Canvas is Virginia Tech's learning management system (LMS). Instructors use Canvas to manage teaching materials like assignments, quizzes, feedback, and student grades. 

• Official courses are automatically created in instructors' Canvas accounts.
• Enrolled students are automatically added.
• Instructors can reuse teaching materials by importing them to a new course site.
• Canvas provides 24-7 support by phone (833-639-7621) and chat (click Support on any Canvas screen).

The Canvas Instructor Guide and the Canvas Student Guide have full instructions on using Canvas. These instructions are specific to Virginia Tech. To see other Canvas topics, please see:

• Using Canvas at Virginia Tech (for Instructors)
• Using Canvas at Virginia Tech (for Students)

Contents

• Access to Canvas
• Logging into Canvas
• Acceptable Use Policy & Privacy Policy
• Getting Help

Access to Canvas

Access to Canvas is managed using your Virginia Tech affiliation. However, if you have a VT sponsored PID or if you are a guest user, you can request a Canvas account as well.

VT Affiliations with Canvas accounts

If you have one of the following affiliations below, a Canvas account is automatically created for you.

VT Alums and Retirees

If you are a VT alumni or retiree, you can still access Canvas as long as you're able to log in with your PID and PID password. For more details about how long your PID stays active after graduation, contact 4Help.

Please keep in mind that for Canvas course where you have a student role, access depends on the instructor(s) of each course as they could restrict student view of their course site.

VT Sponsored PIDs

If you have a sponsored PID with Virginia Tech, have your sponsor contact 4Help to request a Canvas account for you. Then see logging into Canvas.

Non-VT Users

If you are a guest user, a Virginia Tech affiliate must add you to their Canvas site in order for you to be able to set up your account and log into Canvas. Have your sponsor follow the directions at Adding (Non-Virginia Tech) Guests.

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Logging into Canvas

Use the most up-to-date version of Google Chrome to access Canvas. Virginia Tech advises using Google Chrome. The Canvas Guides list other supported browsers.

1. Go to Canvas.
2. Log in with your PID and PID passphrase.
   
   • If you've forgotten your PID, go to Finding My Forgotten VT Username (PID).
   • If you've forgotten your PID passphrase, go to Changing or Resetting My Password.

If you run into issues while trying to log in:

• Disable script blockers (or whitelist Canvas URLs) because they interfere with some Canvas functions. See Script Blocker Problems under Troubleshooting Canvas (for Instructors).
• New students and faculty/staff: it can take up to 72 hours for your Canvas account to be created. Please be patient. 
• If you still can't log in, see:
  • I can't log into Canvas in Troubleshooting Canvas (for Instructors)
  • I can't log into Canvas in Troubleshooting Canvas (for Students)

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Acceptable Use & Privacy Policy

When you first log into Canvas, the Terms of Use will appear. It will also appear if Instructure changes their Acceptable Use Policy.

After logging into Canvas for the first time:

1. Check the I agree to the terms of use and privacy policy box.
2. Click Submit.
   
   

If you want to read the Acceptable Use Policy and Privacy Policy again:

1. Log into Canvas with your Virginia Tech PID and PID password.
2. Click the Acceptable Use Policy or Privacy Agreement links at the bottom of the Canvas window.
   
   

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Getting Help

For instructions on resolving common issues with Canvas, see:

• Troubleshooting Canvas (for Instructors)
• Troubleshooting Canvas (For Students)
• Recommended Browser Privacy and Security Settings for Canvas

Instructure, the creators of Canvas, provide 24-7 Canvas support, including live chat and a support hotline.

To get Canvas help, click Support on any Canvas screen and choose from help options:

• Search the Canvas Guides: Search Canvas documentation. 
• Chat with Canvas Support: Open a chat window in Canvas (or call the phone number). 
• Contact Virginia Tech 4Help: Submit an incident on 4Help or call 540-231-4357.
• Browse Virginia Tech Resources: See other Canvas Knowledge Base articles.
• Report a Problem: Submit a Canvas support case by filling out a short form.
• Ask the Community: Go to Canvas user community resources. 
• Submit a Feature Idea: Search a list of current feature idea conversations. Add to an existing conversation or start your own!

In Canvas, use the new Help Docs button located near the Support button that will provide quick access to a knowledge base located inside Canvas.

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