Getting Started with Simple Syllabus in Brightspace

Introduction

Simple Syllabus is UTRGV’s syllabus management platform, integrated with Brightspace. This article covers accessing, editing, publishing, and managing your syllabus in Brightspace, along with troubleshooting tips and best practices.

Before You Begin

Quick Formatting Tips

  • If copying from Word content, paste as plain text: Ctrl + Shift + V on PC or Command + Shift + V on Mac.
  • For Accessibility:
    • Use the editor’s heading and list tools.
    • Keep body text left-aligned; avoid ALL CAPS and excessive italics.
    • Use descriptive link text and reserve underlining for links.
    • Create tables in the editor rather than inserting images of tables.
    • Add meaningful alternative text to informative images.

Help Comments Provided 

Guidance for completing specific sections of your syllabus appears to the right of those sections in Simple Syllabus.

Help comments display to left of specific components in Brightspace.

Saving in Simple Syllabus 

Changes made in the text editor are usually saved automatically. For some actions, such as updating instructor information or adding materials, select Save to save your changes.

How To Edit Your Simple Syllabus

Access Simple Syllabus

  1. Open your official Brightspace course.
  2. Select Syllabus from the top menu.
  3. If published already, select Edit.

Another way to access: You can also sign in directly at UTRGV Simple Syllabus. Find your course under To Do and select Edit.

Edit option appears in Dashboard for each course, those completed and those in To Do.

Copy a Previous Syllabus (if applicable) 

Complete the syllabus using the provided template, or reuse content from a previous syllabus:

  1. Select Replace with a different syllabus or Import.
  2. To learn more visit, How to Import Your Simple Syllabus 

Review copied content carefully, especially dates, office hours, materials, assessments, and policies.

Pro Tip — Cross-Listed and Merged Sections: Each course section must have an updated syllabus, including merged and cross-listed sections. To save time, copy the syllabus from the main section to each child or cross-listed section, then review and update any section-specific information.

The next section walks you through each syllabus component.

Course Information 

Course information is automatically populated from Banner, including the course modality, meeting days and times, and room location.

Additional Text Box (Optional)

Review the pre-populated information, then use this text box to clarify where and when the class meets. Include any additional details students need for hybrid meetings, off-campus locations, or clinical placements.

Instructor Information (Required) 

Your name and email are populated automatically. Office Location and Office Hours are required and marked with an asterisk (*).

  1. Select the pencil icon to edit your information.
  2. In the window that opens, confirm your Name and Email.
    Instructor Information update window with text fields to update image, email, office hours and office location. Then Save option available when done.
  3. Enter your Office Location and Office Hours.
  4. Add an Office Phone number and Image, if desired.
  5. Select Save.

Tips:

  • List office hours as plain text. Avoid images or complex tables. Example: Monday and Wednesday, 2:00 PM–3:30 PM.
  • If your course has multiple instructors and an instructor is not listed in Banner, select the pencil icon, choose Add New Instructor, and complete the fields provided.

Additional Text Box (Optional)

Use the text box below Instructor Information to add a teaching philosophy or welcome message. If you do not want to use this section, turn the Visible toggle off to hide it.

Course Description

The course description is automatically populated from ASSIST. Review the catalog description for accuracy.

Additional Text Box (Optional)

Use this text box to expand on the course description, such as explaining how the course connects to real-world situations or applications.

Special Designations (Optional)

If your course has a special designation, such as Service Learning or Bilingual, use the text box to explain what the designation means and what students can expect.

Tentative Calendar of Activities (Required)

Add your tentative course schedule in this section. Tables copied from Microsoft Word may not retain their formatting, so create your table directly in Simple Syllabus.

  1. Select the Insert Table icon.Table icon in text editor window of Simple Syllabus
  2. Move your pointer across the grid to choose the number of rows and columns, then click to insert the table.
  3. Select a cell in the table, then choose Add Header Row from the options that appear.
    Table options that appear when you select a table. To insert header row, select the first icon to the left.
  4. Enter your column headings and schedule information.

Accessibility Tip: Include a header row with clear column headings and avoid merging cells.

Brightspace Assignments (Optional)

Use Sync to import quizzes, assignments, and discussions from Brightspace into Simple Syllabus. Activities from third-party tools integrated with Brightspace are not included.

How to Sync

  1. In Brightspace, update your assessment titles, due dates, and point values before syncing.
  2. Open your course syllabus in Simple Syllabus and go to Brightspace Assignments.
  3. Leave the Visible toggle on to display this section to students. It is on by default.
  4. Select the Sync icon to the right of the table.
    Sync option selected under Brightspace Assignments section of Simple Syllabus
  5. Review the imported assessment names, types, due dates, and point values.

Important: Manually adding items to this table breaks the sync connection. Review the Syncing Assignments knowledge base article for more information.

Assessments of Learning (Required)

  • Describe how students will be assessed, such as through quizzes, projects, labs, or exams.
  • Provide assessment weights or point totals as text or in a table created using Insert Table.
  • Update the existing grading scale table to reflect your course or program requirements.
  • Include your late work policy, explaining whether late submissions are accepted and any penalties or deadlines.

Sample Assessment of Learning displaying grading components, Grading scale, late work policy and Assessment Descriptions

Accessibility Tip: Use simple tables with a header row and avoid merged cells.

Required Readings and Materials (Required)

  1. Select the pencil icon to edit the section, then select Add New Material.
  2. For textbooks, enter the title in Book Search and select the matching book to populate the fields automatically. You can also enter the information manually.
    Book Search option appears at top allowing you to search text.
  3. Select Save.
  4. Repeat these steps for each required item.

Note:

  • If all readings and materials are available in Brightspace, add one item with “All readings and materials are provided in Brightspace” in the Title field, then select Save.
  • For an Open Educational Resource (OER) textbook, enter the textbook title and add its link in the URL field so students can access it.

Recommended Readings and Materials

Add recommended readings using the same steps as Required Readings and Materials. Include at least the author and title for each text. If applicable, indicate that supplemental materials are available in Brightspace.

Technology Needs (Required)

List the technologies students will need for the course.

  1. Select the pencil icon to edit the section, then select Add New Material.
  2. In the New Material window, enter the technology name in the Title field.
    For technology, adding a resource you need only complete title and notes section. Then press Save.
  3. In Notes, add requirements, access instructions, or other relevant details. Highlight text to display formatting and hyperlink options.
  4. Select Save.
  5. Repeat these steps for each required technology.

Review University Policies and Add Course Policies

University policies are generally populated automatically. Review each policy section, then use the additional text boxes to enter your course-specific policies:

  • Course Attendance
  • Course Use of Artificial Intelligence (Required)
  • Course Academic Integrity Policy

Add Custom Sections (Optional)

Use custom sections to include additional course information, such as student success resources.

  1. Select the Add (+) button in the left-hand pane or at the bottom of the page.
  2. Under Add New Component window, enter a section title.
    Under Create New Component window, fill in the Name field then press Save
  3. Select Save.
  4. A new text box appears at the bottom of the page. Enter your content in this box.

Accessibility Tip: Use built-in heading styles to organize your content rather than manually formatting text to look like headings.

Preview, Submit, and Publish

  1. Select Preview to review your syllabus for accuracy and completeness. Check that all links work.
  2. Complete all required components. Check the indicator in the bottom-right corner of the page for any remaining items.
  3. Run the Accessibility Checker and resolve all flagged issues.
    Required components and Accessibility Issues indicators appearing on bottom right.
  4. Select Submit and wait for confirmation.

Important: You cannot submit your syllabus until all required components are complete and all flagged accessibility issues are resolved.

Need Assistance?

The COLTT team supports Simple Syllabus, including access, editing, submission, publication, accessibility checker issues, and Brightspace synchronization.

COLTT Support Contact Information by campus
Campus Phone Office
Brownsville 956-882-6792 BCASA 613
Edinburg 956-665-5327 EMASS 3.142

You can also submit a COLTT support ticket.

For questions about syllabus templates or compliance reporting, contact Faculty Affairs.

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