Helpful Links

Navigate OHIO

Connect With Us

Ohio University
1 Ohio University
Athens OH 45701
Directions
Contact Ohio University

Ohio University Syllabus Guidelines: 7. Authorities

The public posting of course syllabi in Ohio University’s centralized syllabus repository should be a shared responsibility that spans 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.

7.1 Instructor Authority

Instructors are the primary authors and custodians of their own course syllabi.

  • Create and Edit: Instructors have full authority to create, edit, and update syllabi for their assigned course sections.
  • Compliance Responsibility: Instructors are responsible for ensuring their syllabi meet the requirements outlined in these guidelines and University policy, including all required components under Ohio Revised Code §3345.029.
  • Submission and Review: Once submitted, the syllabus becomes part of the public repository and may be reviewed by program, department, or college administrators for completeness and compliance.

7.2 Course Designer Authority

Course designers provide instructional and technical support for developing and maintaining course syllabi and templates.

  • Collaborative Role: May assist instructors, course leads, and administrators in designing accessible, pedagogically sound, and policy-compliant syllabi.
  • Template Development: Authorized to draft or edit course syllabus templates and layouts in collaboration with faculty or program leads, ensuring alignment with university standards, learning outcomes, and accessibility guidelines.
  • Technical Configuration: May configure course shells, LMS integrations, or syllabus formatting within the repository system but do not have independent authority to approve or publish syllabus without faculty or administrative review.

7.3 Course or Program Lead Authority (if applicable)

Course or program leads oversee the consistency and quality of syllabi within a specific course sequence, program, or discipline.

  • Template Creation: Authorized to develop and maintain course-level templates that promote consistency across multiple sections of the same course.
  • Edit within Domain: May edit or update syllabi within their assigned program or course domain to ensure alignment with program learning outcomes, accrediting requirements, or disciplinary standards.
  • Guidance Role: Serve as liaisons between instructors and department administrators to ensure adherence to both University and program-level expectations.

7.4 Department or School Administrator Authority

Department or school administrators oversee syllabus management within their unit.

  • Template Creation: Authorized to create or approve syllabus templates for courses offered within the department or school.
  • Edit within Domain: May edit syllabi for courses housed in their academic unit to maintain compliance with university standards and state requirements.
  • Monitoring and Reporting: Have access to compliance reports showing submission status, missing components, or alignment with required elements across their department or school.

7.5 College Administrator Authority

College-level administrators (e.g., associate deans, college curriculum managers) ensure college-wide consistency and compliance.

  • Template Creation: Authorized to create or distribute templates for courses across the college.
  • Reporting and Oversight: May run reports that identify compliance status, missing syllabi, and data trends at the course, department, or program level.
  • Quality Assurance: Ensure that departmental templates and individual syllabi reflect college-level policies, accreditation standards, and University guidelines.

7.6 Campus Administrator Authority

Campus administrators provide regional or campus-level oversight of syllabi.

  • Template Creation: Authorized to create or distribute templates for courses offered on their campus.
  • Reporting and Analytics: May generate reports to monitor overall compliance and ensure consistency of posted syllabi across campus offerings.
  • Coordination: Work collaboratively with college and system administrators to resolve discrepancies and support training or onboarding efforts.

7.7 System Administrator Authority

System administrators maintain the overall configuration, permissions, and functionality of the syllabus management platform.

  • System Configuration: Manage system-level settings, including roles, permissions, templates, and integration with university systems (e.g., LMS, course scheduling, faculty assignment).
  • Group Permissions: Establish and maintain the administrative scheme, defining the access hierarchy (instructor, program lead, department, college, campus, and system).
  • Reporting and Data Management: Provide enterprise-level analytics, audit logs, and compliance reports for institutional use.