 45 day requirement is new, can I get a detailed breakdown about what needs to be included by that deadline?
Yes. This chart breaks down what must be posted by that deadline and includes which elements will be auto-populated in Simple Syllabus.
If an instructor is assigned after the 45-day deadline, does the syllabus need to be posted 45 days before the class starts?
Yes. If a section is already scheduled and is available for student registration, the unit head is responsible for posting the syllabus 45 days before the class starts. The unit head may designate another person in the unit (such as a course coordinator or program director) to submit the syllabus.
What if a new section is scheduled after the 45-day deadline?
In this case, the syllabus needs to be posted as soon as the section is scheduled and available for student registration.
Additional Policies and Accessibility Accommodation Information
Other Academic Policies
"I" GRADE:
Students who are unable to complete all requirements of the course for circumstances
beyond their control may request to receive an "I" grade to allow for completion of
the remaining coursework the next semester(s).
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FINAL EXAMINATIONS
All final examinations are to be scheduled in accordance with the University's final
examination policy.
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EARLY NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR OBSERVED RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
Students who anticipate the necessity of being absent from class due to the observation
of a major religious observance must provide notice of the date(s) to the instructor,
in writing, at the beginning of the term.
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GENDER-BASED CRIMES/SEXUAL MISCONDUCT/SEXUAL HARASSMENT (INCLUDING SEXUAL VIOLENCE)
USF has a commitment to the safety and well-being of our students. Please be aware
that educators must report incidents of sexual harassment and gender-based crimes
including sexual assault, stalking, and domestic/relationship violence that come to
their attention. I am required to report such incidents in order for the Office of
Student Rights and Responsibilities or the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equal
Opportunity can investigate the incident or situation as a possible violation of the
USF Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Harassment Policy and provide assistance to the student
making the disclosure. If you disclose in class or to me personally, I must report
the disclosure and will assist you in accessing available resources.
The , the and are confidential resources where you can talk about such situations and receive assistance without the incident being reported.
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GENERAL ATTENDANCE POLICY
Students are expected to attend classes. Faculty must inform students of attendance requirements on syllabi. Instructors should accommodate excused absences by making arrangements with students ahead of time (when possible) or by providing a reasonable amount of time to make up missed work.
Accessibility Accommodations
- Tests, Quizzes, and Exams
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SAS administers more than 7,000 exams to the USF community each academic year. The student is responsible for scheduling accommodated tests and exams with SAS. Students must schedule with SAS at least one full week before the requested test date. Students who miss this deadline complete a Late Exam Request Form requiring an instructor signature. SAS schedules late exam requests as space allows and as close to the original test date as possible.
Due to the volume of tests and exams SAS manages, SAS cannot provide accommodated testing space for "pop" or unscheduled quizzes. Consult with SAS for information on accommodating unscheduled quizzes.
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- Make-up Exams
- Students who are taking a make-up exam due to disability reasons (medical issues, scheduling conflicts with other courses and extended exam time, disability related appointments etc.) should be allowed to take a make-up exam within 10 business days of the student's return to classes. SAS schedules make-up exams as space allows.
- Online Proctoring
- Consult with SAS prior to a student who utilizes accommodations using Honorlock. Some SAS students have atypical testing behaviors. Other SAS students utilize adaptive software that does not collaborate well with Proctorio software.
- Device Usage
- If prohibiting laptop, phone or electronic device usage for non-academic purposes in class, keep in mind that some SAS students use such devices for note taking and recording. Still others have medical applications on cell phones that the student cannot turn off (blood sugar monitors, medication alerts etc.) Policies that indicate, "Only those with accommodations may use such devices" inadvertently draw attention to the student with the accommodation. SAS suggests using language that indicates, "Students using laptops, cell phones or other electronic devices for non-academic reasons during class time may be penalized . . . ."
- Clickers
- Consult with SAS about alternatives to clicker points. Many SAS students have disabilities that affect the ability to answer clicker questions.
- Attendance and Participation
- If a student has attendance or participation accommodations, SAS provides an "Attendance/Participation Accommodation Form" as part of the student's accommodation letter. This form is tool intended to guide a conversation between a student and instructor about missed courses, missed deadlines and the procedures to follow when requesting extensions. The accommodation does not allow a student to miss an indefinite number of classes or deadlines. Instructors may always consult with SAS to determine what is reasonable.
- Accessible Materials
- USF policy requires that all course materials be accessible to students. Per the USF Caption and Media Access Policy, all media sources must be captioned prior to use. SAS encourages faculty to consider document accessibility. Use the "Style" functions in Microsoft Word and the OCR functions in Adobe to ensure that all course documents are accessible to those who utilize screen reading technology. See the SAS Accessibility Guide for more information: www.sas.usf.edu (under resources).