Combining Course Sections in Canvas

You can combine two or more sections of a course that meet together by cross-listing the sections in Canvas.

If you teach two or more sections of the same course, you can combine these sections into one course in Canvas. When you combine courses in Canvas it is referred to as "Cross-listing."

This article covers the following topics:

• What happens after cross-listing sections
• FERPA considerations
• Tips for cross-listing sections
• Instructions for cross-listing sections

What Happens After Cross-listing Sections

After combining sections, the instructor

• Will only see the primary section in Canvas and should place all course content and assignments in this section
• Can filter by individual sections in the gradebook
• Can assign TAs for specific sections only
• Can designate different assignment due dates for individual sections
• Can designate Announcements to go to specific sections
• Can configure student groups to be created within sections
• Can see the original section of the student listed in both People and Grades

After combining sections, the students will see all content and assignments in the combined section.

Note: You cannot cross-list or undo the cross-listing of a course after there are student submissions or grades.

FERPA Considerations

Please only use cross-listing (combining sections) for courses that meet together. Combining courses that do not meet together in person is a potential violation of the Federal Education Rights Privacy Act (FERPA). Instructure is working to find a solution that allows courses to share certain content while giving higher protection to student information.

If you do combine sections, please take the following steps to protect the privacy of students in the individual sections:

• Disable the People menu option that allows students to see the entire course roster for all sections. Instructions for disabling a course navigation link are available in the Canvas Community.
• If you use Discussions, create separate groups for each section of students and assign each discussion to the separate group.
• When sending messages through the Conversations Inbox, always choose to Send Individual Messages so that a group reply is not possible.
• Whenever you share or cause to be shared student information within a course or section(s) ensure that no student within the course or section has invoked a FERPA hold on all of their directory and non-directory information.

Tips for Cross-listing Sections

• Determine which class you want to add all of your content and assignments in. That will be the "Home" course.
• Edit the Settings of the "Home" course to append the semester to the Course Name (e.g., MKTG-1000-01-FA21). This will make the correct course easier to find when cross-listing sections.

Instructions for Cross-Listing Courses

1. Decide on the "Home" course that will have all content and all students. Go to that course and rename it to add the semester so it is easy to find when you are cross-listing sections. To edit the name, go to "Settings" in the course.
2. Go to the second course that you want to cross-list with the Home course. Click on "Settings."
3. In Settings, click on the "Sections tab."

4. You will see a section that is linked. The Section name will be the same as the course you are in (for example, MKTG-1001-02). Click on the section link.

5. In the right menu, select "Cross-List this Section."

6. Search for your Home section by entering the course name (for example, DEV-MKTG-6315 FA19). (See 1)
7. Click on the button "Cross-list this Section" (See 2)

8. You will then see that the course name has changed to the Home course, and if you check People in the course, you will see all of the students from both sections.

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