HelioCampus is the syllabus tool used in Canvas to create, edit, publish, and copy course syllabi. Faculty can use this guide to prepare a syllabus, complete required fields, and make the syllabus available to students.
Important reminder: Course syllabus information is publicly available on each course offering page for prospective students. Prepare your syllabus well ahead of the term start so you have time to review the information and request any necessary course updates. See the frequently asked questions for guidance on updating information that comes from other systems.
Adding the Course Syllabus to Course Navigation
If Course Syllabus does not appear in your Canvas course navigation, enable it in the course settings.
Important note: Canvas may display two syllabus links: Course Syllabus and Syllabus. Use Course Syllabus and keep Syllabus hidden from students.
- Sign in to Canvas.
- Open the Canvas course.
- Select Settings from the course navigation.
- Select the Navigation tab.
- In the list of hidden items, locate Course Syllabus and select Enable.
- Move Course Syllabus below Home in the course navigation.
- Select Save.
Editing the Syllabus
HelioCampus automatically publishes syllabi two weeks before the term begins. Complete your edits before that date to prevent students from seeing an incomplete syllabus. You can continue editing after publication, but avoid extensive changes after the course begins.
Important note: Before copying content from an existing syllabus, convert PDF files to Word format. Copying directly from a PDF can introduce formatting errors in the HelioCampus syllabus editor.
- Select Course Syllabus from the Canvas course navigation. If it is not visible, complete the steps in Adding the Course Syllabus to Course Navigation.
- On the HelioCampus Course Syllabus landing page, select Edit.
- Complete each editable field labeled Required or University Recommended. Optional fields appear only when used. Course information, including the course description and faculty contact information, is populated automatically from the Student Information System (SIS).
Note: Noneditable fields labeled University Recommended contain standard text that appears automatically in the syllabus. -
Under Course Policies, locate Student Generative AI (GenAI) Use and enter your course-level GenAI use statement. Include the appropriate red, yellow, or green designation and any additional guidance for students. To support accurate compliance reporting, use only this designated section.
Note: The statement is required for Engineering for Professionals (EP) faculty and recommended for all other faculty. EP faculty can refer to Faculty Facing Guidance on Student Generative AI-Use for policy guidance. - Select Save & Exit.
Previewing, Publishing, or Resetting the Syllabus
After you save the syllabus, you can preview, publish, reset, print, or export it.
- Preview: Select Export, then select Preview. Do not use Student View in Canvas to preview the syllabus.
- Publish: Select Publish to make the syllabus available to students.
- Reset: Resetting the syllabus removes your changes and cannot be undone. To start with a new template, select Reset.
From the Export menu, you can also print the syllabus or save it as a PDF or Word file.
Copying the Syllabus
If multiple faculty teach sections of the same course, coordinate syllabus language before editing. Use Actions > Copy From to copy an edited syllabus between course sections or academic terms.
When copying, select both Syllabus and Course Learning Outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
To update the Preferred First Name or Default Email displayed in your syllabus, update your profile in myJH. The change should appear in HelioCampus within 24 hours.
Confirm the change with the other faculty and program chairs for the course. Then email jhep@jhu.edu to request an update to the Student Information System (SIS).
The syllabus may not be published in HelioCampus. Open Course Syllabus from the Canvas course navigation and check the button at the top of the page. If the button displays Publish, select it to publish the syllabus. If it displays Revert to Faculty Pending, the syllabus is already published. If students still cannot access it, contact CMTS at CMTShelp@jhu.edu.
Getting Help
For help using Course Syllabus in Canvas or HelioCampus, submit a request to CMTS or email CMTShelp@jhu.edu.
For help selecting or drafting GenAI policy language, review Faculty Facing Guidance on Student Generative AI-Use or contact the Center for Teaching and Learning Design at ctld@jhu.edu.