Body
Title
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Policy on Course Syllabi and Instructional Documentation
Introduction
Purpose
This Policy establishes institutional requirements for course Syllabi and instructional documentation for credit-bearing courses at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ("UNC-Chapel Hill" or "University"). This Policy ensures that the University:
- Provides students with clear information regarding course expectations and evaluation methods;
- Complies with UNC System Policy 400.1.6 and Regulation 400.1.6[R];
- Makes Syllabi publicly available through a University-provided platform beginning with Syllabi created for Academic Year 2026-2027; and
- Maintains consistent documentation for instructional offerings in partnership with the University's Academic Units.
Scope
This Policy applies to all UNC-Chapel Hill:
- Academic Units that offer courses for Academic Credit;
- Instructors of record for credit-bearing courses; and
- Administrative units that manage course scheduling, publication, and records management.
This Policy applies to all University undergraduate, graduate, and professional courses. Section G of this policy provides exceptions to the scope.
Definitions
- Academic Credit: Credit awarded by the University for the successful completion of a course or approved instructional activity that is measured in credit hours. Academic Credit may be applied toward degree or credential requirements as determined by the University and is recorded on a student's official academic transcript.
- Academic Units: All University Schools and the College of Arts and Sciences.
- Directed Works: Works that are specifically funded or created at the direction of the University (including, but not limited to, works for hire by faculty or other EHRA employees).
- Material Changes: Any revision to any of the requirements listed in Section B that would change student expectations or outcomes.
- Organized Course Section: The list generated each academic semester by the Registrar noting courses that require a Syllabus.
- Reasonable Operational Limitation: Unforeseen and extenuating circumstances.
- Syllabus/Syllabi: An employer-required document to accompany any course offered by an institution for Academic Credit, unless an exception otherwise applies. Syllabi are developed by the instructor at the institution's direction and must include sufficient detail to inform students about the course and the instructor's expectations for the specified class. Syllabi do not constitute an express or implied contract among the student, instructor, or University; instead, they serve as a guide for the course.
Policy
UNC-Chapel Hill establishes the following requirements:
A. Syllabus Requirement for Courses Awarding Academic Credit
Instructors must use a Syllabus for all Organized Course Sections.
B. Minimum Syllabus Content Requirements
Consistent with Section II.C. of UNC System Regulation 400.1.6[R], each University Syllabus must, at a minimum, include the following content:
- Course name, prefix, and 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 will affect a student's final grade;
- A list of all course materials (physical and/or electronic) that students are required to purchase; and
- A statement noting that the course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate, and inclusion of a reading does not imply endorsement.
Additionally, all University Syllabi are prohibited from including any Personally Identifiable Information of students. The content of posted Syllabi must also comply with all applicable laws, including, but not limited to, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
C. Public Availability of Syllabi
- The University must maintain an online platform that allows the public to access and search course Syllabi.
- The University must post all Syllabi to the University's publicly available online platform no later than one week (seven calendar days) before the first day of class for the applicable semester or session.
- UNC-Chapel Hill aligns its Syllabus publication deadline each semester with the first day of class date listed in the University's Chancellor's Calendar.
- The University recognizes that some Academic Units or courses do not follow the University Registrar's published Academic Calendar; in such cases, those Academic Units must publish their Syllabi at least one week (seven calendar days) before the first day of the applicable session/term or course.
- If a Unit cannot publish their Syllabi at least one week (seven calendar days) before the first day of the course due to Reasonable Operational Limitations, such as when a course is under development, or the instructor is not yet assigned, the University must post the Syllabus upon its development and completion, which must occur no later than the first day of classes for that academic semester or session.
D. Updating Syllabi Content
The University must update Syllabi information on the online platform to reflect Material Changes to instructors' Syllabi and course expectations.
E. Ownership of Syllabi
Consistent with Section II of UNC System Regulation 400.1.6[R], instructors create Syllabi at the University's direction, and all Syllabi are Directed Works. Per Section XII of UNC System Policy 500.2, UNC-Chapel Hill is considered the copyright owner of all Syllabi, as Directed Works.
F. Syllabi as Public Records
The University considers all Syllabi as "Public Records" as that term is used in Chapter 132 of the North Carolina General Statutes. Public records requests for Syllabi from Academic Year 2025-26 or earlier that implicate an instructor’s claimed copyright interest will be addressed in accordance with Section II.B.1 of UNC System Regulation 400.1.6[R].
G. Academic Experiences Not Requiring a Syllabus
Consistent with Section III.A. of UNC System Regulation 400.1.6[R], academic experiences occurring outside of Organized Course Sections and providing individual instruction in exchange for course credit do not require a Syllabus. Examples of such qualifying academic experiences include, but are not limited to:
- Dissertations,
- Independent Research,
- Internships, and
- Practicums.
Units may require some other documentation for these types of academic experiences that fall outside the Syllabus requirements.
H. Roles and Responsibilities
a. Registrar's Office
The Registrar's Office is responsible for the following:
- Determining whether any academic experience is eligible for an award of Academic Credit as defined in this Policy, and therefore would require a Syllabus.;
- Working with faculty, department chairs and unit leaders to address issues of faculty noncompliance;
- Escalating ongoing issues of faculty noncompliance to the appropriate Dean; and
- Administering the Syllabus platform on behalf of the University.
b. Instructors
Instructors are responsible for uploading all required Syllabi content to the University's online Syllabus platform, in accordance with the requirements described in this Policy and the related Procedure for Publishing Syllabi.
c. Department Chairs
Department Chairs (where applicable) or their designees are responsible for ensuring that all instructors in their department comply with this Policy, for providing written documentation of compliance to their Dean, and for escalating incidents of noncompliance to the Registrar's Office.
d. Deans
Deans or their designees are responsible for the following:
- Clarifying which Syllabus template(s) faculty within their School must use,
- Ensuring compliance with this Policy on behalf of their respective School or College,
- Providing written documentation of compliance to the Provost, and
- Escalating incidents of noncompliance to the Provost.
e. Provost
The Provost is responsible for the following:
- Certifying the University's compliance with UNC System Regulation 400.1.6[R] using whatever format the UNC System Office requires, and
- Resolving incidents of noncompliance consistent with all applicable HR and faculty policies and procedures.
Related Requirements
External Regulations
University Policies, Standards, and Procedures
Contact Information
Primary Contact
Title: Associate Provost and University Registrar
Unit: Office of the University Registrar
Email: Lauren.DiGrazia@unc.edu
Publication Details
Issuing Officer: Provost
Origination Date: August 25, 2026
Next Review Date: July 1, 2027