Syllabus Management Tool Project

Project Overview 

Over the past few years, the University of Alberta has recognized the critical need for a syllabus management tool that integrates with our existing systems while improving consistency, efficiency and accessibility. The current lack of a unified syllabus tool has created a gap in our ability to manage institutional curriculum data and operate more effectively. The Syllabus Management Tool Project, led by the Learning Initiatives unit, will close this gap starting with early-adopting faculties in Fall 2024.

Currently, some faculties have developed in-house templates and databases in eClass. Other faculties have prioritized a Syllabus Management Tool in their IT Roadmap submissions. Transitioning to a single institutional tool aligns with our Operating Model’s principles to automate and standardize processes. 

The universal Syllabus Management Tool will:

  • Standardize and report on syllabi across the university
  • Reduce faculty and staff workload by eliminating manual updates in multiple places 
  • Provide consistent information on course delivery, exams, proctoring requirements and accommodations
  • Ensure universal compliance with institutional policies on academic misconduct, expectations and grading
  • Streamline the resolution of student complaints related to the syllabus and its application 
  • Provide students with access to past syllabi before registration for improved academic planning

Project Timeline 

 

June 2023
Project initiation and planning
August 2023
Request for proposal and procurement
January - July 2024
System Build and Integration
July 2024 - April 2025
Phase 1: Onboard faculties already familiar with a syllabus tool for Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 courses. Identify key improvement areas with the tool to refine the onboarding process for the next phase.
July 2025 - June 2026

Phase 2: Onboard the majority of  faculties who are not currently using a syllabus tool for Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Spring 2026 and Summer 2026 courses.

July - October 2026
Phase 3: Onboard Faculties that require more time to change processes. Further refine the tool to meet challenging technical requirements where needed.
October 2026
All faculties are using the tool and the project is complete.

 

Feedback 

During this process, your feedback on the project is critical to ensure we meet the needs of stakeholders across the institution. If you have any questions, please contact syllabus@ualberta.ca

Project Team

Karsten Mündel, Vice Provost (Learning Initiatives)
Robert Brennan, Senior Project Manager (Office of the Provost)
Vanessa Grabia, Director (Office of Education, College of Social Sciences & Humanities - Dean's Office)
Ifeoma Moseri, Business Analyst (IST)

 

Implementation Team

Robert Brennan, Senior Project Manager (Office of the Provost)
Greg Gibeau, Sr. Cloud Software Developer (Information Services & Technology - Teaching & Learning Services)
Christopher Goetz, Team Lead, Support and Configuration (Information Services & Technology - Teaching & Learning Services)
Trevor Jones, Sr. Cloud Software Developer (Information Services & Technology - Teaching & Learning Services)
Dave Laurie, Senior eClass Support Analyst (Information Services & Technology - Teaching & Learning Services)
Ifeoma Moseri, Business Analyst (IST)
Jeff Rawlings, Director, Digital Learning Environment (Information Services & Technology - Teaching & Learning Services)

 

Syllabus Management Tool Steering Committee

Robert Brennan, Senior Project Manager (Office of the Provost)
Ken Cor, Clinical Associate Professor (Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Jason Carey, Dean (Campus Saint-Jean)
Jaime Chan, Executive Assistant (Provost and Vice-President Academic - Admin)
Vanessa Grabia, Director (Office of Education, College of Social Sciences & Humanities - Dean's Office)
Pierre Mertiny, Professor (Faculty of Engineering - Mechanical Engineering Department)
Ifeoma Moseri, Business Analyst (IST)
Karsten Mündel, Vice Provost (Learning Initiatives)
Rebecca Nagel, Associate Professor (Faculty of Arts - History, Classics, & Religion Department)
Lise Niyuhire, Senior Officer, Innovation & Technology (Dean's Office, Campus Saint-Jean)
James Park, Technologies in Education, Learning Design Consultant (Dean's Office, Faculty of Education)
Robert Perez, Director Enterprise Information Governance (PAIR - Performance, Analytics and Institutional Research)
Jeff Rawlings, Director, Digital Learning Environment (Information Services & Technology - Teaching & Learning Services)
Deanna Singhal, Faculty Services Officer (Faculty of Science)
Bradon Valgardson, Portfolio Initiatives Manager (Provost & Vice-President Academic - Admin)
Deborah Williams, AVP, Institutional Reporting & CAO (PAIR - Performance, Analytics and Institutional Research)
Leo Wong, Associate Dean (Business Office of Education)