Canvas is a widely-used learning management system (LMS) used to deliver course content and host online learning activities. It offers tools for instructors to develop, deliver, and administer course materials and activities online. 

For help with Canvas, contact the Instructional Media Lab at instruct@umass.edu to set up an appointment.

Canvas course request overview

Please review the following information before you submit a Canvas course request in SPIRE.

• Only the primary instructor of record can request a Canvas course. Requests for courses are processed through SPIRE.
• You must have a Canvas-eligible class or classes. Review our eligibility information for an overview of criteria.
• You must request a Canvas course each term that you want to use it. New course requests are necessary for each subsequent new term.
• You will receive a confirmation email when your Canvas course is ready to use. Wait to receive this email before opening your new course to set up your course tools or to add content.

Part 1: Choose class section(s) to include in a Canvas course

1. On your SPIRE Center, select the Faculty Center tile. Under the Learning Management Systems heading, select the Canvas Course Request page. The Choose a Term page opens.
2. On the Choose a Term page, select the academic term for which you want to request a Canvas course. The Choose Course Type page opens.
3. On the Choose Course Type page, under Class sections currently not assigned to a Learning Management System (LMS) is a list of your Canvas-eligible class sections for the selected term. Decide if you want to request a Canvas course for a single class section or combine multiple class sections into one Canvas course.
   
   • You must fill out a separate request for each Canvas course you want to request.
   • If you have no Canvas-eligible classes for your selected term, you will not see the heading Class sections currently not assigned to a Learning Management System (LMS).
   • Further down on the Choose Course Type page, under the heading Class sections already requested in Canvas this term, is a list of the classes for which you already requested Canvas courses (if any).
4. On the Choose Course Type page, under How many class sections will this Canvas Course include?:
   
   • Select One class section to request a Canvas course for a single class section.
   • Select Multiple class sections (combined in one Canvas course) to combine multiple-section or cross-listed classes into a single Canvas course.

   • Click Continue. Depending on your choice, the next page will be Choose a Class Section or Choose Class Sections to Combine.

5. On the Choose a Class Section or Choose Class Sections to Combine page:
   
   • If you changed your mind about the number of class sections to include in your Canvas course, click Back to return to the Choose Course Type page.
   • If you are requesting a single section course, select a class section and click Request single-section Canvas course.
   • If you are requesting to combine multiple section or cross-listed classes into a single Canvas course, select the check boxes for all of the class sections that you want to include and click Request multiple-section Canvas course. A Confirm Class Sections to Combine page opens, listing the class sections. Click Combine sections into one Canvas course, or, to change the sections to combine, click Back.

   The Review Course Content & Submit page opens.

Part 2: Review course content & submit

1. The top of the Review Course Content & Submit page lists the class section(s) comprising your Canvas course request, followed by your contact information. Review this information to ensure it is correct.
2. Use the Comments box to provide any additional information you might want to communicate to the Canvas administrators.
3. Click Submit. The Confirmation page opens.

Part 3: Confirmation page

The message on the Confirmation page displays the email address that the Canvas administrators will use to notify you when your course is ready to use. The email message provides links to instructions for you to set up your course, depending on whether you will reuse a previous course, build a course from scratch, have permission to copy another instructor’s course, or will move course content from Online Education (Blackboard). The email also contains contact information for getting help with Canvas.

It will take at least one business day for the Canvas administrators to create your course and send you the email.

•  To request another course for this semester, click Request Another Course.

•  To check the status of your Canvas Course request, on your SPIRE Center, select the Faculty Center tile. Under the Learning Management Systems heading, select the My Canvas Courses page.