Hocking College was named the 2025 Design Star Award recipient by Simple Higher Ed, recognizing the institution’s outstanding commitment to student success through innovative and student-centered syllabus design.
The Design Star award is part of the Syllabus Awards, presented annually by Simple Higher Ed, which identifies institutions that excel in their course design, communication and engagement with students.
Each syllabus at Hocking College is designed with students in mind and includes motivational language, visual elements and a conversational tone that helps students feel connected and confident from the start and is intentionally structured into two sections: the Course Guide and Evaluation, which outlines objectives, materials, assignments, and grading criteria; and Institutional Resources and Policies, which ensures accuracy and consistency across all courses.
Hocking’s approach combines accessibility with a personal tone, using phrases such as “In this course, you will learn to…” and including sections like “Tips for Succeeding in This Course” and “What to Typically Expect When You Go to Class.” The result is a syllabus that not only informs but inspires.
Simple Higher Ed recognized the 2025 Syllabus Awards winners during a live announcement on Nov. 12 at 11 a.m. Eastern.
View all 2025 Syllabus Award winners here.
For more information about Hocking’s academic programs, visit www.hocking.edu.