What is the section setting in Catalog?
In Catalog, sections enable you to offer the same Canvas course across multiple terms without the need to create separate courses or listings for each term. For example, you can create one section for the spring term and another for the summer term, all within the same Canvas course and Catalog listing. This makes managing term-based enrollment far more efficient.
The section setting in Catalog determines where newly enrolled students will be placed. However, keep in mind that updating the section setting only affects new enrollments. Students who are already enrolled or were enrolled in the past will remain in their original sections.
The section dates displayed in Catalog are pulled directly from the Canvas section settings. If no dates are set for the section, Catalog defaults to the course-level dates. Sections labeled "self-paced" indicate that no specific dates have been applied to either the section or the course. To adjust these dates, simply go to the Settings tab within your Canvas course.
Note: if your course or program has a fixed time limit for completion (e.g., "30 days to complete"), this field won't apply. In such cases, each student is assigned their own section with individualized start and end dates.
What has changed with the section sync improvement?
Previously, changes made to section settings in Canvas did not automatically sync with Catalog. This meant that if you updated a course’s section details in Canvas, you would also need to manually update those details in Catalog. This manual process could lead to inconsistencies or errors, causing unnecessary extra work.
The new section sync improvement ensures that any changes made to section settings in Canvas now automatically sync with Catalog. This eliminates the need for manual updates, streamlining workflows, and ensuring that both platforms are always aligned.
Real-life example of how section sync solves a common issue
A common issue that many users faced before this update was related to certificates. For instance, if a student completed a course after the section's end date had passed, you would not have been able to download their certificate, as the system would recognize the section as "closed."
With the section sync improvement, this issue is easily resolved. By simply adjusting the student's section dates in Canvas, the change is instantly synced with Catalog. This means you can immediately download the certificate without any delays—an efficient solution to a previously cumbersome problem.
Can enrollment dates differ from section dates? What’s the difference?
Yes, enrollment dates and section dates can be different, offering greater flexibility in managing course timelines.
- Section date: defines the start and end dates of the course.
- Enrollment date: specifies the time frame during which students can enroll in the course.
For example, your course might have a section date that starts on March 1st, but you can allow students to begin enrolling as early as January 1st. This flexibility enables you to manage course availability and student enrollment periods independently, offering a more tailored experience for your learners.
