Further to this communication from the Office of the Provost and Vice-President Academic (dated Wednesday, June 25, 2025 attached) regarding the recent government directive issued by the Minister of Colleges and Universities—which requires universities to “ensure that students are informed of the costs of all textbooks and other learning materials that are mandatory and optional in the course syllabus for each course” starting in fall 2025.

The Cite Office implemented a new section in the Canvas Syllabus to help instructors meet the reporting requirements, in support of compliance with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities’ directive effective Fall 2025.

Description
The Canvas syllabus template now includes a new section titled “Costs of Educational Materials” under the Course Materials tab on the Update Syllabus page.

This section allows instructors to:

    • Indicate whether cost information has been included in the syllabus
    • Confirm compliance by selecting one of two checkboxes:
      • ✅ I confirm this syllabus includes the required cost information
      • ❌ I do not confirm this syllabus includes the required cost information

 This feature is live effective July 14, 2025, and will apply to all courses being prepared for Fall 2025 and beyond.

 

Instructor Action Required
Instructors will be prompted to validate their selection before the course is published
This confirmation is required to support institutional compliance with the Ministry directive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does this section have to be completed?
A: Yes. An option must be selected in order to publish the syllabus.
Q: Who is required to complete this section?
A: The instructor has ultimate responsibility to review this section and ensure completion.
Q: Can only an instructor select an option?
A: No. Course support staff assisting in the preparation of the syllabus can either:

  1. consult with the instructor to select an option, or
  2. select “I do not confirm”. This option still allows the course to proceed while flagging it for follow-up and final review by the instructor.
Q: Can I update my selection later?
A: Yes. Instructors can revisit and change the selection at any time before or after publication.
Q: Will this impact content that has been rolled over from previous terms?
A: No. Rolled-over content will not be affected, but the new section must still be completed for the current term.