How do I upload a file to the Syllabus tool?

Instructors and TAs can upload a Word or other document to the Syllabus tool in UVACanvas to make it easy for students to find via the Course Navigation Menu.

Tip: To ensure that all students, regardless of their abilities, have equal access to essential course content such as the syllabus, documents should be checked for accessibility before they are uploaded to a course. To learn more about creating accessible documents, see the UVA Accessibility page: Accessible Document Creation (opens new window).

Go to Syllabus.

Screenshot of link in menu.

Select Syllabus from the Course Navigation Menu.

Edit the page.

Screenshot of the Course Syllabus page with the Edit button outlined.

Select the Edit button on the Course Syllabus page.

Position your cursor in the editor.

Screenshot example of the editor with text and an arrow pointing out the cursor.

Position your cursor where you want to embed the syllabus.

Upload the document.

Screenshot of the steps described below.
  1. Select the Insert button from the toolbar.
  2. Hover over or tab to the Document option in the drop-down menu.
  3. Select Upload Document.

Note: If you have already uploaded your syllabus to your course's Files tool, you may select Course Documents to choose the existing file.

Drag and drop the file to upload or select to choose a file.

Screenshot of a file being dragged and dropped from a computer.
  1. Drag and drop the file to upload into the Upload File box,
  2. Or select the Upload File area. Then, choose the file to upload from your computer.

Select Submit.

Screenshot of the Submit button in the Upload File dialog box.

When the file has finished uploading, select Submit.

You can change the text of a file's link and how the document will display to students on the Syllabus page.

Screenshot of the editor with the Link Options button outlined.
  1. Select the text of the file's link.
  2. Select Link Options from the menu that pops up.
Screenshot of the Link Options menu.

In the Text field, edit the link text if desired.

Tip: You can find recommendations for creating accessible link text in How can I make links accessible? (opens new window).

Set a display option.

Screenshot displaying the Link Options side panel.

You may choose between three Display Options that will change the layout of an uploaded file on a page: Disable Preview, Preview in overlay, and Preview inline.

Tip: Choosing Preview inline and Expand preview by Default will display the document directly on the Syllabus page for students.

Display Options: Student View

Open a section below for a screenshot example and description of how a linked document will display for students with the selected Display Options.

Disable Preview.
Screenshot of the disable preview layout.

Disable preview prevents students from previewing the document on the Syllabus page. To view the document, students will need to download the file to their device.

Preview in overlay.
Screenshot of the preview in overlay layout.

Preview in overlay allows students to open a preview of the document in a window that overlays the Syllabus page.

Preview inline
Screenshot of the preview inline layout.

Preview Inline allows students to preview the document on the Syllabus page without opening another window or downloading the file. Students can toggle the inline preview of the file on or off to minimize or maximize the display.

If you would like the document to be maximized by default when students visit the page, select the option to Expand preview by default in the Display Options settings.

Select Done.

Screenshot displaying the Link Options side panel with the Done button outlined.

Select Done when you have finished setting the Link Options.

Update the syllabus.

Screenshot of the Update Syllabus button below the Rich Content Editor.

Select the Update Syllabus button to save changes.