UF Policy on Course Syllabi

Purpose and Scope 
To promote clear communication between instructors and students, the University of Florida requires that every course syllabus include a standard set of information and be made publicly available at no cost to students. This policy integrates existing University of Florida requirements with the Florida Board of Governors Regulation 8.003 governing course syllabi.  

The policy is not intended to prescribe course content or pedagogy. Courses with special designations, such as General Education, have additional requirements. Decisions regarding instructional approach, assignments, and other disciplinary or technical matters remain within the scope of academic freedom and are determined by individual instructors.  

Compliance with State Regulation 
In alignment with Florida Board of Governors Regulation 8.003, all course syllabi must be published no later than forty-five (45) days prior to the first day of classes. The university establishes fixed deadlines by which all syllabi are due each term to ensure compliance with the 45 day BOG requirement. At the University of Florida, all syllabi must be created, published, and retained using the Simple Syllabus platform, and this syllabus will be the official version for any review. Simple Syllabus retains syllabus records for a minimum of five (5) years. 

Required Syllabus Elements 
The following elements are required on all University of Florida course syllabi, regardless of course level or modality: 

• Course title and a clear statement of course goals, objectives, or student learning outcomes. Instructors may choose the format that best communicates the student expectations of the course. 

• Instructor contact information, including name, office hours, office location, telephone number, and email address; teaching assistant contact information, if applicable.  The instructor’s name will be the only information that remains publicly visible in the Simple Syllabus platform. 

• A weekly or modular schedule of course topics and major assignments, including required readings or materials. 

• Key dates for exams, major assignments, projects, or performances. 

• A description of how student learning will be evaluated and how final grades will be determined, including the grading scale. 

• A list of required and recommended textbooks and instructional materials. 

• Information about Materials and Supplies Fees, if applicable. 

• Additional syllabus elements required for General Education or Quest courses, as applicable. 

• Current University of Florida academic policies and student resources, which are embedded automatically in Simple Syllabus for the faculty.   

Recommended Additional Content 
Instructors are encouraged, but not required, to include the following additional information to support student success: 

• Expectations for class conduct and professional behavior. 

• For online or hybrid courses, preferred methods of communication and procedures for technical issues. 

Definitions: Goals, Objectives, and Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) 

• Course goals describe the broad purposes and intentions of the course.  

• Objectives identify the actions or tasks students complete.  

• Both goals and objectives frequently use action verbs that emphasize exposure, exploration, or development (e.g., “introduce,” “explore,” “familiarize students with”). 

• Student learning outcomes describe what students should be able to know or do by the end of the course. SLOs must be measurable, observable, and directly assessable, and thus should be written using clear, measurable action verbs. Terms such as "know," "understand," "learn," and "appreciate" are not specific enough to be measurable. 

Additional Institutional Requirements 
Any use of students as research subjects must receive prior Institutional Review Board approval.  

Questions 
Questions regarding this policy may be directed to the Associate Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs. 

Last Revised: June 2026