Panopto is Virginia Tech’s chosen video content management system and video creation tool that allows users to create, share, and manage video content easily. 

Panopto is integrated into Virginia Tech’s Canvas platform, allowing instructors to record, upload, and share videos directly within Canvas. Panopto also provides tools for organizing videos, tracking engagement, and enabling students to review content.

Contents

• Background
• Roles in Panopto
• Accessing Panopto
• Migration
• Retention Policy
• FERPA & Class Recordings
• Getting Help

Background

To meet the evolving needs of faculty, staff, and students, Virginia Tech has selected Panopto as the university’s new video content management system (VCMS). Panopto, which will replace Kaltura in 2026, will provide interactive video, lecture capture, streaming media, mobile compatibility, video storage, and integration with other Virginia Tech tools like Canvas and Zoom. Enhanced features include audio descriptions, a video analytics dashboard, and customizable system settings.

For more information on the transition, see Panopto VCMS Transition.

Top of page

Roles in Panopto

Creator 

Creators can upload, record, edit, and manage videos in a folder. They can also move or copy sessions, adjust settings, view analytics, and share content with others. At Virginia Tech, faculty and staff are creators.

Viewer

Viewers can watch videos in a folder and interact with available features like captions, discussions, notes, and quizzes, but they cannot edit or manage content. At Virginia Tech, students are viewers.

Top of page

Accessing Panopto

From Canvas

1. Log into Canvas with your Virginia Tech PID and PID passphrase.
2. Click on a Canvas site.
3. On the Course Navigation Menu, click Panopto Video to view and manage your videos.
   • If Panopto Video is not enabled in your menu, see How do I manage Course Navigation links?

From https://virginiatech.hosted.panopto.com (faculty/staff only)

1. Go to https://virginiatech.hosted.panopto.com and sign in with your Virginia Tech PID and PID passphrase.
2. If you receive a “You are not authorized to access the requested application” message, this means that you need to access Panopto via Canvas.

From the Panopto mobile app (faculty/staff only)

1. Search for and download the Panopto app from the Google Play or Apple App Store.
2. See How to Use the Panopto Mobile App for instructions on logging in and using Panopto via the mobile app.
3. When prompted to choose a site, select virginiatech.hosted.panopto.com and log in with your Virginia Tech PID and PID passphrase.

Top of page

Migration

Panopto is available for use on February 9, 2026. All video content stored in Kaltura will be converted and moved to Panopto during the Spring 2026 semester. To stay within contractual storage limits, a small number of unplayed videos from 2022 or earlier, that have not been published to a Canvas course or a video.vt.edu channel or collection, will be retained outside of Panopto until June 30, 2027. These videos will not be migrated, but can be added to your Panopto account upon request. A request form will be linked here in the coming months.

Please see the Panopto VCMS Transition for the latest implementation updates. 

Top of page

Retention Policy

Zoom Video Retention Policy

Zoom cloud recordings will no longer automatically transfer to your Panopto account unless Zoom meetings are scheduled through the Zoom tool within a Canvas site. 

To learn how to schedule meetings in Canvas, see Using Zoom in Canvas.

This differs from the previous Zoom integration with Kaltura, where all Zoom cloud recordings were automatically added to your Kaltura My Media folder. In order to support this updated workflow, the Zoom cloud recording retention policy has been extended to two years, allowing you to share Zoom videos directly without the links expiring after a few months.

General Video Retention Policy

The Virginia Tech Content Retention Standard is under development. Once finalized, information pertaining to the retention policy for videos will be updated here.

Top of page

FERPA & Class Recordings

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prohibits the release of personally identifiable information of a student. Lecture recordings can be tricky because faculty members must ensure that a student(s) personally identifiable information isn't released outside of what FERPA allows. To help ensure adherence to FERPA requirements when using lecture recording:

• Faculty should not upload recordings of a class session where the students are the focus in any way in the recording, either by name or by image, to a public site. 
• Faculty who wish to record lectures for use in later semesters may do so by recording the course in such a way that the students' identity in the course is never revealed. 
• Faculty may use recorded lectures that identify a student(s), such as names viewable in a zoom session or student's presenting for a portion of the course, only if they are shared through Canvas ONLY with that course section. 

Please visit the Registrar's website on Student Privacy (FERPA) for more information.

Top of page

Getting Help

If you need help with Panopto in general:

• Check Panopto System Status.
• Review Panopto documentation.
• Contact Panopto Support.

If you still have questions:

• For questions about Panopto in Canvas or at https://virginiatech.hosted.panopto.com, go to the 4Help Portal, log in, and click Get Help. Specify where you are having the issue and include the video name, ID, and/or URL if applicable.
• For questions about intellectual property, contact your department chair or the University Council.

Top of page