Getting Started with Simple Syllabus in Brightspace

Introduction

Simple Syllabus is UTRGV's syllabus management platform that allows instructors to create, edit, and publish course syllabi using a standardized university template. Integrated with Brightspace, it provides students with easy access to the most current version of the course syllabus while helping ensure required institutional policies are included.

This article explains how to access, edit, publish, and manage your syllabus in Brightspace, as well as common troubleshooting steps and best practices.

Getting Started

 

Before You Begin

  • You must be assigned as the instructor for the course.
  • Your course must already exist in Brightspace.
  • The Simple Syllabus tool must be available in the course navigation.

Accessing Your Syllabus

  1. Log in to Brightspace.
  2. Open your course.
  3. Select Simple Syllabus from the course navigation bar.
  4. The syllabus will automatically load for the current course section.

Edit Your Syllabus

  1. Select Edit.
  2. Complete the required fields.
  3. Add any course-specific information.
  4. Save your changes.

Publishing the Syllabus

Once all required fields have been completed:

  1. Review your syllabus.
  2. Select Submit or Publish.
  3. Confirm the syllabus is published.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit my syllabus after publishing?
Yes. Updates can be made at any time.

Editing Your Syllabus

Editing Course Information

This section explains how to update course information after your syllabus has been created.

Steps

  1. Open your course in Brightspace.
  2. Select Simple Syllabus.
  3. Choose Edit.
  4. Update the desired sections.
  5. Select the Accessibility Checker icon. 
  6. Correct every issue identified throughout the syllabus.
  7. Confirm that it displays “All detected accessibility issues have been resolved.”
  8. Save your work.
  9. Publish the updated version if required.

Tips

Managing Multiple Sections

Faculty teaching multiple sections should verify they are editing the correct syllabus.

Tips

  • Check the course name before editing.
  • Confirm the CRN or section number.
  • Publish each course syllabus individually.

Related article: Managing Course Syllabi in Brightspace with Multiple Instructors

Brightspace Integration

How Simple Syllabus Syncs with Brightspace

Simple Syllabus can retrieve information from your Brightspace course to reduce duplicate data entry.

Information That May Sync

  • Assignment names
  • Due dates
  • Course information
  • Instructor information

Important Notes

  • Changes made in Brightspace may not appear immediately. Please allow 24 hours to see changes.
  • Some items require a manual refresh.
  • Certain syllabus sections remain editable only within Simple Syllabus.

Troubleshooting

If the expected information is not updating:

  • Verify the assignment exists in Brightspace.
  • Allow several minutes for synchronization.
  • Refresh the Simple Syllabus page.
  • Contact your LMS support team if synchronization continues to fail.

Related article: Preparing Your Simple Syllabus for a New Semester

Assignments and Due Dates

The Simple Syllabi only syncs dates from graded items created in Assignments, Quizzes, or Discussions.

Steps:

  1. Ensure all activities in D2L have the correct dates set. For Assignments and Quizzes, dates are pulled from the Due Date you have set for each grade item. For Discussions, it uses the End Date.
  2. Navigate to the Tentative Course Schedule section in Simple Syllabus and verify that the visibility setting is toggled to [Visible].
  3. Click the two-arrow circular icon on the right to sync your Tentative Course Schedule with grading activities such as assignments, quizzes, and discussions.
  4. During syncing, you will see the icon spinning for a few minutes.
    • NOTE: After selecting the sync icon, it may take some time for updated dates to appear. Even if the spinning icon stops and the page reloads, the previous dates might still be visible. Please allow 24-hours for the new dates to fully update.
  5. Once the dates are synced, you can manually remove any items by clicking the [trashcan] icon, or add any additional dates by clicking [Add new item]. Enabling the [Show Deleted] checkbox will reveal items that were deleted.
    • IMPORTANT: Manually making any changes to the Tentative Course Schedule in Simple Syllabus permanently break its ability to sync with D2L. This cannot be reversed. If this happens, you will need to manually maintain the Tentative Course Schedule if you wish to continue using it.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

The Simple Syllabus page won't load.

  • Try:
    • Refreshing the browser.
    • Clearing your browser cache.
    • Using Chrome or Edge.
    • Disabling browser extensions.

I received an error message.

  • Record:
    • The exact error message
    • Date and time
    • Course ID
    • Browser and version
  • Contact your LMS support team with this information.

The syllabus does not match my Brightspace course.

  • Review:
    • Assignment dates
    • Grade categories
    • Synchronization status
    • Published version

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I edit my syllabus?

  • Possible reasons include:
    • You are not assigned as the instructor.
    • The syllabus has been locked.
    • Your permissions do not allow editing.
    • If you imported a syllabus, you cannot make edits.

My syllabus is blank.

  • Verify:
    • You are in the correct course.
    • The course has been provisioned.
    • The syllabus template has been assigned.

My assignment dates are incorrect.

  • Review your assignment due dates in Brightspace and refresh the syllabus.

Students cannot see my syllabus.

  • Check that:
    • The syllabus has been published.
    • The course is active.
    • Students are enrolled.

Contacting Support

  • Virtual Office Hours will be available to help faculty through the Simple Syllabus transition.
  • Sessions will be held every Wednesday in May.
  • Time: 2:30–3:30 p.m.
  • Faculty can join using the following Zoom link.
  • We will provide basic support, such as how to edit or access the tool
  • For any additional questions, comments, concerns, or issues, please contact Faculty Affairs.
  • For your benefit, please review the Introduction to Simple Syllabus at UTRGV

Related article: Simple Syllabus UTRGV

Best Practices

Faculty Publishing Checklist

Before publishing, verify:

  • Instructor contact information
  • Office hours
  • Course description
  • Learning objectives
  • Grading policy
  • Assignment schedule
  • Due dates
  • University policies
  • Accessibility statement
  • Academic integrity statement
  • Student support resources
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