Adding a TA or Instructor to a Class in Canvas

In Canvas, faculty can add a TA, a Non-Grading TA, Supplemental Instructor or an additional instructor (Teacher) to their class.

• Note: The same isn't true of students. Faculty can't add students to Canvas courses as student enrollment is synced with Banner data. When students register for a class, they are added to the Canvas course, and if they drop it, they are automatically removed Canvas roster.

To add an auditing student to a class, please submit a case. Our Instructional Technology staff will assist you. Everyone, including auditors, needs a St. Edward's email address for Canvas enrollment. If the auditor doesn’t have an SEU account, the instructor must fill out an Affiliate Access request form before the student can be added to the class.

As Teachers are evaluated via the course evaluation process, you should add others as TAs (same permissions as Teachers) or Non-Grading TAs (no access to student submissions or grades).  

This article covers the following topics:

• Adding a TA, Non-Grading TA, Supplemental Instructor or Instructor
• Adding someone to a course when the original instructor is not available
• Adding a Non-Grading TA to a course from a previous semester
• Copying Content from another instructor's course
• Permissions for roles

To Add a TA, Non-Grading TA, Supplemental Instructor or Instructor

1. Click "People" in the course menu.
2. Click the "+People" button 
3. In the "Add People" dialog box, enter the university email address or login ID (username that appears before the @ in an email address) of the TA or instructor. You can add multiple people by adding a comma between each email address or login ID.
4. Select the appropriate role (TA, Non-Grading TA, Supplementary Instructor or Teacher) and click "Next."
5. If the email addresses match existing accounts, you'll see the names and emails of the people you want to add. If they’re correct, click “Add Users.” If there’s a mistake with the email or name, click “Start Over” to correct it.
6. An email will be sent automatically to the new users, inviting them to join the class.

Adding a Non-Grading TA to a Course from a Previous Semester

If you attempt to add someone to a course from a previous semester and find the “+ People” button is unavailable, it’s because the course is no longer available. However, you can still add someone:

• Go to "Settings" for the course
• Delete the "End date" for the course
• Click "Update Course Details" to save the change.
• Follow the instructions above to add the Non-Grading TA.
• Go back into "Settings" and restore the "End date." If you don't do this, students will see this course as active in their Dashboard. Click "Update Course Details" to save the change.

Adding Someone to a Course when the Original Instructor is Not Available

Instructional Technology staff will add Instructors to a class only upon receiving written permission via email from the instructor of record. If the instructor is unavailable, the department chair, associate dean or dean may request instructor access. Please submit your access request by emailing support@stedwards.edu.

If an instructor is added to a past course, they will be added as a Non-Grading TA, with no access to student work from that class. Only department chairs, associate deans or deans may request access for themselves with the role of Teacher to past courses. 

Need to copy content from another instructor's course?

See the instructions for Copying Canvas Courses.

Permissions for Roles

• Teachers
  • Use this role to add another instructor with full course permissions
• TAs
  • TAs have the same permissions as Teachers, including full access to Grades and all student submissions.
• Non-Grading TAs
  • Use this role if you have a student worker or fellow instructor who needs to be able to see and update content, but not participate in the class via Conversations or discussions or view any grades or student submissions.
  • Can edit content
  • Can copy or import content
  • Can send messages to students through Conversations
  • Can view discussion posts
  • Cannot post or moderate (add, edit, delete) posts to discussions
  • Cannot access Grades
  • Cannot access settings to add or remove course sections
  • Cannot add, edit or delete groups
  • Cannot see the list of People enrolled in the class except through Conversations
  • Cannot view course or student analytics
• Supplementary Instructors
  • Can view ALL content
  • Use this role if the primary role is to view content and communicate with students. Supplementary Instructors can send messages through Canvas Conversations to students in the class.
  • Cannot access Grades or student submissions
  • Cannot access settings to add or remove course sections
  • Cannot view course or student analytics
• Observer
  • This role is geared toward K-12 and is meant to assign a role to a parent or counselor who follows a specific student. This role is not used at St. Edward's.

For more information on using Canvas, please visit the Canvas Community for comprehensive resources.