Each semester, Purdue syllabus guidelines are reviewed and published on the Simple Syllabus template within Brightspace and on the Purdue Simple Syllabus template tips & examples  – Innovative Learning website to be sure the most current updates, policies, and resources are provided to instructors-of-record.

The following elements should be found in a course syllabus posted by each instructor-of-record within one week of the first class meeting.

• Course Learning Outcomes (auto populated from the University system)
• Course Number and Title (auto populated)
• Course Description (auto populated)

• Learning Resources/Texts list (provided by the instructor-of-record)
• Types of Assignments/Assessments (provided by the instructor-of-record)
• Grading Scale (provided by the instructor-of-record)

As instructors-of-record Fall 2026 and after post their public-facing syllabi, they will be available at the Purdue University – Simple Syllabus website. Purdue’s Course Insights database is viewable and editable for Summer 2026 and prior semesters/session.

Generally, every instructor teaching a credit-bearing course at Purdue in which students are enrolled and that normally includes a student-facing syllabus with the six public-facing elements — course information and description, learning outcomes, learning resources/texts, assignments/assessment, grading scale — should also have a public-facing syllabus version with those elements posted to Simple Syllabus. The syllabus requirement does not apply to non-credit-bearing educational experiences, courses in which no students are enrolled, or certain types of courses outlined in other FAQs.

Courses listed in Banner that have traditionally provided students with a syllabus should post a public-facing version to Simple Syllabus. If a syllabus is not usually provided to students, a public-facing syllabus is not required

Independent study and research courses are typically covered through contract and/or individual agreements with students rather than with a syllabus. Therefore, no syllabus need be posted to Simple Syllabus. The implementation team is aware these type of courses show up on the FA26 Simple Syllabus dashboard. This notification may be ignored.

1) Only instructors-of-record may post a syllabus in the current version of Simple Syllabus.
2) If a course has multiple sections with one instructor-of-record and the sections are merged in Brightspace, only one syllabus needs to be posted via Simple Syllabus.
3) If a course has multiple sections with more than one instructor, then a public-facing syllabus for each instructor-of-record should be posted on Simple Syllabus via each Brightspace.

The most important consideration is that students have the information needed and are clear where to locate it. In the current implementation of Simple Syllabus, as long as the syllabus covers both lecture and lab/studio, the instructor-of-record can post it just in the lecture Brightspace. The Simple Syllabus tool will still appear in the lab/studio Brightspace but a syllabus is not required there. Another option is to post the same syllabus using Simple Syllabus in both Brightspaces, unless it would be confusing to students.

Core textbooks, materials, and learning resources should be listed on a public-facing course syllabus, but details may provided within the student-facing syllabus and in Brightspace using reading lists and/or assignments. See Purdue’s guidance on the University Copyright Office (UCO) website and the University Policy on Intellectual Property.

A class schedule is not a required element of a course syllabus, but it is recommended in the student-facing syllabus and/or on the course Brightspace. Such a schedule on Brightspace might include dates or weeks for broader units with the topics that will be covered, as well as dates for major exams or summative assignments (e.g., presentations) since this can affect student planning and scheduling.

Details like class meetings and how to contact the instructional team may be included in the student-facing version of the course Simple Syllabus. See the template in Brightspace and/or the Purdue Simple Syllabus template tips & examples webpage.

Many details that students need for a course can be posted to the student-facing version in Simple Syllabus or other parts of a course Brightspace. See the Purdue Brightspace Documentation – D2L Brightspace resources for resources in navigating Brightspace.

• See the Tools and Resources tab on the Innovative Learning website or email innovativelearningteam@purdue.edu for assistance with Simple Syllabus, Brightspace or other educational tools.
• For questions related to your syllabus content, see Purdue Simple Syllabus Guidelines – Innovative Learning or email innovativelearningteam@purdue.edu.
• For assistance with Course Insights, email Student-systems-course-insights-support@LISTS.PURDUE.EDU.

Instructor feedback is welcome and maybe submitted to innovativelearningteam@purdue.edu.