Canvas Standards of Practice FAQ

See also:

Canvas by Instructure

The following are general standards of practice by the ATUS Canvas support team. See also: Canvas Help

What is the best way to get help with Canvas?
Emailing CanvasHelp@wwu.edu is the most efficient way to get assistance. Three staff members are available to monitor this account. We are usually able to respond within a business day or possibly within hours. To get your question answered most efficiently, please provide:

  • Your contact information
  • Specific course, assignment, quiz, person(s) involved that you are needing assistance with
  • If possible, a web link to the course will help expedite the issue. 

Can I change my password?

  1. For WWU accounts, passwords can be changed online or by visiting the ATUS Help Desk at Haggard Hall 123.
  2. For WWU Canvas guest accounts, click the Forgot Password link in the small login box. Enter the login ID, often the guest account's email address in all lowercase, and click Request Password. A link to reset the Canvas guest account password will be sent to the guest's email account.

Can I combine, merge, or cross-list courses?
Teachers of Canvas courses can do this, or you can request assistance via the Canvas Cross-list Request Form. Be sure to specify a primary course CRN, the course made visible after the merge. Please note: the primary course CRN will overwrite all secondary CRN course content after the cross-list process has been completed.

Can I add a teacher or TA to a course?
The instructor of record can add people in the teacher, TA, and designer roles in a Canvas course.

Can I add students to a course?
Based on institutional policy, neither WWU faculty nor Canvas Help are permitted to add students to CRN-based courses in Canvas, except in limited circumstances as approved by the Registrar Office. 

Can I add people to a non-CRN course? 
If you are listed with the teacher role, you can do this yourself or request assistance.

Is it possible to get a non-CRN course?
Non-CRN courses are useful for tutorials, committee work, and for working with majors or other collections of Western people. Contact CanvasHelp@wwu.edu to request the course.

When is my course available?
Courses become available at different times, depending on your role in the course. See details: When is my course available? Accessing Canvas Courses

When will my course conclude?
All CRN-based courses automatically conclude at the end of the day Friday after grades are due. 

Can I import course materials from one of my colleagues?
You can import course content from any course in which you are listed in the teacher role. If your colleague would like to add you, even temporarily, as a teacher to the class, then you would be able to perform the import. In some cases, that person is not available to do this. In order for Canvas Help to do this on your behalf, we would need an email from either the department chair or the instructor of record indicating permission and specific courses. Please contact CanvasHelp@wwu.edu for assistance.