Canvas Course Role Permissions
This document is for course role permissions; to view account role permissions, please visit the Canvas Account Role Permissions resource document.
This document is designed as a complete reference for the Permissions page in Canvas. Using the information in this document, you may be able to troubleshoot permissions-related questions from your users or create custom course-level roles for your account.
Permissions are listed alphabetically, matching the order in the Canvas UI. Each permission includes the following information:
- The default status (enabled/disabled) for default user roles in Canvas
- A non-editable status is indicated by an asterisk*.
- A table indicating the main effect(s) of the permission, listed specifically in reference to Canvas features
- An additional considerations table, if applicable. This includes information about cross-functionality with other permissions and course and/or account settings that may impact the permission.
Things to keep in mind when working with permissions:
- You cannot change a permission that has a transparent check mark or X without a button. These are permissions that are locked by default and cannot be modified by anyone.
- When you change a permission, it can sometimes take 30 minutes or longer for that permission to take effect. If the expected changes do not appear immediately, try again after some time has passed.
- Enabling a permission doesn’t take effect as quickly as disabling a permission.
- Admins who are given student or teacher roles in a course may still be able to view admin features. To avoid permission conflicts, admins should create a separate account.
Teachers using a Free-for-Teacher account have all the same default Teacher permissions listed here with the exception of the Grades - Select final grade for moderation permission.
Important: This document describes the content shown in the Permissions page sidebar and is subject to change. Updates are posted to the Canvas Permissions Updates document in the Canvas Community Admins group. If you find something that does not make sense or does not work as intended, please contact the Canvas support team.
Analytics - view pages
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️* | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Analytics |
Allows user to view course and student analytics from the Course Home Page or People page. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Analytics |
To view student analytics in course analytics, Grades - view all grades must also be enabled. |
Account Settings |
The analytics feature must be enabled in Account Settings to view analytics pages. To see the Analytics link in the user sidebar from the People page, Profiles must be disabled in your account. |
People |
To view student analytics, Users - view list and Grades - view all grades must also be enabled. |
Announcements - view
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Announcements |
Allows user to access the Announcements link in Course Navigation. Allows user to view course announcements. Allows user to view recent announcements on the course home page. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Announcements |
To add announcements, Discussions - moderate must also be enabled. To view recent announcements on the home page, the Show recent announcements on Course home page checkbox must be selected in Course Settings. |
Conversations - send messages to entire class
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Conversations |
Allows user to send a message to “All in [course name],” or “All in [course group].” |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Conversations |
When disabled, students can still message all users included in a course or group message by using the Reply All option. When enabled, users can only send messages to all users in courses and course groups, not to account groups. |
Conversations - send messages to individual course members
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Conversations |
Allows user to send messages to individual course members |
Discussions |
Allows user to mention other users in discussion replies |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Conversations |
When disabled, students can still send individual messages to course teachers and course TAs. Additionally, when disabled, students cannot send individual messages to students who belong to the same course-level groups. |
People |
To edit a user’s section, Users - allow administrative actions in courses and Users - view list must also be enabled. |
Course Calendar - add / edit / delete
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️* |
Features |
What it Does |
Calendar |
Allows user to add, edit, and delete events in the course calendar. |
Scheduler |
Allows user to create and manage appointments on the calendar using Scheduler. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Calendar |
Regardless of whether this permission is enabled or disabled, the user will still be able to manage events in their personal calendar. |
Scheduler |
Scheduler must be enabled by your Canvas admin. |
Courses - change visibility
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Course Settings |
Allows user to manage the Visibility options in Course Settings or when creating a new course. |
Discussions - create
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Discussions |
Allows user to add discussions in the Discussions page. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Announcements |
To create announcements, Discussions - moderate must be enabled. |
Discussions |
To view discussions in a course, Discussions - view must be enabled. Both Discussions - create and Discussions - moderate allow the user to create a discussion in the Discussions page. To manage discussions, Discussions - moderate must also be enabled. |
Discussions - moderate
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Announcements |
Allows user to view the New Announcement button in the Home page. Allows user to add announcements in the Announcements page. |
Blueprint Courses |
Allows user to edit blueprint lock settings on the Discussions index page in a Blueprint Master Course. |
Discussions |
Allows user to add discussions in the Discussions page. Allows user to close for comments, move, pin/unpin, edit, and delete discussion topics in the Discussions page. Allows user to edit discussion topics. Allows user to view all replies within a discussion topic. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Announcements |
To view announcements, Announcements - view must also be enabled. |
Blueprint Courses |
Blueprint courses must be enabled for an account by an admin. Course roles can only manage content in Blueprint Courses if they are added to the Blueprint Course as a teacher, TA, or designer role. If this setting is disabled, and Discussions - view is enabled, the user can still adjust content lock settings on individual discussions in a Blueprint Master Course |
Discussions |
Both Discussions - create and Discussions - moderate allow the user to create a discussion in the Discussions page. If this permission is enabled, Discussions - create is not required. To view discussions in a course, Discussions - view must be enabled. To reply to a discussion, Discussions - post must be enabled. To edit a discussion, Discussions - moderate must be enabled. |
Discussions - post
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Discussions |
Allows user to reply to a discussion post. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Discussions |
To view discussions in a course, Discussions - view must also be enabled. To manage discussions, Discussions - moderate must also be enabled. To mention users in a discussion reply, Conversations - send messages to individual course members must also be enabled. |
Discussions - view
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Blueprint Courses |
Allows user to edit blueprint content lock settings on individual settings if the user is enrolled in a Blueprint Master Course. |
Discussions |
Allows user to view the Discussions link in Course Navigation. Allows user to view course discussions. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Blueprint Courses |
Blueprint Courses must be enabled for an account by an admin. Course roles can only manage content in Blueprint Courses if they are added to the Blueprint Course with a teacher, TA, or designer role. To edit blueprint lock settings from the Discussions index page, Discussions - moderate must also be enabled. |
Commons |
To share a discussion to Commons, Course Content - edit must also be enabled. |
Discussions |
To manage discussions, Discussions - moderate must also be enabled. To reply to a discussion, Discussions - post must also be enabled. |
Grades - edit
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️* | ✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Analytics |
Allows user to view student-specific data in Analytics. |
Course Settings |
Allows user to edit grading schemes. |
Discussions |
Allows user to like discussion posts when the Only Graders Can Like checkbox is selected. |
Gradebook |
Allows user to edit grades in the Gradebook. Allows user to access Gradebook History. Allows user to access the Learning Mastery Gradebook (if enabled). Allows user to post/hide grades. Allows user to manage assignment grade posting policies. |
Quizzes |
Allows user to moderate a quiz and view the quiz statistics page. |
SpeedGrader |
Allows user to edit grades and add comments in SpeedGrader. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Analytics |
To view student analytics in course analytics, Analytics - view must also be enabled. |
Gradebook, SpeedGrader |
Gradebook and SpeedGrader will be inaccessible if both Grades - edit and Grades - view all grades are disabled. |
People |
To view student analytics, Users - view list and Analytics - view must also be enabled. |
Quizzes |
To moderate a quiz, Assignments and Quizzes - add / edit / delete must also be enabled. To view the user SIS ID column in the Quiz Item Analysis CSV file, SIS Data - read must also be enabled. |
Settings |
Course Grading Schemes can be enabled/disabled in Course Settings. |
Grades - Select final grade for moderation
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️* | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Grades |
Allows user to select final grade for moderated assignments. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Assignments |
To add students to a moderation set, Grades - view all grades must also be enabled. |
SpeedGrader |
To review a moderated assignment in SpeedGrader, Grades - edit must also be enabled. |
Grades |
To publish final grades for a moderated assignment, Grades - edit must also be enabled. To post or hide grades for a moderated assignment, Grades - edit must also be enabled. |
Grades - view all grades
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Analytics |
Allows user to view student-specific data in Analytics. |
Assignments, SpeedGrader |
Allows user to access SpeedGrader from an assignment. |
Gradebook |
Allows user to view the Gradebook. Allows user to export the Gradebook to a comma separated values (CSV) file. Allows user to access the Learning Mastery Gradebook (if enabled). |
Grades |
Allows user to view student Grades pages. |
Modules |
Allows user to access the Student Progress page. |
People |
Adds Analytics link on the user settings menu. |
Quizzes |
Allows user to view student results, view quiz statistics, and access a quiz in SpeedGrader. |
Rubrics, SpeedGrader |
Allows user to view grader comments on a rubric in SpeedGrader. |
Student Context Card |
Adds analytics to a student’s context card. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Analytics |
To view student analytics, Analytics - view pages must also be enabled. |
Gradebook |
If both Grades - edit and Grades - view all grades are disabled, Gradebook will be hidden from the course navigation. |
Grades |
To post or hide grades, Grades - edit must also be enabled. |
Modules |
To view module progression, Grades - view all grades must be enabled. |
Reports |
To access the Student Interactions report, Reports - manage must also be enabled. |
Student Context Card |
Student Context Cards must be enabled by an admin. |
Grades - View audit trail
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✖️* | ✖️ | ✖️* | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Grades |
Allows user to review an audit trail in assignments, both moderated and anonymous. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Grades |
To moderate grades, Grades - Select final grade for moderation must also be enabled. To post or hide grades for an assignment, Grades - edit must also be enabled. |
Groups - view all student groups
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Groups |
Allows user to view the group home pages of all student groups. Allows students to access other student groups within a group set with a direct link. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Groups |
By default students are able to create groups; to restrict students from creating groups, do not select the Let students organize their own groups checkbox in course settings. |
Item Banks - manage account
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✖️* | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Item Banks |
Allows a user to view and manage all item banks in the account. Allows a user to share any item bank with the entire institution's account. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Item Banks |
If the permission is not enabled, users can only view item banks created by them or shared with them. When a user with a course role is granted this permission, item banks created by any user in the account also display in the Course Item Banks pages and can be managed by that user. |
Item Banks - share with subaccounts
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✖️* | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Item Banks |
Allows a user to manage sharing of item banks with subaccounts.
|
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Item Banks |
If this permission is disabled, users cannot share item banks to subaccounts. When a user with a course role is granted this permission, the user can share item banks to subaccounts they are associated with.
|
Learning Outcomes - add / edit / delete
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️ | ✖️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Outcomes |
Allows user to view the Outcomes link in Course Navigation. Allows user to view the Outcomes Manage tab. Allows user to create, edit, and delete outcomes and outcome groups. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Feature Options |
If the Account and Course Level Outcome Mastery Scales feature option is enabled, the Manage tab displays an updated interface. Additionally, the Outcomes page will display two additional tabs that decouple mastery scales and proficiency calculations from outcomes management. Access to these tabs requires the Outcome Proficiency Calculations - add / edit and Outcome Mastery Scales - add / edit permissions. |
Outcomes |
To import learning outcomes, Learning Outcomes - import must also be enabled. |
Learning Outcomes - import
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✖️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Outcomes |
Allows user to import learning outcomes. |
Manage Assignments and Quizzes - add / delete / edit
This grouped permission provides the option to manage each granular permission individually. Teachers and Designers are granted the majority of this grouped permission. Default role status applies to the entire grouped permission.
Additional Considerations - All Permissions
Feature |
Related Information |
Assignments |
To access the Assignments Index Page, Course Content - view must be enabled. |
Discussions |
These permissions do not manage Discussions. Discussions are managed via individual Discussion permissions. |
Item Banks |
To access item banks for a course or account, Item Banks - manage account must also be enabled. |
Assignments and Quizzes - add
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Assignments |
Allows user to add assignments in a course. Allows user to add assignment groups in a course. Allows user to duplicate assignments in a course. |
Modules |
Allows user to add new assignments to a module. |
Item Banks |
Allows user to add new question banks to a course. Allows user to add new questions to new or existing question banks in a course. |
Quizzes |
Allows user to add quizzes in a course. Allows user to duplicate quizzes in a course. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Assignments |
To differentiate assignments to individual students, Users - view list must also be enabled. |
Course Settings |
To import assignments and quizzes using the Course Import Tool, Course Content - add must be enabled. |
Rubrics |
Disabling this permission will override (if enabled) the Rubrics - add / edit / delete permission, preventing user from creating rubrics for an individual assignment. |
Assignments and Quizzes - delete
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Assignments |
Allows user to delete assignments in a course. Allows user to delete assignment groups in a course. |
Quizzes |
Allows user to delete quizzes in a course. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Rubrics |
Disabling this permission will override (if enabled) the Rubrics - add / edit / delete permission, preventing user from deleting rubrics for an individual assignment. |
Assignments and Quizzes - edit
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Assignments |
Allows user to edit and publish/unpublish assignments. Allows user to manage assignment settings. |
Commons |
Allows user to share an assignment to Commons. Allows user to share a quiz to Commons. |
Quizzes |
Allows user to edit lock settings on the Assignments and Quizzes index pages. Allows user to edit and publish/unpublish quizzes. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Assignments |
To edit assignments, Assignments and Quizzes - manage / edit must also be enabled. To manage moderated grading, Grades - Select final grade for moderation must also be enabled. |
Blueprint Courses |
To edit lock settings from the Assignments index page, Blueprint Courses - add / edit / associate / delete and Courses - manage must also be enabled. If Blueprint Courses - add / edit / associate / delete and Courses - manage are enabled, but this permission is not enabled, blueprint lock settings for an assignment can be managed from the assignment’s details page. |
Quizzes |
To edit quizzes, Assignments and Quizzes - manage / edit must also be enabled. To moderate a quiz, Grades - edit must also be enabled. To edit lock settings on an individual quiz, or on the Quizzes index page, Blueprint Courses - add / edit / associate / delete and Courses - manage must also be enabled. |
Rubrics |
Disabling this permission will override (if enabled) the Rubrics - add / edit / delete permission, preventing users from editing rubrics from an individual assignment. |
Manage Course Content - add / edit / delete
This grouped permission provides the option to manage each granular permission individually. Teachers and Designers are granted the majority of this grouped permission. Default role status applies to the entire grouped permission.
Additional Considerations - All Permissions
Feature |
Related Information |
Attendance |
The Attendance tool must be enabled by your Canvas admin. |
Chat |
The Chat tool must be enabled by your Canvas admin. |
Commons |
To share a Discussion to Commons, Discussions - view must also be enabled. |
Course Home Page |
Teachers, designers, and TAs can select a course home page without the Course content - add / edit / delete permission. |
Course Pacing |
Course Pacing feature preview must be enabled for your institution. |
Course Settings |
The Course Status buttons (unpublished and published) only display until a student submission is received. Courses with student submissions cannot be unpublished. |
Modules |
Module items which have student submissions cannot be unpublished. |
Course Content - add
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Assignments |
Allows user to create blackout dates. |
Calendar |
Allows user to add events to Calendar List View Dashboard via the Add to Student To-Do checkbox. |
Commons |
Allows user to import resources from Commons into a course. |
Course Pacing |
Allows user to create a course pace via Course Pacing. |
Course Settings |
Allows user to share course items directly with other users. Allows user to copy individual course items to another course. Allows user to view course copy status. Allows user to create content migrations. Allows user to import content using the Course Import Tool. |
Discussions |
Allows user to add non-graded discussions to List View Dashboard via the Add to Student To-Do checkbox. |
Modules |
Allows user to create, add items, and duplicate modules. |
Pages |
Allows user to add pages to List View Dashboard via the Add to Student To-Do checkbox. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Commons |
To share a Discussion to Commons, Discussions - view must also be enabled. |
Course Pacing |
Course Pacing feature preview must be enabled in your institution. |
Course Content - edit
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Announcements |
Allows user to lock / unlock selected announcements individually or in bulk. |
Assignments |
Allows user to edit a list of assignment blackout dates. |
Commons |
Allows user to share assignments to Commons or edit previously shared content. |
Conferences |
Allows user to edit Conferences. |
Collaborations |
Allows user to edit title and description on all collaborations. |
Course Pacing |
Allows user to edit and publish a course pace via Course Pacing. |
Course Settings |
Allows user to edit to-do date on a course Page that supports it. Allows user to edit content migrations. Allows user to edit course tabs. |
Modules |
Allows user to update modules (edit module settings, publish, unpublish, batch edit). |
Syllabus |
Allows user to edit the course syllabus. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Commons |
To share a Discussion to Commons, Discussions - view must also be enabled. |
Course Home Page |
Teachers, designers, and TAs can select a course home page without the Course content - add / edit / delete permission. |
Course Pacing |
Course Pacing feature preview must be enabled in your institution. |
Course Settings |
The Course Status buttons (unpublished and published) are only displayed until a student submission is received. Courses cannot be unpublished with student submissions. |
Modules |
Module items cannot be unpublished if there are student submissions. |
Course Content - delete
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Announcements |
Allows user to have full section visibility when viewing announcements. Allows user to view or retrieve a list of assignment blackout dates. |
Attendance |
Allows user to access the Attendance tool. |
Chat |
Allows user to access the Chat tool. |
Collaborations |
Allows user to view previously created collaborations. |
Conferences |
Allows user to view course Conferences. |
Course Pacing |
Allows user to view and list course paces via Course Pacing. |
Course Settings |
Allows user to view Course Status, Choose Home Page, and Course Setup Checklist buttons in the Home page. Allows user to view and list content migrations. Allows user to view a content migration content list by type. Allows user to view a content migration notice to an "import in progress". Allows user to view and initiate course link validation. |
Syllabus |
Allows user access to LTI sub navigation tool selection for assignment syllabus configuration. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Attendance |
The Attendance tool must be enabled by your Canvas admin. |
Chat |
The Chat tool must be enabled by your Canvas admin. |
Course Home Page |
Teachers, designers, and TAs can select a course home page without the Course content - add / edit / delete permission. |
Course Pacing |
Course Pacing feature preview must be enabled in your institution. |
Manage Course Files - add / delete / edit
This grouped permission provides the option to manage each granular permission individually or as an entire group. Default role status applies to the entire grouped permission.
Additional Considerations - All Permissions
Feature |
Related Information |
Course Files |
If one or all permissions are disabled, user can still view and download files into a zip file. |
Blueprint Courses |
Blueprint courses must be enabled for an account by an admin. Course roles can only manage content in Blueprint Courses if they are added to the Blueprint Course as a teacher, TA, or designer role. |
Course Files - add
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Blueprint Courses |
Allows user to edit blueprint lock settings on the Files page in a Blueprint Master Course. |
Course Files |
Allows user to add course files and folders. Allows user to download files into a zip file, import a zip file, and lock/unlock files. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Course Settings |
To import files using the Course Import Tool, Course Content - add must be enabled. |
Course Files - delete
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Blueprint Courses |
Allows user to edit blueprint lock settings on the Files page in a Blueprint Master Course. |
Course Files |
Allows user to delete course files and folders. Allows user to download files into a zip file, import a zip file, and lock/unlock files. |
Course Files - edit
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Blueprint Courses |
Allows user to edit blueprint lock settings on the Files page in a Blueprint Master Course. |
Course Files |
Allows user to edit course files and folders. Allows user to download files into a zip file, import a zip file, and lock/unlock files. |
Manage Course Sections - add / delete / edit
This grouped permission provides the option to manage each granular permission individually or as an entire group. Default role status applies to the entire grouped permission.
Course Sections - Add
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✖️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Course Settings (Sections tab) |
Allows user to add course sections. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Course Settings (Sections tab) |
To cross-list sections, Course Sections - edit must also be enabled. The user must also be enrolled as an instructor in the courses being cross-listed. |
Course Sections - Delete
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✖️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Course Settings (Sections tab) |
Allows user to delete course sections. Allows user to delete a user from a course section. |
Course Sections - Edit
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✖️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Course Settings (Sections tab) |
Allows user to rename course sections. Allows user to change start and end dates for course sections. Allows user to cross-list sections. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Course Settings (Sections tab) |
The user must also be enrolled as an instructor in the courses being cross-listed. |
Manage Courses - conclude / delete / publish / reset
This grouped permission provides the option to manage each granular permission individually. Teachers and Designers are granted the majority of this grouped permission. Default role status applies to the entire grouped permission.
Additional Considerations - All Permissions
Feature |
Related Information |
Courses |
Courses can only be created at the course level if allowed by a Canvas admin. If allowed, courses can be created in the Dashboard. |
Blueprint Courses |
Blueprint courses must be enabled for an account by an admin. Course roles can only manage content in Blueprint Courses if they are added to the Blueprint Course as a teacher, TA, or designer role. |
Courses - conclude
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✖️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Course Settings |
Allows user to view the Conclude Course button. |
Courses - delete
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✖️* | ✔️ | ✖️* | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Course Settings |
Allows user to view the Delete this Course button. |
Courses - publish
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✖️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Course Home Page |
Allows user to view the Publish Course and Unpublish Course buttons in the Course Home page. |
Dashboard |
Allows user to view the Publish button in a course card for an unpublished course (Card View Dashboard). |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Course Settings |
Affects viewing the Permanently Delete this Course button, which only appears for manually created courses. |
Modules |
The Manage Courses - publish permission allows the user to publish courses that do not contain modules. To publish/unpublish module content, Course Content - edit must be enabled. |
Courses - reset
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✖️* | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Course Settings |
Allows user to view the Reset Course Content button. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Course Settings |
The Courses - Reset permission resets course content for both manually created and SIS-managed courses. (For SIS-managed courses, the SIS Data - manage permission does not apply.) |
Manage Groups - add / delete / manage
This grouped permission provides the option to manage each granular permission individually. Teachers and Designers are granted the majority of this grouped permission. Default role status applies to the entire grouped permission.
Groups - add
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Assignments |
Allows user to add a group for a group assignment in a course. |
People |
Allows user to create course groups. Allows user to create course groups created by students. Allows user to add students to groups. Allows users to import groups in a course. |
Groups - delete
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
People |
Allows user to delete course groups. Allows user to delete course groups created by students. Allows user to remove students from course groups. Allows user to move group members to another group in a course. Allows user to assign a student group leader in a course. |
Groups - manage
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Collaborations |
Allows user to view all course groups, not just where they are enrolled, in the Collaborate With window. |
People |
Allows user to edit course groups. Allows user to edit course groups created by students. Allows user to view the Clone Group Set button for a course group. Allows user to randomly assign users to a course group. Allows user to add users to a course group. Allows user to remove students from course groups. Allows user to move group members to another group in a course. Allows user to assign a student group leader in a course. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
People |
To view all student groups in a course, Groups - view all student groups must also be enabled. By default, students can always create groups in a course. To restrict students from creating groups, Courses - manage / update must be enabled, and the Let students organize their own groups checkbox in Course Settings must not be selected. To access the People page and view Groups, Users - view list must also be enabled. |
Manage LTI - add / delete / edit
This grouped permission provides the option to manage each granular permission individually or as an entire group. Default role status applies to the entire grouped permission. Allows users to use the Manage App List button on the External Apps page to manually add, delete, or edit configurations for manually added external apps.
LTI - add
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Course Settings |
Allows user to manually add an app in Course Settings. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
External Apps |
If this permission is disabled, users can still install approved apps through the Canvas App Center (if enabled for your institution). However, if LTI - delete is not enabled, they cannot delete manually added external apps. |
LTI - delete
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Course Settings |
Allows user to manually delete an app in Course Settings. |
LTI - edit
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
External Apps |
Allows user to edit configurations for manually added external apps. |
Manage Pages - create / delete / update
This grouped permission provides the option to manage each granular permission individually or as an entire group. Default role status applies to the entire grouped permission.
Pages - create
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Blueprint Courses |
Allows user to edit blueprint lock settings for individual pages in a Blueprint Master Course. |
Pages |
Allows user to create course pages. Allows user to duplicate course pages. |
Pages - delete
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Blueprint Courses |
Allows user to edit blueprint lock settings for individual pages in a Blueprint Master Course. |
Pages |
Allows user to delete course pages. |
Pages - update
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Blueprint Courses |
Allows user to edit blueprint lock settings in the Pages index page and for an individual page in a Blueprint master course. |
Pages |
Allows user to edit course pages. Allows user to define users allowed to edit the page. Allows user to add page to student to-do list. Allows user to publish and unpublish pages. Allows user to view page history and set front page. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Blueprint Courses |
Blueprint courses must be enabled for an account by an admin. Course roles can only manage content in Blueprint Courses if they are added to the Blueprint Course as a teacher, TA, or designer role. If the Pages - Update permission is disabled, the user can still adjust content lock settings on individual pages in a Blueprint Master Course. |
Pages |
Students can edit and view page history if allowed in the options for an individual page. |
Outcome Proficiency Calculations - add / edit
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✖️* | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Outcome Proficiency Calculations |
Allows user to view the Outcomes Calculation tab and set outcome proficiency calculations at the account and course levels. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Feature Options |
This permission requires the Account and Course Level Outcome Mastery Scales feature option, which can only be enabled at the account level. This feature affects existing data for all courses in the account. |
Outcomes |
If the feature option is enabled, and this permission is enabled, the Outcomes page includes three tabs: Manage, Mastery, and Calculation. To access the Mastery tab, the Outcome Mastery Scales - add / edit permission must also be enabled. To access the Manage tab, the Learning Outcomes - add / edit / delete permission must also be enabled. |
Rubrics |
If this permission is enabled, the Learning Mastery tab displays on the Outcomes page instead of the Rubrics page. |
Outcome Mastery Scales - add / edit
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✖️* | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Outcomes |
Allows user to view the Outcomes Mastery tab and set outcome mastery scales at the course level. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Feature Options |
This permission requires the Account and Course Level Outcome Mastery Scales feature option, which can only be enabled at the account level. This feature affects existing data for all courses in the account. |
Outcomes |
If the feature option is enabled, and this permission is enabled, the Outcomes page includes three tabs: Manage, Mastery, and Calculation. To access the Calculation tab, the Outcome Proficiency Calculations - add / edit permission must also be enabled. To access the Manage tab, the Learning Outcomes - add / edit / delete permission must also be enabled. |
Question banks - view and link
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Question Banks |
Allows user to view and link questions in a quiz to course-level question banks. Allows user to access the Manage Question Banks link on the Quizzes Index Page. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Quizzes and Question Banks |
To fully manage course-level question banks, Assignments and Quizzes - add / edit / delete must also be enabled. |
Reports - manage
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Course Settings |
Allows user to view the Course Statistics button in Course Settings. |
People |
Allows user to view Last Activity and Total Activity information on the People page. |
Reports |
Allows user to view Last Activity and Total Activity reports. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
People |
To access the People page, Users - view list must be enabled. |
Reports |
To access the Student Interactions report, Grades - view all grades must also be enabled. |
Rubrics - add / edit / delete
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️* |
Feature |
What it Does |
Rubrics |
Allows user to view the Rubrics link in Course Navigation. Allows user to create, edit, and delete course rubrics in the Rubrics link. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Assignments |
Users can access and create (but not edit) individual assignment rubrics through Assignments when Assignments and Quizzes - add / edit / delete is enabled. |
SIS Data - read
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️ | ✖️ | ✔️ | ✖️* | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Course Settings |
Allows user to view course SIS ID. |
People |
Allows user to view user SIS IDs. |
Quizzes |
Allows user to view the user SIS ID column in the Quiz Item Analysis CSV file. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
People |
To view the list of users in the course, Users - view list must also be enabled. To add or remove users to a course via SIS, the appropriate Users permission must be enabled (e.g. Users - Teachers). |
Student Collaborations - create
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Collaborations |
Allows user to create collaborations. Allows user to view, edit, and delete collaborations they created. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Collaborations |
To allow edit/delete functionality of collaborations created by other users, Course Content - edit and Course Content - delete must also be enabled. If Course Content - add / edit / delete is enabled and Student Collaborations - create is disabled, the user will not be able to create new collaborations but will be able to edit and delete collaborations. To add students to a collaboration, Users - view list must also be enabled. To add a course group to a collaboration, Groups - add must also be enabled. |
Submission - Submit on behalf of student
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️* | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Submissions |
Allows instructors to submit a file upload assignment on behalf of a student in the Gradebook. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Submissions |
Submissions includes a timestamp and who submitted the assignment. Additionally, the instructor can submit multiple files at a time for a single student and submit beyond the availability date.
|
Users - Designers
This grouped permission provides the option to manage each granular permission individually or as an entire group. Default role status applies to the entire grouped permission.
Designers - add
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✖️ | ✔️ | ✖️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
People |
Allows user to add designers to a course. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
People |
If the Open Registration account setting is enabled, users with this permission can add designers to a course from the People page via email address or login ID even if a designer does not already have a Canvas account. To add a user via SIS ID, SIS Data - manage must also be enabled. |
Designers - remove
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✖️ | ✔️ | ✖️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
People |
Allows user to remove designers from a course. Allows user to deactivate designers in a course. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
People |
Enrollments may be added by your institution student information system (SIS). If an enrollment is created via SIS, only admins can remove the enrollment from the course. To remove a user via SIS ID, SIS Data - manage must also be enabled. |
Users - Students
This grouped permission provides the option to manage each granular permission individually or as an entire group. Default role status applies to the entire grouped permission.
Students - add
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
People |
Allows user to add students to a course. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
People |
If the Open Registration account setting is enabled, users with this permission can add students to a course from the People page via email address or login ID even if a student does not already have a Canvas account. To add a user via SIS ID, SIS Data - manage must also be enabled. |
Students - remove
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
People |
Allows user to remove students from the course. Allows user to deactivate students in a course. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
People |
Enrollments may be added by your institution student information system (SIS). If an enrollment is created via SIS, only admins can remove the enrollment from the course. To remove a user via SIS ID, SIS Data - manage must also be enabled. |
Users - Observers
This grouped permission provides the option to manage each granular permission individually or as an entire group. Default role status applies to the entire grouped permission.
Observers - add
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
People |
Allows user to add observers to a course. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
People |
If the Open Registration account setting is enabled, users with this permission can add observers to a course from the People page via email address or login ID even if an observer does not already have a Canvas account. To add observers via SIS ID, SIS Data - manage must also be enabled. |
Observers - remove
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
People |
Allows user to remove observers from a course. Allows user to deactivate observers in a course. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
People |
If an enrollment is created via SIS, only admins can remove the enrollment from a course. To remove a user via SIS ID, SIS Data - manage must also be enabled. |
Users - TAs
This grouped permission provides the option to manage each granular permission individually or as an entire group. Default role status applies to the entire grouped permission.
TAs - add
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✖️ | ✔️ | ✖️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
People |
Allows user to add TAs in a course. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
People |
If the Open Registration account setting is enabled, users with this permission can add TAs to a course from the People page via email address or login ID even if a TA does not already have a Canvas account. To add TAs via SIS ID, SIS Data - manage must also be enabled. |
TAs - remove
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✖️ | ✔️ | ✖️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
People |
Allows user to remove TAs from the course. Allows user to deactivate TAs in a course. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
People |
If an enrollment is created via SIS, only admins can remove the enrollment from a course. To remove a user via SIS ID, SIS Data - manage must also be enabled. |
Users - Teachers
This grouped permission provides the option to manage each granular permission individually or as an entire group. Default role status applies to the entire grouped permission.
Teachers - add
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✖️ | ✔️ | ✖️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
People |
Allows user to add teachers in the course. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
People |
If the Open Registration account setting is enabled, users with this permission can add teachers to a course from the People page via email address or login ID even if a teacher does not already have a Canvas account. To add teachers via SIS ID, SIS Data - manage must also be enabled. |
Teachers - remove
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✖️ | ✔️ | ✖️ | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
People |
Allows user to remove teachers from a course. Allows user to deactivate teachers in a course. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
People |
If an enrollment is created via SIS, only admins can remove the enrollment from a course. To remove a user via SIS ID, SIS Data - manage must also be enabled. |
Users - Allow Administrative Actions in Courses
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
People |
Allows user to view login ID information for users. Allows user to view user details for course users. Allows user to edit a user’s section or role (if not added via SIS). |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
People |
To add or remove users to a course, the appropriate Users permission must be enabled (e.g. Users - Teachers). To view SIS IDs, SIS Data - read must be enabled. To edit a user’s section, Conversations - send to individual course members must be enabled. |
Observers |
To add or remove an observer to a course, the Users - Observers permission must be enabled. To link an observer to a student, Conversations - send to individual course members must be enabled. To generate a pairing code on behalf of a student to share with an observer, Users - Generate observer pairing code for students must also be enabled. |
Users - Manage Students in Courses
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️* |
Feature |
What it Does |
People |
Allows user to view login ID information for students. Allows user to view prior enrollments. Allows user to access a user’s settings menu and user details. Allows user to conclude student enrollments in the user details page. Allows user to edit a student’s section or role. Allows user to resend course invitations from the Course People page. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
People |
To add or remove a student to or from a course, the Users - Student permission must be enabled. To view the list of users in the course, Users - view list must be enabled. To view SIS IDs, SIS Data - read must be enabled. To edit a student's section, Conversations - send to individual course members must also be enabled. |
Users - Generate observer pairing code for students
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
People |
Allows user to generate a pairing code on behalf of a student to share with an observer. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
People |
To generate a pairing code from a student's User Details page, the Users - allow administrative actions in courses permission must also be enabled. Pairing codes are only supported when self registration is enabled for the course. QR codes are not the same as pairing codes and are only used to help users log into their own accounts via the Canvas mobile apps. |
Users - view list
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Assignments |
Allows user to differentiate assignments to individual students. |
Collaborations |
Allows user to view and add users in a collaboration. |
Course Navigation |
Allows user to view the People link in Course Navigation. |
Groups |
Allows user to view groups in a course. |
People |
Allows user to view the list of users in the People page. Allows user to view the Prior Enrollments button in the People page. |
Settings |
Allows user to view enrollments on the Sections tab. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Conversations |
To send a message to an individual user, Conversations - send to individual course members must also be enabled. |
Groups |
To add a group, Manage Groups - add must also be enabled. To delete a group, Manage Groups - delete must also be enabled. To edit a group, Manage Groups - manage must also be enabled. |
People |
To add or remove users to a course, the appropriate Users permission must be enabled (e.g. Users - Teachers). To edit a user’s section, Users - allow administrative actions in courses and Users - view list must also be enabled. |
Users - view login IDs
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️* | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️* | ✖️* |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
People |
Allows user to search for other users by Login ID in the course People page. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
People |
To access the People page, Users - view list must be enabled. If this permission is enabled, and if Users - view primary email address is disabled, users will see email addresses used as login IDs. To view login IDs, Users - allow administrative actions in courses must also be enabled. |
Users - view primary email address
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✖️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
People |
Allows user to search for other users via primary email addresses in the People page. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
People |
To access the People page, Users - view list must be enabled. If this permission is disabled, and Users - view login IDs is enabled, users will still see email addresses used as login IDs. |
Web Conferences - create
Default Role Status
Student |
TA |
Teacher |
Designer |
Observer |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ |
Features Affected |
What it Does |
Conferences |
Allows user to create new conferences in courses and groups. Allows user to start conferences they created. |
Additional Considerations
Feature |
Related Information |
Conferences |
To allow full management of conferences created by the user or others, Course Content - add / edit / delete must also be enabled. To end a long-running conference, Course Content - edit must be enabled. If Course Content - add / edit / delete is enabled and Web Conferences - create is disabled, the user can still manage conferences. |