The CLAS syllabus template, revised for Fall 2026, can be found here. On the same page can also be found a supplemental document called CLAS Syllabus Resources. This document includes resources for instructors, resources for students, information about textbook ordering and pickup, and sample syllabus language about a variety of assignments and policies. Finally, on the same page can also be found a changelog, detailing the differences between each version of the syllabus template.
Syllabus Requirement
The University of Iowa and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences require that every organized course have a syllabus and that the syllabus follow the university requirements for information provided. Syllabi should be available to students on the course ICON site at the first-class meeting or otherwise given to students by that date, if not provided earlier.
As a reminder, the CLAS Syllabus Template contains everything you are required to include in your syllabus, including information you should tailor to your course, policies that need to be included verbatim or linked, and formatting expectations (for digital accessibility). You might remember that CLAS used to provide a syllabus insert that covered all necessary policies; the template takes the place of that insert.
Departmental Review of Syllabi
DEOs must review all syllabi to ensure compliance with UI and CLAS policies. This review should be completed before the start of the semester so corrections may be made before the first day of classes.
Overlap with Iowa BOR Requirements
The most recent revisions to the CLAS syllabus template were made in December 2025 (and shared here). The template now foregrounds the information required by Iowa BOR Policy 3.20 to be shared publicly by the first day of class:
- course title and number
- course description, including learning objectives
- outline of course topics
- required textbooks and materials; description of other readings
- types of assessments used in the course
This information is being collected and shared via MAUI and will be visible to students in MyUI by the first day of the fall 2026 semester. Although the information required by the BOR policy can typically be found in courses’ syllabi, the preparation and review of syllabi is still its own process, following requirements and timelines established by the college and departments.
Please contact CLAS Curriculum with any questions about the syllabus template or the course information reporting project.