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Simple Syllabus

Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching

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Simple Syllabus

Starting Fall 2026, all Purdue Fort Wayne credit-bearing courses must have a syllabus submitted through Simple Syllabus through Brightspace. Through a seamless integration with Brightspace, Simple Syllabus allows instructors to maintain a single, centralized version of their syllabus while easily designating individual sections as public-facing or student‑only. It provides 24/7 cloud-based access, flexibility to include public- and student-facing content and ensure accessibility for all students and instructors.

 

Training Video Recording

The following video is the Simply Syllabus Instructor Training Recording. Please note, the template is still being adjusted based on the errors and feedback we have received. If the embedded video does not work properly, please use the direct link to the training recording page.

Template Updates

The following changes have been made since the Simple Syllabus Launch on August 3, 2026.

DateChanges
August 6, 2026
  • Course Prerequisites: Prerequisites field was removed from Course Information section because some of the prepopulated information is long and hard to read. The section "Course Description" is renamed to "Course Description and Prerequisites". If there is prerequisite for a course, it will be added at the beginning of the section.
  • Credit Hours: Some courses' credit hour is set to be a variable. The number prepopulated will be the max for the variable. To address this issue, an optional section is added right below the Course Information section for instructors to add clarifications for the specific section.

    Check the video explanation of the template update.

Feedback Form

  • As Purdue Fort Wayne launches Simple Syllabus for all credit-bearing courses, We are collecting instructor feedback by using the Simple Syllabus Feedback Form throughout the Fall 2026 semester. Your feedback will help us identify opportunities to improve the syllabus template, documentation, and instructor support, and will help shape future enhancements to Simple Syllabus at PFW.
  • Please note: This form is intended for feedback only and is not monitored for technical support requests. If you experience a technical issue or need assistance, please submit an IT ticket or contact the Help Desk at 260-481-6030 or visit Kettler Hall, Room 148.

Frequently Asked Questions

The course description or learning outcomes were imported from the catalog and cannot be edited directly in Simple Syllabus. If they are inaccurate or outdated, please follow your department and college curriculum review process to request a revision. Please contact the Registrar’s office ([email protected]) or Terri Swim ([email protected]) for guidance on submitting a proposal in Curriculog.

The university policy sections are preset for accuracy and consistency. If you want to add personal language, you can use the "Add new component" and "Reorder" feature to provide statements that complement these policies, and you can also reorder sections to best align with your communication style and preferences. 

Purdue launched a competitive bid process for a system-wide syllabus management tool in October of 2025. Instructors across all campuses were invited to review recordings and provide feedback on the proposed solutions. This process ensured that the chosen solution meets the diverse instructional needs across Purdue West Lafayette and Indianapolis locations, Purdue Fort Wayne, and Purdue Northwest. 

Yes. Beginning in Fall 2026, all Purdue Fort Wayne credit-bearing courses must have a syllabus submitted through Simple Syllabus through Brightspace to support the following:  

  • A universal template for instructors  
  • A consistent structure and appearance for students  
  • Accreditation and reporting needs  
  • Compliance with ADA Title II digital accessibility standards  
  • Compliance with Indiana’s House Enrolled Act 1001-2025 

Instructors are expected to make their syllabus available to students by the first class meeting (or the first day of the course for online courses) so that students understand the course expectations from the start of the semester. Instructors may continue to revise and finalize their syllabus based on initial class discussions or other course considerations. The syllabus should be finalized by the Friday of the first week of classes.

Yes.  Simple Syllabus provides instructors with a built-in accessibility checker that will prompt you to resolve any issues detected prior to publishing your syllabus.   

No. Simple Syllabus will replace the former Course Insights workflow. 

Not at this time.  Any language required by individual units should be communicated directly to instructors. 

  • No. Only individuals listed as the "instructor of record" for the course can “Edit and Submit” the course syllabus.
  • Individuals added to the course as an Instructor, TA, Grader, Course Builder, SI Tutor, or Read Only Course Copy via the Brightspace Enrollment Manager tool can “View” the course syllabus once it has been submitted by the instructor(s) of record.

You might receive an error message for the following reasons.

  • You accessed the Simple Syllabus from the course navigation bar within a DEV or noncredit course, you will receive an error message that the section could not be located. This is accurate and expected behavior. 
  • You have not accessed Brightspace course for two years. This is due to the Simple Syllabus technical setting and is an expected behavior. Solution: Log in to Brightspace at least once. Then, return the next day and try again.

If you receive the error in a credit-bearing course, please Submit a Ticket.

Upcoming Training and Support

This section will include upcoming training opportunities and support resources for Simple Syllabus as they become available. More sessions will be scheduled after June 2026.

Have questions about Simple Syllabus or need help while working on your syllabus? Drop in during this virtual support session.

Following the full implementation of Simple Syllabus, instructors will have access to the following support services:

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Contact US

Have questions?

 

Contact us at [email protected] or 260-481-6354.
You can also find us on campus in Kettler Hall, Room 238.