Two new syllabus templates will be required for all Iowa State University undergraduate courses beginning with the Fall 2026 semester.

Regents template

The first template meets Board of Regents Policy 3.20, approved in 2025, and was developed in partnership with the Regents, University of Iowa, and University of Northern Iowa. The completed template is required to be posted online for all undergraduate courses by the first day of classes each semester.

Iowa State University template

The second template, a more detailed document developed at the request of student representatives and in response to a drive to continuous improvement from our recent Higher Learning Commission reaffirmation visit, and in consultation with academic leaders and the Faculty Senate Academic Affairs Council, must be present in Canvas for all undergraduate courses.

Iowa Board of Regents and Iowa State University Syllabus Templates - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. This requirement was established by Board policy in 2025, beginning with the Fall 2026 semester. A limited number of exceptions have been identified for independent study courses, honors/senior theses, and internships/co-ops. Courses identified as meeting the exemption criteria have been distributed to the associate deans for academic programs. If your course is not on the list, but you believe it qualifies for an exemption, please contact your chair or associate dean.

The Board of Regents syllabus template was created as the result of Board policy in 2025 to have syllabi for all undergraduate courses available online by the first day of classes. The Iowa State University template was created to expand on this requirement in a way that provides students with consistent information about their courses.

Completing the templates is an administrative expectation of faculty, as well as a component with the teaching portion of the faculty Position Responsibility Statement. Failure to comply with the requirements will be reflected in annual reviews and, if not remedied, result in an unsatisfactory annual evaluation.

The syllabus templates are required administrative documents, as opposed to scholarly projects. Instructors may continue to provide additional information related to course topic, attendance, classroom expectations, or other material through Canvas announcements or presentation in class.

Nearly two-thirds of the elements in the Iowa State template are consistent with Faculty Handbook section 10.6, though it is important to note this section was adopted in 1996, and would not have included items such as Canvas information, classroom recordings, testing center information, or required syllabus statements. Other additions such as academic support services, student code of conduct, and basic needs have broad support among faculty.

The Provost’s Office has worked with the Board Office and associate deans for academic programs to streamline the process as much as possible. Additional feedback has been sought from the Faculty Senate Executive Board and Academic Affairs Council.