"Terms" in Canvas allow us to determine the period of time when users can access a course. By default, all Canvas academic courses at UCSB are set so that students can access course sites from the current quarter and one previous quarter.
In courses where instructors wish to limit access prior to the UCSB default (or extend access longer) instructors can change the dates from the Canvas term date to customized course dates.
This article will cover:
- UCSB Term Dates (the Default Dates)
- How Term Dates Impact a Course
- How to Change Dates from the Default (to limit or allow student participation outside the UCSB default term dates)
- Troubleshooting
Note: Students cannot access or participate in a course if it is not published. This is regardless of term dates or course dates.
| Quarter |
Create Courses (Instructors only, generally after Pass 2 of the Registration Calendar) |
Term End Date (Students can no longer access, TA access becomes read-only) |
| Fall 2023 | 6/24/23 | 3/22/2024 @ 11:59p |
| Winter 2024 | 11/13/24 | 6/22/2024 @ 11:59p |
|
Spring 2024 |
2/14/24 | 9/13/2024 @ 11:59p |
|
Summer 2024 |
4/24/24 | 12/13/2024 @ 11:59p |
|
Fall 2024 |
5/20/24 | 3/21/2025 @11:59p |
- Instructors and TAs have access to the course as soon it is created by the instructor of record.
- If the course is unpublished, students cannot view or participate in the the course (also, students will not receive notifications from Announcements and cannot be sent messages from the Inbox).
- If the course is published and it is:
- before the term end date, students can access and fully participate in the course.
- after the term end date, students no longer have access to the course. TAs can view the course but cannot make edits or changes to the course (read-only access). Instructors have full edit access to the course.
1. From the course navigation menu, click Settings
2. Set Participation to Course:
3. Enter in your preferred Start and End date and time.
4. If desired, check the appropriate setting(s):
- Restrict students from viewing course before course start date - Check this box if you want to prevent students from viewing the course before the Start date and time.
- Restrict students from viewing course after course end date - Leave this box checked if you want to prevent students from viewing the course after the End date and time.
5. Scroll to the bottom and click Update Course Details
-
Due Dates and Availability Dates must be within the term window:
If you need to assign a date outside of the quarter, follow the steps above for How to change course dates from the Default and set a Start/End time that accommodates your course schedule.