Public Posting of Course Syllabi

Comments on the draft Standard Operating Procedure should be sent to provost@ohio.edu with the title "Public Posting of Course Syllabi" by March 23, 2026.

1. Purpose

This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) establishes the requirements for the public posting of course syllabi for Ohio University undergraduate courses beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year. It ensures compliance with Ohio Revised Code §3345.029 by requiring public posting of all course syllabi for undergraduate courses offered for credit by Ohio University. 

Per Ohio Revised Code §3345.029, public posting of a course syllabus for a college course that is offered through the college credit plus program established under Chapter 3365 of the Ohio Revised Code, delivered in a secondary school, and taught by an approved high school teacher is not required.

2. Definitions

1. Course syllabus. As defined in Ohio Revised Code §3345.029 and Ohio Department of Higher Education Guidelines, a course syllabus is a document produced by a course instructor that includes:
   • Course information
   • The instructor’s name
   • The instructor’s professional qualifications
   • A calendar outlining topics and materials with anticipated timing
   • A list of required and/or recommended readings
   • A religious accommodations statement consistent with University Policy 40.003.
2. Course policies and guidelines. Course policies and guidelines refer to additional course information provided by faculty directly to enrolled students, typically through the University’s learning management system (LMS). These materials may include (but are not limited to) instructor contact information, meeting times/location, office hours, course description, learning outcomes, grading policies, attendance and participation requirements, statements on academic misconduct, accessibility accommodations, and resources for student success.
3. Course calendar. A course calendar is a component of a course syllabus that broadly outlines the materials and topics to be covered and specifies a general timeline for when they will be covered (e.g., week(s), module(s), unit(s), etc.).
4. Instructor’s professional qualifications. Instructor’s professional qualifications refer to documented academic and/or professional credentials of a course instructor that demonstrate their preparedness and expertise to teach the assigned course. Per University Policy 18.001, this should include the instructor’s relevant degrees, area(s) of specialization, and institution(s) awarding those degrees for instructors qualified under academic credentials. Per University Policy 18.001, instructors may also be qualified through equivalent or tested experience, which may require additional information.
5. Public access. As specified in Ohio Revised Code §3345.029, public access means that course syllabi will be available to the public without requiring user registration of any kind.
6. Publicly accessible website. As specified in Ohio Revised Code §3345.029, course syllabi will be available to the public via a website that is no more than three links from Ohio University main website page.
7. Religious accommodation. As specified in Ohio Revised Code §3345.026 and University Policy 40.003, each course syllabus must include language affirming the instructor’s reasonable accommodations for sincerely held religious or spiritual beliefs and practices. Instructors are required to include a statement in each course syllabus that includes both (a) a description of the general procedure for requesting accommodations consistent with University Policy 40.003 and (b) contact information for an individual whom a student may contact for more information about University Policy 40.003.
8. Searchability. As specified in Ohio Revised Code §3345.029, searchability means that information included in course syllabi will be searchable by keywords and phrases.
9. Semester/Term. As specified in Ohio Revised Code §3345.029, Ohio University must make all course syllabi offered anytime during the academic semester or other academic term (including late-start courses) available no later than the first day of classes for the semester or academic term in which the course is offered.

3. Guiding Principles

The posting of syllabi at Ohio University is guided by the following principles:

1. Compliance. Course syllabi must meet the requirements of Ohio Revised Code §3345.029, University Policy 40.003, University Policy 18.010, and Ohio Department of Higher Education guidelines.
2. Information. The course syllabus provides the elements required by state law and University policy, ensuring consistency and public accessibility. Course policies and guidelines extend beyond these required elements to include additional information that enhances teaching, clarifies expectations, and supports student success. Together, this information provides a comprehensive framework for communicating course requirements and opportunities. Combined, the course syllabus and the course policies and guidelines encompass the information previously required in a syllabus.
3. Academic Freedom. Faculty retain the right to determine course content, pedagogy, instructional materials, and methods of evaluation within the framework of university policies and discipline standards.
4. Flexibility. Both course syllabi and course policies and guidelines may be adapted as needed to support student learning, respond to student interests, incorporate updated or newly available content, and address unforeseen circumstances such as illness, weather events, or technical disruptions. Faculty should communicate changes in a timely manner to ensure students remain informed of course expectations.
5. Intellectual Diversity. Consistent with Ohio Revised Code §3345.0217 and University Policy 18.010, faculty are expected to exercise their professional judgment in determining how to present and engage with intellectual diversity within their academic disciplines. This includes both how intellectual diversity is incorporated into teaching and how consensus or foundational beliefs of a discipline are discussed and endorsed. Faculty and students alike are free to engage in classroom instruction, discussion, and debate, with the expectation that faculty will create an environment in which students are able to express intellectual diversity.
6. Student Success and Support. Both the course syllabus and course policies and guidelines serve as planning tools that help students succeed by clearly communicating expectations, resources, and responsibilities. Transparent and accessible information allows students to manage their workload and access available support.
7. Professional Ethical Standards. Course syllabi, course policies, and course guidelines should reflect ethical academic practice, including fairness, honesty, respect, consistency, and nondiscrimination. These principles reinforce University values and expectations for professional conduct.
8. Discipline and Accrediting Norms. In addition to statutory requirements, course syllabi should align with disciplinary standards and accrediting body expectations, where applicable. This ensures course materials and expectations remain consistent with professional and academic norms.
9. Intellectual Property. Faculty have the right to protect the originality and ownership of their teaching materials, including the arrangement and sequencing of topics, readings, and assignments.

4. Course Syllabus

Ohio Revised Code §3345.029 requires all public universities in Ohio to make specific components of undergraduate course syllabi publicly available on a centralized website. The following outlines the required components for a course syllabus.

4.1 Course Information

Each course syllabus must include course identifiers to ensure that students and the public can accurately match the syllabus to official course offerings. These include:

• Course prefix – the two, three, or four-character content area abbreviation
• Course catalog number – the four numbers or a “D” followed by three digits following the course prefix. When necessary, course catalog numbers may also include suffixes for specific courses.
• Course section number – the numeric code indicating the section number of the specific course.
• Descriptive Title – the title of the course as listed in Ohio University Course Offerings.
• Term – the term and year in which the course is offered.

4.2 Name of Instructor(s)

Each course syllabus must include the name(s) of the person(s) assigned as instructor(s) of record for the course. Name(s) should duplicate the name(s) as written in Course Offerings.

Only person(s) assigned as the official instructor(s) of record for the course should be listed through the Registrar. Temporary instructor substitutes, guest speakers, teaching assistants, and graders should not be listed.

If the instructor of record is not known before the first day of class, the instructor's name in the course syllabus may remain blank until an instructor is assigned. As soon as an instructor is assigned to the course, the information must be added within three (3) business days of the assignment.

If the instructor of record officially changes through the Registrar, the syllabus must be updated accordingly. The change of instructor must be noted on the syllabus within three (3) business days of the official change of the instructor of record. 

Note. Instructors should not include additional contact information (e.g., email, home address, phone numbers, etc.) on the course syllabus.

4.3 Professional Qualifications of the Instructor(s)

Each course syllabus must include the information through which the instructor(s) of record are qualified to teach the specific section of the course. Per University Policy 18.009, instructors of record may be qualified through academic credentials, equivalent experience, or tested experience.

If the name of the instructor is not known before the first day of class, the name of the instructor and professional qualifications in the course syllabus may remain blank until an instructor is assigned to the course. As soon as an instructor is assigned to the course, the information must be added within three (3) business days of the assignment.

4.4 Required or Recommended Readings

Each course syllabus must include “a list of any required or recommended readings for the course” (Ohio Revised Code, §3345.029(A)(2)(c)).

When required or recommended readings for the course are (a) known before the first day of class and (b) include publicly available published resources (e.g., textbooks, books, articles, etc.), the syllabus information should include the list of required and recommended resources.

When required or recommended readings for the course are (a) known before the first day of class and (b) do not include publicly available published resources (e.g., instructor-created content), the syllabus information should provide an explanatory statement.

When required or recommended readings for the course are current or emerging information from publications (e.g., newspapers, magazines), the syllabus should include an explanatory statement with references to the source titles.

When required or recommended readings for the course are developed with the student(s) after the first day of class (e.g., independent study), the syllabus information should provide an explanatory statement.

When required or recommended readings for the course are developed based on guest speakers or project-based topics after the first day of class, the syllabus information should provide an explanatory statement.

Note. At their discretion, instructors may include language stating that recommended and required readings may change based on contextual factors, such as student learning needs, student interests, newly published sources, and unforeseen course disruptions.

4.5 Course Calendar

Each course syllabus must include “a calendar for the course outlining what materials and topics will be covered and when during the course they will be covered” (Ohio Revised Code, §3345.029(A)(2)(b)).   

When the course calendar is known before the first day of class, the syllabus should include the calendar by a unit of measure (e.g., days, weeks, modules, units) and the topic(s) to be covered during each unit of measure. The calendar may be produced using a table or in a bullet list.

When the course schedule is developed with the student(s) after the first day of class (e.g., an independent study), the syllabus should include an explanatory statement.

Note. At their discretion, instructors may include language stating that the course may change based on contextual factors, such as student learning needs, student interests, newly published sources, and unforeseen schedule disruptions.

Note. Instructors should not include meeting dates, times, or locations on the course syllabus. However, meeting dates, times, and locations should be included in course policies and guidelines.

4.6 Reasonable Accommodations for Religious or Spiritual Beliefs

Each course syllabus must include language consistent with University Policy 40.003 that affirms reasonable accommodations for sincerely held religious or spiritual beliefs and practices.

5. Administration

The step-by-step process for posting syllabi to the public site will be maintained by the Office of the Provost. The process should provide clear documentation outlining how to post, edit, and share syllabi within the approved system. This documentation will be updated as procedures or systems evolve and will include examples and templates to support consistency across academic units.

In addition, the Office of the Provost will supply instructions for monitoring and reporting compliance with the public syllabus requirement. These resources explain how departments and colleges can verify that syllabi are posted correctly and generate reports confirming compliance with Ohio Revised Code §3345.029. The Office of the Provost will coordinate updates to these materials and ensure that all faculty and academic units have access to current guidance and technical support.

The process for responding to alleged violations of University Policy 18.010: Advance Ohio Higher Education Act Compliance will be maintained by the Office of Civil Rights Compliance. 

6. Authorities

The public posting of course syllabi within Ohio University’s centralized syllabus repository is a shared responsibility that operates across multiple administrative levels. The authority to create, edit, and manage syllabi and templates is defined by the individual’s role within the University’s academic hierarchy and by the permissions structure established within the syllabus management system.

These authorities should ensure that information is accurate, current, and consistent across all instructional locations while respecting faculty ownership of course materials and the distinct roles of academic units in managing curricula.

1. Instructor. Instructors are the primary authors and custodians of their own course syllabi.
2. Course designer. Course designers provide instructional and technical support for developing and maintaining course syllabi and templates.
3. Course or program lead (if applicable). Course or program leads oversee the consistency and quality of syllabi within a specific course sequence, program, or discipline.
4. Department or school administrators. Department or school administrators oversee syllabus management within their unit, which may include reporting, oversight, and quality assurance.
5. Campus administrators (if applicable). Campus administrators provide regional or campus-level oversight of syllabi, which may include reporting, oversight, and quality assurance.
6. System administrator. System administrators maintain the overall configuration, permissions, and functionality of the syllabus management platform. 

Each college (or equivalent academic unit) is responsible for determining how responsibilities for the public posting of syllabi are assigned among the authorities within its unit. These responsibilities include:

• Posting required syllabus information within the appropriate system
• Tracking which courses have posted or missing materials
• Ensuring that all required information is submitted by the deadline mandated by Ohio Revised Code §3345.029. 

Colleges are expected to establish internal procedures that clarify who is responsible for each step, how updates or corrections will be managed, and how compliance will be monitored within the unit.

The Office of the Provost will retain responsibility for creating and submitting institution-wide reports on syllabus posting. This includes aggregating information from across colleges, monitoring overall compliance, and coordinating required submissions to external entities. Colleges will support this work by maintaining accurate, timely records and following the reporting processes communicated by the Office of the Provost.