Environment
Canvas
Issue
Detailing the permissions each role has in Canvas to assist with determining which role to assign to course participants.
Resolution
While permissions for each role can be modified at the sub-account level (unit/department), role names are set by Canvas and cannot be altered. As such, instructors receive the role of "Teacher" and Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) receive the role of "TA" by default. If you wish to add an individual to your course, use the following chart to determine the most appropriate role for them. The permissions most commonly considered when adding an individual to a course are listed first.
Roles and Permissions
Permissions |
Student |
Teacher |
Assistant1 |
Tool Installer3 |
TA |
Grader |
Participant2 |
Designer |
Librarian |
Observer |
Analytics- view pages |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Announcements- view |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Assignments and quizzes- Add /edit/ delete |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Conversations- send messages to entire class |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Conversations- send messages to individual course members |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Course calendar- add/edit/delete events |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Course content- add/edit/delete |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Course files- add/edit/delete |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Course state- manage |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Courses- change visibility |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Courses- view usage reports |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Roles and Permissions Cont.
Permissions |
Student |
Teacher |
Assistant1 |
Tool Installer3 |
TA |
Grader |
Participant2 |
Designer |
Librarian |
Observer |
Discussions- create |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Discussions- moderate (Delete/edit other’s discussion posts or lock topics) |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Discussions- post |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Discussions- view |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Grades- edit |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Grades- select final grade for moderation |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Grades- view all grades |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Grades- view audit trail |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Groups- add/edit/delete |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Groups- View all student groups |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Item Banks - manage account |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
LTI- add/edit/delete |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Add/remove other Teachers, Designers or TAs to course |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Learning outcomes- add/edit/delete |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Roles and Permissions Cont.
Permissions |
Student |
Teacher |
Assistant1 |
Tool Installer3 |
TA |
Grader |
Participant2 |
Designer |
Librarian |
Observer |
Course Sections (add/import/edit/delete sections) |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Pages (create/delete/update pages) |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Outcome Mastery Scales- add/edit |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Outcome Proficiency Calculations- add/edit |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Question banks- view and link |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Reports - manage |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Rubrics - add / edit / delete |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
SIS data- read |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Student collaborations- create |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Students' submissions- View/comment on all |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Users- Add/remove students in courses |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Users- add/remove teachers, course designers, or TAs in courses |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No4 |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Users - allow administrative actions in courses |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Users- generate observer pairing codes for students |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Users - manage students in courses |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Users- view list |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Users- view login IDs |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Users- view primary email address |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Web conferences- create |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
1 The Assistant role provides the same permissions/access to a course as a Teacher, but without having the individuals role display in the course as "Teacher." This role might be appropriate for administrative assistants, lab aids, technical support staff, etc.
2 The Participant role is primarily intended for non-course sites (i.e., project sites) and is similar to the Member role in CTools.
3 By ITS approval. Escalate any requests for Tool Installers to ITS-Canvas for approval
4 TAs are only able to add students and observers to a course
Notes
- Participants with the Observer role cannot access a course until the start date
- Instructors receive the role of "Teacher" by default
- Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) receive the role of "TA" by default
- Role names are set by Canvas and cannot be altered
Additional Information
For additional questions, please contact the ITS Service Center