Websites for most higher learning institutions list brief descriptions of programs of study and courses, but they don’t disclose the topics of discussion, required reading, writing assignments, or student expectations.
Without greater transparency, students might not have all the information needed to thoroughly consider schools and majors. A growing number of public university systems are trying to change that.
Florida is the latest, joining Texas, Ohio, Indiana, and Georgia. The State University System of Florida Board of Governors passed a resolution on Nov. 6 requiring public colleges and universities to post the syllabi, textbooks, student evaluation procedures, instructor resumes, and other information online 45 days before class begins and maintain that information on the campus website for five years.
Texas’ university system became the first in the nation to pass such regulations in 2009. Indiana and Georgia’s requirements began this year and Ohio’s goes into effect at the start of the 2026–2027 academic year.
Syllabi at Florida public colleges and universities are expected to be available to the public via campus websites before the upcoming spring semester begins in January.
The James Martin Center for Academic Renewal, which has advocated for syllabus transparency since 2008, said disclosure about course and program information is also important to help students determine if and where their college credits can transfer.
The Texas State University website, for example, provides extensive information about its Gender and Society sociology course, including the learning objectives, a description of the reading assignments, the specific topics for required papers, and guidance for participating in classroom discussions.
“Disagree with ideas, rather than with people,” the course syllabus says. “When making an argument during class, be sure to back up your claims with evidence, rather than simply stating your opinions.”
In instances with high survey participation rates, student opinions of instructors and courses are also posted on the website.
By contrast, the website listing for a similar class at a State University of New York campus provides only a brief overview of the course and the number of credits.
Samuel Abrams, a professor at Sarah Lawrence College in New York and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, applauded the Florida Board of Governors’ resolution, saying that syllabi transparency should be welcomed everywhere.
“Transparency about what we teach isn’t the enemy of academic freedom; it’s a chance to rebuild public trust and model the kind of open intellectual inquiry universities claim to cherish,” Abrams wrote in a Nov. 12 American Enterprise Institute website posting.
Many public college and university professors in the Sunshine State don’t support the requirement. The United Faculty of Florida union, on its Facebook, shared an article from FSView & Florida Flambeau that brought up safety concerns, saying instructors are “terrified” that the times and locations of classes are publicized.
The Faculty United Service Association, the professors’ union at Hillsborough Community College, called the additional requirements of posting reading requirements and assignment descriptions “onerous and unrealistic.”
