Introduction
Simple Syllabus is St. Petersburg College’s standardized syllabus platform used to create, manage, and publish course syllabi. It provides a consistent structure across courses, helping students easily locate important information such as course expectations, policies, schedules, and resources.
This guide will help you get started with using Simple Syllabus in your courses, including understanding why it is required, how students access it, and the benefits it provides for both instructors and students. All instructors must use Simple Syllabus for their course syllabi. Additionally, to conform to the state of Florida Legislation that now that requires all GenEd Core courses have the Syllabus up 45 days prior to the course starting.
You can also visit the Simple Syllabus page in the Faculty Support Titan Hub Group for additional training, guides, and resources. There you can ask questions, browse discussions, and sign up for events related to Simple Syllabus.
Important Update: As of Spring 2026/term 660, you must meet accessibility requirements for your Simple Syllabus before you can publish it.
Contents
Accessing Simple Syllabus in Canvas
Reviewing the Updates to Simple Syllabus Component
Adjusting Component Visibility
Saving and Publishing your Syllabus
Accessibility in Simple Syllabus
Accessing Simple Syllabus in Canvas
- Navigate to your course in Canvas.
- Select the Simple Syllabus button.
- Select the Edit button in the top right corner. This will open the editing view, where you can review and update the syllabus components.
Reviewing the Updates to Simple Syllabus Component
Once inside the editing screen, start by reviewing the Updates to Simple Syllabus component located at the top of the syllabus.
This section is not visible to students. It is used by SPC to communicate important information about syllabus requirements each term.
The updates may include:
- Deadlines for GenEd Core syllabus publication
- Instructions related to First Day Access (Digital Books)
- Required updates to syllabus language
- Important reminders (for example, removing references to MyCourses)
Because these announcements change each term, always review this component before editing your syllabus.
Editing Syllabus Components
Scroll through the syllabus and review each component. Examples of components include:
Instructor Information
Course Description
Learning Outcomes
Course Materials
Assignment Schedule
Grading Policies
Course Policies
To edit a component:
Select inside the text editor field.
Add or modify your content, using the formatting tools if needed. When you're finished, select the Publish button at the bottom.
Some components may already contain information pulled automatically from SPC systems (such as course descriptions from META).
You can edit instructor-specific information, but certain institutional content may be locked and not editable.
To Edit the Required Textbook and Other Resources Component
The Required Textbook and Other Resources component works a little differently. Select the pencil icon to edit (1), select the Save button to save (2), and then select Publish (3).
Adjusting Component Visibility
Some components can be set to Visible or Invisible for students. For example, instructors may hide components that are not relevant to their course, such as:
Course Assignment Schedule, if you're using the Canvas Assignment Schedule instead.
Expectations
Technology Requirements & Policy
To adjust visibility:
Locate the visibility toggle within the component.
Set the component to Visible or Invisible.
Invisible components will not appear in the student version of the syllabus.
Adding a New Component
If you need to include additional information that is not already part of the template, you can add a new component.
To add a component:
Scroll to the bottom of the syllabus.
Select Add New Component.
Enter a title and content for the new section.
Save your changes.
This is useful for adding items such as:
Extra policies
Supplemental course resources
Saving and Publishing Your Syllabus
After you finish editing, select Save (if needed inside your component) and Publish. Once published, students will be able to view the syllabus. If you make updates later, simply edit and publish again.
When you successfully publish your syllabus, Simple Syllabus celebrates with confetti.
Accessibility in Simple Syllabus
If there are any accessibility issues in your Simple Syllabus, you will be unable to publish it until you remediate the inaccessible content. Below are the steps for remediating, but if you need any help making anything accessible in your Simple Syllabus, your IDS is available to help: https://facultysupport.spcollege.edu/about-ideas/
How to address accessibility issues in your syllabus:
- Select the accessibility button on the bottom right corner of your screen to open up the Simple Syllabus accessibility checker.
- View the issues.
- Select Next to remediate.
- Once there are no accessibility issues, you'll be able to publish. You'll know your Syllabus is accessible when you see confetti on the accessibility checker icon, along with the text "All detected accessibility issues have been resolved!"
Video demo: Addressing accessibility issues in Simple Syllabus
Additional Resources
- Simple Syllabus Page inside the Faculty Support Group in the Titan Hub
- Simple Syllabus Import from Standard in Canvas
- How to Reuse and Edit Your Sim
- Getting Started using Simple Syllabus
- How to Reuse and Edit Your Simple Syllabus from Another Section or Term in Canvas
Have Questions? Contact the Academic Technology Support Team
atst@spcollege.edu
Phone at 727-341-3500
(Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST).
After-hours or weekend assistance? Contact the Technical Support Center
Phone at 727-791-2795 or onlinehelp@spcollege.edu
Want to Schedule a One-on-One or Group Session on Canvas or other instructional technology issues or opportunities?
Schedule 1:1 Support Help with a Member of the Academic Technology Support Team
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