Edit Your Simple Syllabus Document

The College for Creative Studies utilizes a third-party tool called Simple Syllabus that integrates with our Canvas LMS (Learning Management System). Simple Syllabus contains all the elements you need to create your course syllabus that your students can view within your Canvas course. Faculty update their Simple Syllabus document, and then it is approved by the Chair/Program Manager of the associated department.

Accessing and Editing Your Simple Syllabus in Canvas

  1. To access your Simple Syllabus document within your Canvas course, in Course Navigation, click the Simple Syllabus link.
    • The location of this link may vary from course to course depending on how you’ve organized your course navigation.
    • When you first view your syllabus, content is automatically copied from the previous semester—provided you have access to both courses in Canvas. If the content does not copy over, please contact the ET+I team at CCS for assistance.
A screenshot of the Canvas LMS interface shows the course navigation menu on the left side. A dark purple arrow points directly to the "Simple Syllabus" link, which is located between the "Home" and "Modules" links. The global navigation bar is visible to the far left, showing icons for "Account," "Dashboard," and "Courses." The top of the page displays the "CCS" logo and the beginning of the "Faculty Orientation" course title.

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Simple Syllabus Not Visible in Course Navigation?

If the Simple Syllabus link is not visible in your Canvas course, use the following Guides to enable it within your course:

Configuring Course Navigation

  1. Read the instructions for each component of your Simple Syllabus. Instructions appear in gray boxes with a purple vertical bar (shown below). Information boxes with a 🚨 red siren icon need your attention.
  2. Depending on the component, click on the ✏️ pencil icon, or click within the Rich Text Editor to begin editing your Simple Syllabus document.
    • Some components will already be filled in for you and will not be editable while other components will be editable.
    • Some components may be required while other components are optional.  Required components will have a Required label shown in the bottom left-hand corner.
A screenshot of the "Instructor Information" section in the Simple Syllabus interface. An instruction banner at the top specifies adding office location, hours, and an optional Calendly link. The section itself contains a partially redacted email, an orange warning that "Faculty Office Hours and Days is required," and an "Add new instructor" link. A prominent purple arrow points to the word "Required" in the bottom-left corner of the section, indicating that this component of the syllabus is mandatory.

Components like Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) are automatically populated by the College. However, you can add section-specific details in the separate text box provided below. Look for the help text marked with a 🚨 red siren icon.

A screenshot from the Simple Syllabus interface, displaying a "Course Learning Outcomes" section. A bulleted list of five learning outcomes is visible at the top. Below this, a purple information banner states: "Use this area to add in any additional Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) that are specific to this section of the course." A rich text editor with various formatting options follows, including bold, italic, underline, font size, alignment, and list tools. A dark purple arrow points to the text entry field at the bottom, which contains the placeholder "Type something" within a purple outlined box.
  1. Once you have made edits to your Simple Syllabus document, click the Submit button at the bottom of the screen to submit changes for approval from your Chair/Program Manager.

Submit Button is Grayed Out

If the Submit button is grayed out and you cannot submit your Simple Syllabus document, this means required information is missing from your Simple Syllabus document.

  1. Click on the ❗ exclamation point icon. A Warning message will appear on the bottom right corner of your screen.
  2. Click on the link(s) within the the Warning message. Simple Syllabus will bring you to that component within your document.
    • Example: Required Texts/Materials/Supplies
This screenshot of the Simple Syllabus interface illustrates why the "Submit" button located in the bottom action bar is currently disabled and grayed out. A warning pop-up box, triggered by an alert icon next to the button, informs the user that "This syllabus cannot be submitted until the following required components are completed," and provides a direct link to the missing section labeled "Required Texts/Materials/Supplies."
  1. Edit those areas of your Simple Syllabus document that are required.
    • Example: Click on the ✏️ pencil icon to add the estimated cost of books and supplies.
This screenshot displays the "Texts/Materials/Supplies" list where several items, including the textbook "Figure Drawing: Design and Invention" and supplies like a pencil extender and X-Acto knife, are flagged with red text stating "Estimated Cost is required." To guide the user on how to resolve this, two purple arrows overlay the image: one points specifically to the error message, and the other points to the circular "edit" icon (a pencil symbol) on the left, indicating where to click to input the missing price.
  1. Click the Submit button at the bottom of the screen.

Additional Resources