The syllabus is a critical document for any course, regardless of the teaching and learning venue. Syllabi assume greater importance in online courses than in other courses. In online courses, the syllabus must accomplish the following:

• Provide reassurance, support, and guidance to students who will not have the benefit of the instructor's physical presence
• Communicate what technologies students must be able to access and what competencies the students must posses in order to participate in the course
• Provide additional information clearly and in detail, in order to anticipate and deal with expected technical and communications challenges
• Communicate the unique nature of the course environment, how it differs from past courses that the student has experienced, and what the student must do to adapt