Ohio State Mandated Course Syllabus Tool
Instructors are now required to use a specific digital platform to post undergraduate course details for public viewing.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Administration
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Ohio State instructors teaching undergraduate courses must now use the Simple Syllabus platform to publish class schedules, readings, and credentials. The transition follows the implementation of new state legislation requiring that course materials remain publicly available for two years.
Why it matters
The university implemented this system to ensure compliance with Senate Bill 1, which mandates the public accessibility of undergraduate course syllabi. This measure seeks to increase transparency regarding classroom content and course expectations for all undergraduate students.
Under the new policy, all undergraduate classes including independent study must utilize Simple Syllabus to host course information. These materials are required to remain public for two years, while graduate-level courses are explicitly exempt from this mandate.
The players
Ohio State
Ohio State is a major public research university located in Columbus that serves as the site for this policy implementation.
Simple Syllabus
Simple Syllabus is an interactive platform used by universities to standardize the creation and publication of course information.
The details
Instructors can access the platform via a link provided in every course Canvas shell to personalize and publish their interactive syllabi. The university is using this digital tool to standardize the public disclosure of readings and class requirements.
Timeline
Senate Bill 1 went into effect on June 27, 2025.
This report was published on September 28, 2026.
Culture Shift
This policy follows the requirements set by Senate Bill 1, which also limits the teaching of controversial subjects and bans certain diversity, equity and inclusion programming. These shifts reflect broader legislative efforts to oversee academic transparency and curricula at public institutions.
Undergraduate students in Columbus will now have standardized public access to their course readings and schedules through the university portal. Instructors must ensure their materials are uploaded to the platform to maintain compliance with the new state regulations.
The takeaway
Students should check their individual Canvas shells to locate the new syllabus links for their specific undergraduate classes. This transition marks a shift toward increased digital transparency for all public undergraduate course materials at the university.
Further reading
For more on institutional updates in the region, visit the Administration section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Lantern.
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