I'm in favor of putting syllabi on the web too. In addition to the reasons you mention (all of which I agree with), there's also the potential help it can give to colleagues who are trying to think of interesting things to do with their own syllabi.
I think your rationale for posting syllabi makes sense, particularly posting reading lists. I'm going to have to think about this, so that even if I want to keep the reading list to myself at the beginning of the semester, it might be good to collect it, post it, and keep it up after the course is over.
Thanks for sharing.
jwb
You know, one of my standard methods of preparing syllabi is to get online and google for syllabi on the same topic, or to google specific book titles and "syllabus" to see what other people are assigning. It's been incredibly helpful, so I really appreciate your rationale. I have to confess that I'm going to be using WebCT this semester and I'm not sure if I'm going to take the time to put my syllabi on a separate webpage or not, but you've definitely made me consider why I should take the time.
I also think your argument for doing this is sound.
There seems to be pressuring building on my campus, too, for all faculty to use WebCT, and I sense at some point it will be required (though I hope my union will fight that). I have problems with being forced to use a specific platform, especially one that is making someone a lot of money, when open source solutions are available. I also don't really like WebCT. I used Blackboard when it was free, but my college decided to go with the cheaper WebCT when they started charging despite faculty preference for WebCT.
Adding to the chorus of agreement --
It's also handy if you're job hunting to have all your materials online; just one line in the email and there it all is, available for the search committee to see, even before your hard-copy portfolio arrives. Plus there are the unexpected benefits; I had one former student contact me this year who needed a copy of the syllabus in order to get transfer credit for my course, and it was nice to be able to just direct him to my website.
Rana
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