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How to add U of U's Institutional Policies to a Canvas Syllabus

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Introduction

The University of Utah and the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) requires instructors to include specific information about the institution and their courses in all published syllabi.

The Core Syllabus is an abbreviated document that includes only the required information about the course in a standardized format. At minimum, your Core Syllabus should include:
 

  • The course outcomes and objectives,
  • A brief description of each major course requirement, including each major assignment and examinations;
  • Required or recommended reading assignments*;
  • A general description of the subject matter of each lecture or discussion*;
  • A preliminary schedule for the major examinations and assignments [if applicable]; and
  • All current Mandatory Institutional Policies.

Adding Institutional Policies involves inserting a syllabus template from DesignPLUS into your Canvas course. The template provides sections for instructor information, course policies, tech support info, and online course expectations for both students and instructors. These sections can be edited or removed after the template is added, so you can remove online course expectations if you are not teaching an online course.

1. Access syllabus in Canvas course

Visit the course in Canvas for which you would like to add/update your syllabus. Once there, click on Syllabus [1] link on the left Course Navigation Menu.

Syllabus for Demo Course - Google Chrome

2. Select Edit

In the syllabus page click on the Edit button [1] on the upper right side.

Syllabus for Demo Course - Google Chrome

3. Select rocket ship icon

Click on the new red rocket ship icon [1] on the upper right corner. It may take a moment for the icon to load and appear.

Course Details: RECTH 3330-001 Fall 2025 Foundations Rec Therapy - Google Chrome

There is a keyboard shortcut which can be used alternatively to open the sidebar.

  • Alt-Shift-D (PC)
  • Option-Shift-D (Mac)

4. Select plus tab

Click on the + tab [1] at the top of the DesignPlus Sidebar

Syllabus for Demo Course - Google Chrome

5. Select policy

Scroll down and click on the Policy button [1] under "Course Information".

Policy option outlined

6. Select General

Click on the General accordion [1].

This will open a list of different University Policy templates to choose from.

7. Preview and select template

Institutional policies and institutional policies link outlined

Hover over the options in the General [1] section to preview the available policy templates, including Institutional Policies and University options.

Policy templates

Use these templates to add required or optional University of Utah policy content to your syllabus. Each template includes pre-formatted text and a preview of the available options.

Institutional Policies and University

Formatted policy templates containing required University Policies.

Preview of expandable policy options (ADA, Safety at the U, Academic Misconduct, etc.)

Institutional Policies Link

Formatted links that direct to the Center for Teaching Excellence website for official University of Utah policies.

Includes:

University

A centralized view of University of Utah-wide institutional policies.

8. Save work

Click on the Save button [1]at the bottom of the page.

Outlined save button

9. Refresh browser

Refresh your browser to ensure the template behaves correctly.

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