Canvas Support Roles and Permissions
Canvas roles determine what permissions users have within a course. Teachers (Instructors) have the most permissions and students have the least permissions. Support roles, such as Librarians and Teaching Assistants (TAs), fall in between. They can access course content and grading features but have fewer controls than Teachers. Learn more about support roles:
Note: The roles must not be used to give unregistered students access to a course. Doing so violates Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and student privacy rules.
Librarian Role in Canvas
When to Add a Librarian?
A Librarian should only be added to a course when they are directly supporting the instructor, for example by assisting with course materials, grading or providing student support.
What the Librarian Role Includes in Canvas
Anyone with the Teacher role in Canvas may request that a Librarian be added. Once added, Librarians can:
Interact with students through discussions and assignments.
Provide feedback and assign grades for librarian-led instruction sessions if these are present in your course.
Access all course content and grades, including modules, pages, files and instructional materials.
Note: Librarians have access to private student data that is protected by FERPA.
Permissions
What Librarians Can Do | What Librarians Cannot Do |
|---|---|
Announcements: Add, Edit, Delete | Analytics: View |
Conversations: Send messages to individual course members or class | Course Calendar: Add, Edit, Delete |
Course Content: View | Course Content: Add, Edit, Delete, Export, Import, Share in Commons |
Discussions: Create, Delete, Moderate, Post, View | Usage Reports: View |
Grades: Edit, select final grade for moderation, view all grades | Groups: Add, Edit, Delete, Manage |
Assignments and Quizzes: Add, Edit, Delete Deleting graded items also deletes student submissions and grades. | Learning Outcomes: Add, Edit, Delete, Import |
Course Files: View | Course Files: Add, Edit, Delete |
Pages: View | Courses: Publish |
People: View | Pages: Create, Edit, Delete |
Question Banks: View and Link | SIS Data: Read |
Rubrics: Add, Edit, Delete | Settings: Add Apps, Manage Feature Options |
Settings: View course settings, sections, manage course navigation, apps, Feature Options |
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Users: View List and Login IDs |
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Need to add a Librarian to your course? See Add a Support Role to a Canvas Course
TA Role in Canvas
When to Add a TA?
A TA should only be added to a course when they are directly supporting the instructor, for example by assisting with the creation of course materials, grading, or providing student support.
Note: TA’s must be approved by the Dean of your college to be added to a course
What the TA Role Includes in Canvas
Anyone with the Teacher role in Canvas may request that a TA be added. Once added, TAs can:
Interact with students through discussions, messages, and student collaborations.
Access and edit all course content and grades, including modules, pages, assignments, files and instructional materials.
Provide feedback and edit grades to support student learning and assist the instructor in assessing student progress
View course analytics to monitor student engagement and track overall course activity.
Note: TA’s have access to private student data that is protected by FERPA.
Permissions
What TAs Can Do | What TAs Cannot Do |
Analytics: View | Learning Outcomes: Add, Edit, Delete, Import |
Announcements: Add, Edit, Delete | Submission: Submit on behalf of student |
Conversations: Send messages to individual course members or entire class | SIS Data: Read |
Course Calendar: Add, Edit, Delete | Courses: Publish |
Course Content: Add, Edit, Delete, Export, Import, Share in Commons | Manage Courses: Conclude, Delete, Publish, Reset |
Discussions: Create, Delete, Moderate, Post, View | Users: Allow administrative actions in courses |
Grades: Edit, Select final grade for moderation, View all grades |
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Assignments and Quizzes: Add, Edit, Delete Deleting graded items also deletes student submissions and grades. |
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Course Files: Add, Edit, Delete |
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Groups: Add, Edit, Delete, Manage |
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Pages: Add, Edit, Delete |
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People: View |
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Question Banks: View and Link |
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Rubrics: Add, Edit, Delete |
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Student Collaborations: Create |
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LTI: Add, Edit, Delete |
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Usage reports: View and Manage |
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Settings: View course settings, sections, manage course navigation, apps, Feature Options |
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Users: View and Manage List and View Login IDs and primary email address. |
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Need to add a TA to your course? See Add a Support Role to a Canvas Course