Simple Syllabus

UF Online Course Quality Rubric Specific Review Standard(s)

QM 5.3 The instructor’s plan for regular interaction with learners in substantive ways during the course is clearly stated.

Quick Insights

This is an editable field.

Start personalizing your syllabus here! This is a logical place to include your plans for maintaining open lines of communication. To help you meet QM 5.3, consider including both

• An estimated response time to your students’ messages 

• A quick note addressing when students should expect you to return feedback and grades for learning activities and assessments

UF Online Course Quality Rubric Specific Review Standard(s)

This required section will not directly help you meet any of the Specific Review Standards, but it can support QM 5.3.

Quick Insights

This is an editable field.

The second section provides another important level of communication on how to find you when a meeting is scheduled, whether it is virtual or in person. If you plan to offer synchronous meetings, this is a great place to publish your Zoom link with a meeting schedule.

Hot Tip/Hot Take: By default, this section is set to private, so only students enrolled in your course can see the location information.

UF Online Course Quality Rubric Specific Review Standard(s)

This optional section will not directly help you meet any of the Specific Review Standards, but it can support QM 1.2 if you have TAs.

Quick Insights

This is an editable field.

Do you have TAs in your course? If so, this is the spot to introduce them. Since this is an optional field, you are not required to complete this field.

Hot Tip/Hot Take: Optional sections only appear on your syllabus if you enter information in the field. If you leave this empty, your students will not see it. To keep this information visible only for your enrolled students, you can set it to private mode.

UF Online Course Quality Rubric Specific Review Standard(s)

QM 1.2 Learners are introduced to the purpose and structure of the course.

QM 1.7 Required prior knowledge in the discipline and/or any required competencies are clearly stated in the course site.

Quick Insights

This prepopulated field cannot be edited.

This field pulls information directly from the course catalog, including your course description, specific course fees, and any pre- and co-requisites listed.

Hot Tip/Hot Take: If your course has no pre- or co-requisites, consider confirming this in the “Additional Course Description” section to help you meet QM 1.7.

UF Online Course Quality Rubric Specific Review Standard(s)

QM 1.2 Learners are introduced to the purpose and structure of the course.

QM 1.7 Required prior knowledge in the discipline and/or any required competencies are clearly stated in the course site.

Quick Insights

This optional field is editable.

Use this field to personalize your syllabus and give students a preview of what to expect. Crafting your unique course narrative lets students “hear” your voice and get a sense of the experience you’ll provide, while also helping you meet QM 1.2 and 1.7.

UF Online Course Quality Rubric Specific Review Standard(s)

QM 4.3 The course models the academic integrity expected of learners by providing both source references and permission for use of instructional material.

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This prepopulated field cannot be edited.

The field is prepopulated from the materials list in the UF Textbook Adoptions system. Students will see the title, ISBN, author, publisher, and edition.

Hot Tip/Hot Take: If you use UF All Access or tools such as Yellowdig or Packback, it will be included.

UF Online Course Quality Rubric Specific Review Standard(s)

QM 4.3 The course models the academic integrity expected of learners by providing both source references and permission for use of instructional material.

Quick Insights

This optional field is editable.

If you have recommended reading materials, list them here. You will use a search linked to Google Scholar in this field to populate the information. Your students will see information organized similarly to the Required Materials section.

Hot Tip/Hot Take: Please note that all required and recommended reading materials must be listed in your syllabus for compliance with policy.

UF Online Course Quality Rubric Specific Review Standard(s)

This required section will not directly help you meet any of the Specific Review Standards.

Quick Insights

This prepopulated field cannot be edited.

This field is prepopulated from textbook notes added in the UF Textbook Adoptions system.

UF Online Course Quality Rubric Specific Review Standard(s)

This required section will not directly help you meet any of the Specific Review Standards. However, it can help meet QM 1.2.

Quick Insights

This is an editable field.

This field is another opportunity to develop your course narrative using learner-centric language. Create a broad picture of what students can expect to accomplish upon course completion by describing your goals for them. Consider highlighting any relevant industry standards they will work towards.

You will add your specific course-level learning objectives in the next field.

UF Online Course Quality Rubric Specific Review Standard(s)

QM 2.1 The course-level learning objectives describe outcomes that are measurable.

QM 2.4 The relationship between learning objectives, learning activities, and assessments is made clear.

QM 4.2 The relationship between the use of instructional materials in the course and the completion of learning activities and assessments is clearly explained.

Quick Insights

This is an editable field.

Welcome to the heart of your course! Use this required field to share your course-level learning objectives – also known as Student Learning Outcomes. This is the perfect place to include the required departmental outcomes, showing your students how they will meet the graduation expectations in your course.

Hot Tip/Hot Take: We do not recommend publishing your learner-centric course map link in your syllabus, though if you do, this could be the right place. Consider adding the link to your Orientation page in Canvas.

UF Online Course Quality Rubric Specific Review Standard(s)

QM 3.2 The course grading policy is stated clearly, available at the beginning of the course, and consistent throughout the course site.

QM 3.3 Specific and descriptive criteria are provided for the evaluation of learners’ work, and their connection to the course grading policy is clearly explained.

QM 5.3 The instructor’s plan for regular interaction with learners in substantive ways during the course is clearly stated.

UF 6.5 Any single assessment that comprises 15% or more of the total grade uses appropriate security measures such as plagiarism detection and/or proctoring.

Quick Insights

This is an editable field.

If learning objectives are the heart of your course, this section is the brain. Use this space to walk students through your learning activities and assessments – grouping them by type can make this much easier to navigate. Answering potential questions upfront reduces confusion and sets clear expectations from the start.

Consider including expected timeframes for returning feedback and grades, a breakdown of your grading scale (weighted or point-based), and specific guidance on academic integrity within individual assignments. This is a great place to clarify source attribution requirements, the use of proctoring or plagiarism tools, and any parameters for the use of artificial intelligence. While the UF Honor Code will be linked elsewhere in your syllabus, being specific here helps students succeed with integrity. 

Hot Tip/Hot Take: You may be tempted to copy and paste your table from your previous syllabus. Don’t, it will not work. Instead, use the Insert Table Tool in Simple Syllabus. Then, you can copy and paste the text over.

UF Online Course Quality Rubric Specific Review Standard(s)

QM 3.2 The course grading policy is stated clearly, available at the beginning of the course, and consistent throughout the course site.

Quick Insights

This prepopulated field can be edited.

This field is prepopulated with the standard UF grading scale. If you use the standard grading scale, you are all set! Otherwise, simply edit the field to reflect your specific policy.

Hot tip/Hot Take: Make sure your Canvas grading scale accurately reflects the one you use by adjusting it in the left-hand menu under Settings >Course Details>Enable course grading scheme.

UF Online Course Quality Rubric Specific Review Standard(s)

QM 3.5 The types and timing of assessments provide learners with multiple opportunities to track their learning progress with timely feedback.

UF 10.3 Course activities are scheduled and available with sufficient time to allow students to manage their workload.

Quick Insights

This is an editable field.

This field should include, at a minimum, a weekly schedule of topics and assignments. For added flexibility, consider adding a brief note stating dates may be adjusted in the event of unexpected circumstances.

Hot Tip/Hot Take: You may be tempted to copy and paste your table from your previous syllabus. Don’t, it will not work. Instead, use the Insert Table Tool in Simple Syllabus. Then, you can copy and paste the text over.

UF Online Course Quality Rubric Specific Review Standard(s)

QM 3.5 The types and timing of assessments provide learners with multiple opportunities to track their learning progress with timely feedback.

UF 10.3 Course activities are scheduled and available with sufficient time to allow students to manage their workload.

Quick Insights

This optional field is editable. 

This field can sync automatically with your Canvas Gradebook (follow the directions in the Simple Syllabus template) to save you time. If you prefer to enter the information manually, be sure to include due dates, assignment names, and assignment types. Adding the point value is optional, but a nice touch for students!

Hot Tip/Hot Take: If you are syncing to Canvas, make updates there, not in Simple Syllabus. After making adjustments, use the sync function in the template.  And remember, you don’t want to copy and paste an entire table from your previous syllabus if you want a table format. Use the tool in Simple Syllabus.

UF Online Course Quality Rubric Specific Review Standard(s)

QM 2.4 The relationship between learning objectives, learning activities, and assessments is made clear.

Quick Insights

This is an editable field.

The Alignment field is optional unless you are teaching a General Education course. Feel free to use this space to share a student-centered course map, an alignment table, or simply leave it blank. However, General Education courses must use this field to demonstrate how assignments connect to the Student Learning Outcomes listed earlier.

Hot Tip/Hot Take: You can make this field visible only to enrolled students, giving you the freedom to share your course map here without making it publicly accessible.

UF Online Course Quality Rubric Specific Review Standard(s)

QM 1.4 Course and institutional policies with which the learner is expected to comply are clearly stated within the course, or a link to current policies is provided.

UF 1.10 Course materials provide written definitions of Academic Integrity violations and consequences of committing such behavior.

QM 3.6 The assessments provide guidance to the learner about how to uphold academic integrity.

QM 7.2 Course Instructions articulate or link to the institution’s accessibility policies and accommodation services.

QM 7.3 Course instructions articulate or link to the institution’s academic support services and resources that can help learners succeed.

QM 7.4 Course instructions articulate or link to the institution’s academic support services and resources that can help learners succeed.

Quick Insights

This prepopulated field cannot be edited.

You are all set here—UF has taken care of this field for you! It automatically provides students with a brief introduction and a link to the UF Syllabus Policy page.

The UF Syllabus Policies page contains information and links for the following:

• Disability Resource Center

• UF Grading Policy

• GatorEvals information

• UF Academic Honesty Policy

• In-Class Recording Policy

• A list of Academic Resources

• Campus Health and Wellness Resources

UF Online Course Quality Rubric Specific Review Standard(s)

QM 1.4 Course and institutional policies with which the learner is expected to comply are clearly stated within the course, or a link to current policies is provided.

Quick Insights

This prepopulated field cannot be edited.

You are all set here—UF has taken care of this field for you! Students will see specific UF Policy information on absences for various reasons and what they should do in those situations.

UF Online Course Quality Rubric Specific Review Standard(s)

QM 1.4 Course and institutional policies with which the learner is expected to comply are clearly stated within the course, or a link to current policies is provided.

UF 1.10 Course materials provide written definitions of Academic Integrity violations and consequences of committing such behavior.

UF 8.8 When synchronous sessions are included, reasonable accommodations are made for students who cannot participate.

Quick Insights

This optional field is editable.

Rather than adding all your course policies here, consider using the remaining fields to organize your information so students can easily find what they need. You can create custom fields if that works better for you.

Hot Tip/Hot Take: You control the visibility of this field, allowing you to make it public or restrict it to enrolled students only.

UF Online Course Quality Rubric Specific Review Standard(s)

QM 1.4 Course and institutional policies with which the learner is expected to comply are clearly stated within the course, or a link to current policies is provided.

QM 3.2 The course grading policy is stated clearly, available at the beginning of the course, and consistent throughout the course site.

Quick Insights

This optional field is editable.

This is a great field to clearly outline your late work policy and explain the process for submitting make-up work, if permitted.

UF Online Course Quality Rubric Specific Review Standard(s)

QM 1.3 Communication expectations for the course are clearly stated.

Quick Insights

This optional field is editable.

This is the perfect landing spot for Netiquette guidelines if you want to use it to meet QM 1.3.

UF Online Course Quality Rubric Specific Review Standard(s)

QM 1.5 Minimum technology requirements are clearly stated and information on how to obtain the technologies is provided.

QM 1.6 Technical skills and digital information literacy skills expected of the learner are clearly stated.

QM 6.4 The course provides learners with information on protecting their data and privacy.

QM 7.1 The course instructions articulate or link to a clear description of the technical support offered and how to obtain it.

QM 8.7 Vendor accessibility statements are provided for the technologies used in the course.

Quick Insights

This optional field is editable.

This is an ideal spot to share technology requirements, necessary technical and digital literacy skills, and the required vendor privacy and accessibility policies. Don’t forget about sharing links to technical support, especially the UF Helpdesk.   Looking for the right area to hold your Artificial Intelligence policy? This might be it.