This page contains important information about how to:
Students and TAs who cannot log in to Canvas should contact the IT Support Center. Instructors who have trouble logging in should contact the Instructional Media Lab.
Once you have logged in to Canvas, you can access your courses from Canvas Dashboard. If you don't see your course under Published Courses, scroll down to Unpublished Courses, you should be able to find your course there.
If your course is appearing under Unpublished Courses, it is hidden from students but visible to you. You have the option to publish it for preview week. Courses are automatically published at the start of the semester. If you requested your course after those dates, you would need to publish the course manually.
Please note that Canvas courses will remain available to instructors for 18 months after the end of the semester when the course is taught, after which the course will be deleted.
Your course will be empty except for a template to help you get started.
There are two options for content migration: Concierge Migration and Content-Copy Migration. For more information please see the Course Migration Request form. Please note that migrated content will be available for you approximately a month prior to the beginning of the term.
To make your course available (or unavailable) to students, see Published vs. Unpublished: Making Things Visible to Students.
Your departmental Academic Scheduling Representative is responsible for enrolling your TA(s) in SPIRE. Graduate TAs should be enrolled as "Teaching Assistant Section Leader" and Undergraduate TAs as "Moodle/BB." Once associated with a class in SPIRE, TA(s) will automatically be given access to the Canvas course.
To allow a TA to add content to your course or manage the gradebook, see Access to Canvas for Teaching Assistants.
Whether you are new to Canvas or just want a few tips, we have several ways you can get help. We especially recommend that first-time users of Canvas get at least some basic training.
Instructors are responsible for following applicable rules when posting copies of other people’s work on Canvas. It is best to get permission or use open access materials (such as public domain or Creative Commons licensed works). You can freely link to electronic materials available in the UMass Library (databases, eBooks, digital reserves, etc.) However, if none of these are available, instructors should familiarize themselves with the rules of fair use before posting. Post only the minimum amount that is necessary to meet instructional goals or that fits within a reasonable fair use assessment. To learn more about copyright and to access a fair use assessment worksheet, see Copyright Resources.