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In addition to class syllabi, new regulation would require reading lists to be publicized
In an effort to increase transparency, the board governing Florida’s state universities may soon require professors to post required course reading lists and textbooks publicly, along with their class syllabi.
The regulation “will provide greater transparency for students to make informed decisions as they select courses prior to registering,” an agenda item from the State University System of Florida Board of Governors’ Sept. 11 meeting states.
The change could be up for a vote at the next board meeting on Nov. 5 and would affect the system’s 12 public universities, Politico reports.
Currently, Florida’s state universities are required to publish course syllabi with the “curriculum, the goals, objectives, and student expectations of the course, and how student performance will be measured,” according to the agenda item.
“The proposed amendment would now require course syllabi to also include the required and recommended textbooks and instructional materials, the grading scale, and the student assignments, including required readings,” it states.
The information must be posted at least 45 days before the start of class, and must remain in the database for at least five years, according to the proposal.
Jenna Robinson, president of the conservative James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal, told Politico the change would promote “basic accountability.”
“We need to ensure professors are teaching what the course is supposed to be about,” Robinson said.
However, the proposal received pushback from some faculty during the board meeting in September. As Politico reports:
Several faculty members, in comments to the Board of Governors, raised similar concerns, wondering if the policy could open them up to become “fodder for harassment by outsiders” who have motives to “restrict academic freedom” and target certain books or subjects.
“What they want is to sort of unleash the online mob on certain faculty,” said Robert Cassanello, president of the United Faculty of Florida union, and a professor at the University of Central Florida. “That’s what this is all about, scrutinizing what everybody is reading without context.” …
Additionally, some faculty noted they typically aren’t under contract 45 days before some semesters start, raising questions about how to fulfill the criteria. Conversely, Georgia’s policy requires syllabus information to be posted one week ahead of classes this year, and at the time of registration starting in fall 2026.
Georgia instituted a similar measure in May, requiring its 26 state universities to publish course syllabi on their websites, The College Fix reported.
MORE: George Washington U. hides syllabus promoting book equating conservatism and racism
