Canvas is built using web standards and runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, or any other device with an up-to-date web browser. Canvas supports the latest two versions of every browser release and plugin. It is highly recommended that all users update to the newest version of their preferred internet browser and plug-ins.
Supported Internet browsers
Not Recommended
Note: *Users may need to download the Windows 10 Anniversary Update to submit Canvas assignments
Tip: for more information and links to download the latest internet browsers, please see the Which browsers does Canvas support? Canvas help guide
Plug-ins & extensions
Canvas requires the following browser plug-ins for certain actions:
*Adobe Flash Player is integrated with the Chrome browser and enabled by default
**If you have trouble installing the Java file for screen sharing in Conferences, you may need to update Java to the most recent version.
Depending on your use of Canvas, some files and media may require downloading and viewing with free external software:
Computer speed, operating systems & screen size
Canvas requirements mostly impact your internet browser version and plug-ins. In fact, any operating system capable of supporting the most recent versions of common internet browsers should meet minimum Canvas requirements:
Computer Speed and Processor
Operating system
Mobile operating system
Screen size
Note: 800x600 pixels is the average size of a notebook computer. If you want to view Canvas on a device with a smaller screen, Canvas recommends you use the free Canvas mobile app.
Additional recommended hardware
Faculty often find that incorporating rich media interactions into their course can increase student engagement. Canvas supports web conferencing, media-rich discussion threads and media assignment submissions. The following hardware is recommended to take advantage of these engaging tools:
OIT does not provide microphones, speakers or webcams with standard desktop systems. Users are responsible for obtaining their own hardware if needed. Multimedia hardware is often available in classrooms where there are workstations present.
Note: Canvas is accessible through Safari, Chrome, and Firefox mobile web browsers. However, Canvas is not officially supported on mobile web browsers and some features may not function as expected. Faculty are encouraged to use the Teacher app on mobile devices.
You can use the Canvas Teacher app to grade assignments with text, audio/video, and rubric feedback for your students, create and manage course discussions, view quiz submissions, create course announcements, and send personal messages to students.
Browse Canvas Teacher iOS Guides
Note: Canvas is accessible through Chrome, Firefox, and other mobile web browsers. However, Canvas is not officially supported on mobile web browsers and some features may not function as expected. Faculty are encouraged to use the Teacher app on mobile devices.
You can use the Canvas Teacher app to grade assignments with text, audio/video, and rubric feedback for your students, create and manage course discussions, view quiz submissions, create course announcements, and send personal messages to students.
Browse Canvas Teacher Android Guides
Course shells are automatically created eight to ten weeks in advance of the beginning of each term. After logging in, click the “All Courses” link on your Courses menu to locate all your courses. Please see the Canvas guide How do I customize my Course list? for more detailed instruction.
Request a Prep Space course to develop your course earlier than eight weeks prior to the term. Faculty can develop content and copy the course content and settings into the official course shell when it is available.
No. Student enrollments are processed automatically based on information from the Registrar's office. Multiple updates each day will keep enrollments up to date based on student adds and drops from the Registrar's office. Should you encounter a delay of more than 24 hours please contact the Canvas Faculty support team at (833)250-2081 or email support@instructure.com.
Officially enrolled students can access a course when a faculty member publishes their course. Faculty can publish their course once enrollments have been processed eight to ten weeks prior to each term.
Once the terms ends, students are guaranteed access to their courses through their last day to remove "I" incomplete grades (3 full weeks into the following term, and 3 full weeks into fall quarter for both spring and summer courses). Faculty may wish to restrict student access to courses from previous terms by modifying course settings.
Faculty who are assigned to a course and listed in the Registrar’s databases may add fellow faculty, teaching assistants, course designers and librarians to their course using the People tab.
Note: Canvas use is restricted to Seattle University Faculty, Staff and Students. Faculty are responsible for ensuring that all individuals who are added in roles other than “Student” have completed FERPA training. Faculty may not manually add or remove individuals as “Student” into their course, please see the Can I add and remove students from my course? FAQ for more information.Guide
Each course in Canvas has a file storage quota of 500 MB. If you reach this limit, you may get a message stating, “Error: File Size Exceeds Quota.” Occasionally, the error does not appear but you will be unable to upload files. The following guide will help you manage and reduce your storage usage if necessary.
Guide
Course sections may be merged under certain conditions. Due to FERPA regulations, faculty must ensure that students in separate courses do not see or interact with each other in any way inside Canvas. FERPA restrictions do not apply to a merged Canvas course if students physically meet in the same classroom at the same time. If you would like to merge course sections, contact the Canvas Faculty support team at (833)250-2081 or email support@instructure.com.
Officially cross-listed courses are merged into one Canvas site automatically based on records from the Office of the Registrar. Please review your course information on SU Online to verify that your course is cross-listed.
Note: merge Canvas course sites before the quarter begins. Student submission data could be lost if merging occurs after students have interacted inside your Canvas course site.
Tip: Please read through the Complying with FERPA in Merged Courses guide before making the decision to manually merge courses into one Canvas site - even if FERPA restrictions do not apply. This guide contains strategies for distributing content, communicating and facilitating interactions with students in individual course sections inside a merged Canvas course site.Guide
Application integrations are the process of bringing data or functionality from an external application into Canvas. Integrations can be advantageous to expand the core capabilities of Canvas and many applications now have this ability. However, because Canvas contains FERPA-protected data and integrations can significantly modify how Canvas works, CDLI must evaluate and approve integrations, except those that are implemented for a single course. Depending on the extent of the integration, a review can take several weeks and if approved, the actual work of applying the integration may also take several weeks.
To request the integration of an external application within Canvas, follow the instructions in the guide below:
Guide
Many resources from the Seattle University Library can be incorporated into Canvas, including Librarians themselves, direct links to full text articles and ebooks, library research (subject) guides and a library course guide customized for your class. Please see the guide for details.
Guide
Tip: SU Librarians can also be added to a Canvas course to assist faculty and students. Please see the Can I add and remove additional faculty, TA's, designers and librarians to a course? FAQ for more information.
Canvas course titles are based on official records from The Office of the Registrar.
Please review your course information on SU Online to verify that your course title has been input incorrectly through the Registrar. If so, contact your department's Administrative Assistant to correct this error. Once the change is made, Canvas will automatically update with the correct title within the next business day.
If SU Online shows the correct course title, the Canvas Faculty support team at (833)250-2081 or email support@instructure.com to request assistance with your Canvas course.
Access to Seattle University Systems, including Canvas, is dependent on the Human Resources/Faculty Services on-boarding processes. Due to a number of legal and policy reasons, access to Canvas is not provided until new faculty have completed the on-boarding process. At the request of sponsoring departments, Faculty Services has options for providing new faculty access to SU systems (Canvas, SU email, etc.) up to six weeks in advance of the contracted term. Please contact Faculty Services to discuss options.
In the meantime, new faculty can create an account on Instructure’s Canvas Free-for-Teachers service. The Free-for-Teachers Canvas site is largely identical to the SU Canvas environment (without SU student enrollments). Materials developed in free-for-teachers can later be imported into Seattle University’s Canvas course sites after the SU faculty on-boarding process is complete.
Link
Guide
Non-Course Groups in Canvas support online document sharing, communication, collaboration and scheduling for SU faculty, students and staff. They are not bound to official SU course enrollments and exist outside of quarter or semester schedules.
An example might be a Non-Course Group that supports a specific program cohort spanning multiple quarters. Non-Course Groups provide participants the ability to share information, files, have discussions, create wiki pages and collaborate on online documents.
Important: Non-Course Group sites require manual setup, identification of a designated group administrator(s), and they have an approval process. To request a non-course group review and complete the Terms of Use for Canvas Non-Course Groups and accompanying request form. Once created, the Non-Course Group administrator(s) are responsible for adding/removing participants.Request a Site
Guides
Tip: Non-Course Groups are often created to facilitate scheduling for student advising appointments. Please see the Calendar section of the Canvas Instructor Guide for more information.
Get answers fast from the Canvas support team:
Faculty Canvas Support Hotline: 833-250-2081
Email: support@instructure.com
Note: Your students should contact the Student Support Hotline at: 844-668-0893