University of Michigan-Dearborn Canvas Student Guide

This guide provides essential information for students at the University of Michigan-Dearborn on how to navigate and utilize Canvas, the university's learning management system. Canvas is a crucial tool for accessing course materials, submitting assignments, participating in discussions, and staying informed about important announcements.

Course Availability and Access

Understanding when and how courses become available in Canvas is essential for effective planning and participation. The availability of courses varies depending on the semester and whether the course is manually or automatically published.

Instructor Access

Instructors of record and assistants gain access to courses before students. For instance, courses become available to the instructor(s) of record and assistants around March 10. Notifications for announcements, changes to course content, etc. will not be sent until the course becomes available to students. This may be a few days earlier or later depending on finalization of cross-listings in Banner. Similarly, for another period, courses become available to the instructor(s) of record and assistants around November 12. Notifications for announcements, changes to course content, etc. will not be sent until the course becomes available to students. And again, around July 2, courses become available to the instructor(s) of record and assistants, but notifications to students will not be generated at this time.

Student Access

The process for student access differs between manually published and automatically published courses.

Manually Published Courses

Manually published courses may become available to fully registered students before the automatic publication date, at the discretion of the instructor. Notifications to students for announcements, changes to course content, etc. will be sent to students for any content changed/published today in published courses. It is imperative that no academic assignments are required prior to the official first day of the semester. Examples include:

Summer/Summer I courses: Some may become available around April 28 to fully registered students.
Summer II courses: Some may become available around June 23 to fully registered students.
General courses: Some may become available around December 31 to fully registered students.
General courses: Some may become available around August 20 to fully registered students.

Automatically Published Courses

All courses are automatically published and become available to students by the end of the day on specific dates.

Summer/Summer I courses: All become available around May 5. Students on a waitlist will be able to view most course content, but will not be able to submit assignments or participate in discussions (in addition to some other features) until becoming fully registered.
General courses: All become available around January 7. Students on a waitlist will be able to view most course content, but will not be able to submit assignments or participate in discussions (in addition to some other features) until becoming fully registered.
General courses: All courses are automatically published and become available to students around August 27. Students on a waitlist will be able to view most course content, but will not be able to submit assignments or participate in discussions (in addition to some other features) until becoming fully registered.

Access for Students on Waitlists

Students on a waitlist have limited access to course content. They can typically view most course materials, but they cannot submit assignments or participate in discussions until they are fully registered. It's important to monitor registration status to gain full access to course features.

Removal of Access After Waitlist Period

Students who were formerly on a waitlist will lose access to the course in Canvas after a specific period.

Summer I: Students formerly on a waitlist will no longer have access to the course around May 12.
Summer: Students formerly on a waitlist will no longer have access to the course around May 19.
Summer II: Students formerly on a waitlist will no longer have access to the course around July 7.
General courses: Students formerly on a waitlist will no longer have access to the course around September 10.
General courses: Students formerly on a waitlist will no longer have access to the course around January 21.

Assignment Submissions and Course Completion

Deadlines for assignment submissions are critical. After the deadlines, courses transition to a read-only state.

Assignment Deadlines

All assignments/work that students are doing in Canvas must be submitted by 11:59pm on the specified dates. Instructors may have earlier due dates, but no later than 11:59pm on this day. Always consult the course syllabus for accurate due dates.

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

Summer I: All assignments or other work in Canvas must be done by 11:59pm around June 27.
General courses: All assignments/work that students are doing in Canvas must be submitted by 11:59pm around December 19.
General courses: All assignments/work that students are doing in Canvas must be submitted by 11:59pm around April 30.
Summer/Summer II: All assignments or other work in Canvas must be done by 11:59pm around August 25.

Read-Only Access and Past Courses

After the assignment deadline, courses become read-only and are moved to the "past courses" area in Canvas. Even in read-only mode, courses can still be accessed by clicking the "view all courses" link in the Canvas courses menu. Course notifications also end at this time, so students should check courses often for any updated assignment comments or grade changes.

Key Dates and Reminders

March 10: Courses become available to instructors and assistants.
April 28: Manually published Summer/Summer I courses may become available to registered students.
May 5: All Summer/Summer I courses are automatically published.
May 12: Waitlist students lose access to Summer I courses.
May 19: Waitlist students lose access to Summer courses.
June 23: Manually published Summer II courses may become available to registered students.
June 27: Summer I assignments due; courses become read-only. Course notifications also end at this time, so students should check courses often for any updated assignment comments or grade changes.
July 2: Courses become available to instructors and assistants.
July 7: Waitlist students lose access to Summer II courses.
August 20: Manually published courses may become available to registered students.
August 25: All Summer/Summer II assignments due; courses become read-only.
August 27: All courses are automatically published.
September 10: Waitlist students lose access to courses.
November 12: Courses become available to instructors and assistants.
December 19: All assignments due; courses become read-only.
December 31: Manually published courses may become available to registered students.
January 7: All courses are automatically published.
January 21: Waitlist students lose access to courses.
April 30: All assignments due; courses become read-only.

Important Considerations

Notifications: Pay attention to notifications for announcements and changes to course content, especially after courses become available to students.
Syllabus: Always consult the course syllabus for accurate due dates and specific course policies.
Academic Integrity: Ensure that no academic assignments are required prior to the official first day of the semester.
Waitlist Status: Monitor your waitlist status to understand when you will gain full access to course features.
Past Courses: Remember that even after a course becomes read-only, you can still access it through the "view all courses" link.

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

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