OVERVIEW
This article details the changes to credit course shell creation on Canvas Cloud.
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
| BEFORE IN CANVAS ON-PREMISE |
NOW IN CANVAS CLOUD |
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BY REQUEST
Instructors would've needed to request the course shell themselves using the Start a New Course tool. Once requested, it will be created and available to the instructor.
For some departments, staff would've requested these courses on behalf of instructors to assist with the course setup or on-boarding.
In some cases, instructors cannot request their course shell because it was already requested/claimed by another individual. The instructor would've needed to contact IT Services to reclaim it.
CROSS-LISTING
Instructors can choose to cross-list their courses using the Start a New Course tool if their courses haven't already been requested/claimed.
Alternatively, instructors can contact IT Services to cross-list their course.
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AUTOMATIC
Credit course shells no longer need to be requested. Credit course shells will automatically appear on the Canvas Dashboard for instructors one semester preceding the start of class.
For example, if an instructor is assigned to teach a course in Spring 2026, their course shell will be automatically be created and assigned to them at the beginning of September 2025.
BY REQUEST
The Start a New Course tool remains available along with all of its features.
For departments who requested courses on behalf of instructors, they may continue to request course shells ahead of time to assist instructors.
As before, course shells can be requested two semesters preceding the start of class.
CROSS-LISTING
The process for cross-listing remains mostly unchanged. Instructors can continue to cross-list their courses using the Start a New Course tool if their courses haven't already been requested/claimed.
If their course shells have already been created by the automatic course shell process, instructors can contact IT Services to cross-list their course.
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TECHNICAL DETAILS ON THE AUTOMATIC COURSE SHELL CREATION
BEHIND THE SCENES
Canvas Cloud automatically creates and assigns course shells to instructors based on goSFU or eTRACS as long as an instructor has been assigned to teach a course by departmental staff. This happens to courses one semester preceding the start of the course. The system runs this creation process for Canvas Cloud once a day.
WHEN NO INSTRUCTOR IS ASSIGNED
If no specific instructor (or a placeholder) has been assigned to a course on goSFU or eTRACS, the automatic course creation will not happen to those courses until one is assigned.
WHEN THE INSTRUCTOR CHANGES
Assuming that course shell has already been automatically created and a new instructor is assigned in goSFU or eTRACS, when the system find that the user with the instructor role on the course shell is different from the assigned instructor on goSFU or eTRACS, the system will automatically add the new instructor. Any existing users with the instructor role in that course shell will not be removed when the instructor is assigned.
WHEN THE COURSE SHELL ALREADY EXISTS
If a course shell has already been requested (and created) via the Start a New Course tool, when the Automatic Course Shell Creation starts at the beginning of the semester, the system will look at goSFU and eTRACS data and check if the assigned instructor has already been added to the course shell. If not, the system will automatically add the instructor to the already existing course shell and will appear on their dashboard. Any existing users with the instructor role in that course shell will not be removed when the instructor is assigned.
NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT?
For questions about Canvas migration:
For pedagogical or instructional design questions:
For additional assistance or technical support: