FAQs About the Public Syllabus Regulation

General

  • Why is UNC Charlotte implementing a public syllabus platform?
    • The UNC System has adopted a regulation requiring each constituent institution to provide public access to course syllabi beginning in fall 2026. The regulation is intended to support transparency and help students better understand course expectations, required materials and grading practices. UNC Charlotte is implementing a public syllabus platform to comply with this UNC system requirement. 
  • What is a syllabus?
    • A syllabus is a document required to accompany any course offered by an educational institution for academic credit. Syllabi are developed by the instructor, at the institution’s direction, and are required to include sufficient detail to inform students of the course and instructor’s expectations for the specified class. 
  • Are syllabi considered public records?
    • Yes. Under the UNC System regulation, course syllabi are considered institutional directed works and public records under North Carolina law. Beginning Jan. 15, 2026, syllabi may be requested through the public records request process. (See NextRequest Portal and University Policy 605.8, Public Records Requests.) Beginning fall 2026, syllabi for courses offered each semester will be available through a publicly searchable platform. 

Syllabus requirements

  • What are the syllabus requirements at UNC Charlotte?
    • Beginning in the 2026–27 academic year, syllabi must include the minimum elements required by the UNC System regulation:
      • Course name and prefix, along with course description
      • All goals, objectives, student learning outcomes, and/or student expectations for the course 
      • An explanation of how student performance will be assessed, including the grading scale, percentage breakdown of major assignments, and how attendance or participation affects a student’s final grade
      • List of all course materials (physical and/or electronic) that students are required to purchase
      • A statement noting that the course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate and that inclusion of a reading does not imply endorsement
    • Departments and colleges may have additional syllabus requirements.
  • Is a syllabus a contract between students and their instructor?
    • No. The University and UNC System have never considered syllabi to be contracts. A syllabus serves as a guide to course expectations and requirements. Expectations and policies may also be communicated through other mechanisms such as email or Canvas. Syllabi do not constitute an express or implied contract among the students, faculty, or institution. Rather, syllabi serve as a guide for the course.
  • May I include more than what is required in my syllabus?
    • Yes. The UNC System regulation establishes minimum requirements for syllabi. Your department or college may have additional requirements, and individual instructors may choose to provide that information in Canvas, on individual assignments or assessments, or in the syllabus.
  • My syllabus is in another language; is that still allowed?
    • Yes. If a course is taught in another language or if it is appropriate to the course content, the syllabus may be written in that language, so long as it meets the requirements of the UNC system regulation. 

Course requirements

  • What course types require a syllabus to be uploaded to the public syllabus platform?
    • Syllabi must be uploaded for all academic credit courses offered during a semester or session. Certain academic experiences that provide individualized instruction, such as internships, practicums, independent research and dissertations still require a syllabus, but syllabi for those courses are not required to be uploaded into the public syllabus platform.
  • Are there different requirements for syllabi for online courses?
    • No. Online courses must meet the same minimum syllabus requirements established by the UNC System regulation. Departments or programs may establish additional expectations for online courses.
  • If a course has multiple sections, how many syllabi must be uploaded to the public syllabus platform?
    • One syllabus must be uploaded for each course section. If you have a common syllabus across all sections, you must upload the common syllabus for each section.
  • Do we upload syllabi for all the courses in the catalog or only those offered each semester?
    • Only those offered each semester or session must be uploaded.
  • What if a course is taught by a teaching assistant (TA) or part-time faculty member?
    • Courses taught by teaching assistants and part-time faculty will still require a syllabus to be uploaded to the public syllabus platform.

Access and copyright

  • Where will students access their course syllabi?
    • Students will continue to access their course syllabi through the same mechanisms they have previously – via their instructor and/or Canvas. Students and members of the public will also be able to view syllabi in advance of the course through the publicly accessible online syllabus platform.  
  • Will instructor names or information be included on the syllabus? 
    • No. The UNC System regulation does not require instructor names, instructor contact information, course location or course meeting times to be included in publicly posted syllabi.