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Overview
When a Brightspace course has multiple instructors or includes merged course sections, access to edit the syllabus in Simple Syllabus is determined by the official Instructor of Record (IOR) for each course section.
Being enrolled with the Instructor role in Brightspace does not automatically provide permission to edit a syllabus in Simple Syllabus.
This article explains how Simple Syllabus access works for:
- Courses with multiple instructors
- Merged (parent/child) courses
- Changes to the Instructor of Record
Brightspace Courses with Multiple Instructors
A Brightspace course may have multiple users enrolled with the Instructor role. However, Simple Syllabus editing permissions are based on the official Instructor of Record.
How is access determined?
- Simple Syllabus receives official course and instructor information from Assist.
- The instructor listed as the Instructor of Record (IOR) is granted permission to edit the course syllabus.
- Adding someone as an Instructor in Brightspace does not automatically give that person editing access in Simple Syllabus.
Key takeaway:
- An instructor may have full Instructor access to a course in Brightspace but still be unable to edit its syllabus if they are not authorized for that course in Simple Syllabus.
Merged Courses (Parent/Child Sections)
When multiple course sections are merged in Brightspace, one course serves as the parent course, while the other sections become child courses. The Brightspace merge does not eliminate the individual syllabus requirements for the child sections.
Parent Course
The Instructor of Record for the parent course can edit the syllabus associated with the merged parent course.
Child Course
Instructors who are the Instructor of Record for individual child sections can access Simple Syllabus directly to edit and publish the syllabus for their assigned section. They do not need to access the child course through Brightspace to complete the syllabus.
Example
Suppose three sections are merged in Brightspace:
- Section 01 — Parent course
- Section 02 — Child course
- Section 03 — Child course
The Instructor of Record for Section 01 can edit the syllabus associated with the parent course in Brightspace.
The Instructors of Record for Sections 02 and 03 can log in directly to Simple Syllabus to access, edit, and publish the syllabus for their respective sections.
Key Takeaways
Simple Syllabus permissions remain tied to each section's official instructor assignment:
- Parent course syllabus: Managed by the parent course's Instructor of Record.
- Child section syllabus: Managed by the Instructor of Record assigned to that section.
Change of Instructor
When the Instructor of Record changes, the newly assigned instructor will have access to the syllabus content previously created for the course.
What should the new instructor expect?
The new instructor may see syllabus content entered by the previous instructor. This allows existing course information to remain available during an instructor transition.
The new instructor can:
- Review and update the existing syllabus content, or
- Reset individual syllabus components and enter new information.
Resetting syllabus content
While editing a syllabus, instructors have access to a Reset option for syllabus components.
The Reset option allows the instructor to clear previously entered information from a component and start over.
The Reset button is available from the left-hand toolbar while editing the syllabus.
What happens to the previous instructor's access?
Removing an instructor from the official course record does not necessarily remove that instructor's existing Simple Syllabus access automatically. If a former instructor should no longer have access to the course in Simple Syllabus, submit a request to have the instructor removed.
Summary
Keep the following points in mind when working with Simple Syllabus:
- Simple Syllabus editing permissions are based on official course and instructor information, not solely on Brightspace role assignments.
- Being enrolled as an Instructor in Brightspace does not guarantee editing access in Simple Syllabus.
- In merged courses, the parent and child sections maintain their individual syllabus requirements.
- Each Instructor of Record is responsible for ensuring that the syllabus for their assigned section is published.
- When the Instructor of Record changes, existing syllabus content remains available to the new instructor.
- Brightspace course resets do not reset Simple Syllabus content.
- If an instructor's Simple Syllabus access needs to be added or removed manually, submit a support request.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Does resetting a course in Brightspace reset the course syllabus?
No. Resetting a course in Brightspace does not reset the course syllabus. The syllabus is managed through Simple Syllabus, which is a separate tool and is not affected by course resets in Brightspace.
Q2: Why can’t I edit the syllabus if I am listed as an Instructor in Brightspace?
Simple Syllabus editing permissions are based on the official Instructor of Record information. Having the Instructor role in Brightspace does not automatically provide permission to edit the syllabus. Verify that you are listed as the Instructor of Record in Assist. If additional access is needed, submit a support request.
Q3: Can multiple instructors edit the same syllabus?
Editing access is normally assigned according to the official Instructor of Record for the course or section. If another instructor needs editing access in Simple Syllabus, a request must be submitted to have that instructor added.
Q4: I teach a child section of a merged Brightspace course. How do I access my syllabus?
Go directly to Simple Syllabus and sign in using your UTRGV credentials. If you are the Instructor of Record for the child section, you should be able to access the syllabus associated with that section.
Q5: Do child sections still need a syllabus after courses are merged in Brightspace?
Yes. Every course section must have a published syllabus, even when multiple sections have been merged into a single Brightspace course. Each Instructor of Record is responsible for ensuring that the syllabus for their assigned section is published.
Q6: What happens to the syllabus when a new instructor is assigned?
The newly assigned instructor will have access to the existing syllabus content. The instructor can update the existing information or use the Reset option for individual syllabus components to start fresh.
Q7: Does removing an instructor from a course automatically remove their Simple Syllabus access?
Not necessarily. If a former instructor still has access in Simple Syllabus, submit a request to have that access removed.