Set a Merged User Account as the Default

[cassidy_vela]

We use an external system (Eduframe) that creates new user accounts in Canvas when users enroll through that system. To mitigate confusion for our existing Canvas users, if they enroll through this system and already have an account, we merge the new account with their existing account as the master. This results in two separate Logins each with their own SIS ID.

Some issues we have run into due to this:

• Reports sometimes have the external system's SIS ID rather than their University SIS ID for enrollment and user records. This makes it difficult to map user data with our SIS.
• We use another external system (Watermark CES) for course evaluations that pulls Canvas users each semester based on their Logins. When this system pulls the external login rather than their University login, we have to manually reconcile the duplicate records each semester. This is duplicate work and takes a long time.

Proposed solution:

I believe allowing admins to set one login as the default for reports, enrollments, and API exports would solve this issue. As Canvas gets more and more partners, conflicts like this are bound to happen, and I believe this solution would help future-proof the system as it continues to integrate with other solutions.

[chriscas · Accepted solution]

Hi @cassidy_vela,

This definitely sounds like a complex situation you have.  Would it be possible to have Eduframe create accounts without populating an sis_id for that login?  I know this is possible on some systems, but I'm not familiar with Eduframe specifically myself.

Your idea to mark a login as "default" does seem interesting though, and could have some other use cases.  To ensure it's considered by Instructure for a future Canvas update, please follow the How do I create a new idea in the Instructure Comm... - Instructure Community - 2986 guide to submit that as an idea in the dedicated ideas area of the community here.

-Chris

[cassidy_vela]

Thank you! I posted this in the ideas area. Eduframe has said they cannot not populate the SIS IDs. I did have a chat with our CSM and she will bring it up again. Regardless, any external integrated system that creates accounts could cause this issue and having a mechanism in Canvas to minimize data integrity issues would be ideal.