FAQs
Admin Questions
Help! I don't see my course in Canvas!
Email us at [email protected]. Make sure to mention the course subject/number and the CRN (5-digit section number).
If you haven't actually requested a course shell yet, mention that and tell us if you want an empty shell or content copied from a previous course. If you have requested a course shell, mention that too, as it will help us to investigate your problem.
What's the difference between a master shell and a teaching shell?
Master shells hold content that we migrated for you from eCollege. They're for reviewing and editing that content, students will never see master shells. Teaching shells are ones you use for actual teaching, student enrollment for your class gets loaded into them.
You can identify a teaching shell because it has a 5-digit CRN in the name, like ENG120 (15873). A master shell will have MASTER or MST in the name, like MST_ENG120_wjones20_081215.
Why are there no students in my teaching shell?
We start to load students into your teaching shell three weeks before the first day of class. If you don't see students in your class after that then you should email us at [email protected].
You can check for your students by clicking on People in the left-hand menu of your Canvas course.
How do I request a Canvas shell for my class?
Email us at [email protected]. Make sure to mention the course subject/number and the CRN (5-digit section number).
Where can I find Canvas resources online?
When you're logged into Canvas, click on the Help link in the upper right-hand corner. In the pop-up menu click on Search the Canvas Guides. The Canvas Guides are a great knowledge base and cover almost every question you could ask about Canvas.
The Canvas Guides also provide a great Canvas Instructor Getting Started Guide.
Technical Questions
Where can I get technical support for Canvas?
Call Canvas 24/7 tech support at 844.326.6322.
How do I reorganize my course menu in Canvas?
In your course, click on Settings at the bottom of the left-hand menu. In the top middle of the screen, click on the Navigation tab. Drag and drop menu items to reorder them, or pull them to the bottom list to hide them from students. Don't forget to save changes at the bottom of the page.
Canvas has a great user guide on how to reorganize your course menu.
How do I send my class an email?
Access email in Canvas by clicking on the Inbox link in the upper right-hand corner. To send an email to your class, click on the Compose Message icon at the top middle of the screen. In the message editor click on Course and select the course section you want to email. In the To: field click on the address book icon and select Students.
Canvas has a great user guide on how to send your class an email.
How can I request students with Incompletes access to my old course shell to complete their work?
Instructor requests for opening access to closed Canvas courses for students with Incompletes should now be submitted in the following webform.
https://tiny.emich.edu/incompletes
Learn more about the Incomplete form.