We are provided with the syllabus from our parent campus. I believe that the key is even if everyone has the same syllabus you need to make it your own through the use of a perpectus. Also you need follow through, for example don't list activities if they are not really going to be taken place within the course. For instance, don't tell your students you will have a guest speaker and never have one show up or you don't have time for one within the course. Don't set dates for tests and move them to other dates; this will tend to lose the students and thier confidence.