When viewing the People page in an academic course in Canvas, instructors often come across students listed as "inactive" on the People page. This designation refers to students who were initially enrolled in the course but have since dropped it. Similarly, individuals with other roles, such as Teachers, might appear inactive when they've been added to the course and later removed. This guide aims to address common queries about these inactive enrollments and provides practical insights to manage them effectively.
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What does "inactive" mean in Canvas?
When an enrollment is labeled as "inactive," it means the individual was once part of the course but is no longer enrolled in the course. In the case of students, this indicates that they initially enrolled in the course but later withdrew or dropped it. Inactive students do not appear on the roster for other students enrolled in the course.
For others, like Teachers or participants in different roles, being marked as inactive indicates that they were added to the course but have been removed since.
How do I know if an enrollment is inactive?
Inactive enrollments have a tag of "inactive" next to their name on the People page.
Can these inactive people access my course?
No, inactive enrollments, although listed on the People page, do not retain access to the course. They cannot access course materials, receive announcements, or engage in communication within the course. This inactive status ensures that their presence does not impact ongoing interactions or course dynamics.
What does it mean when a Teacher is inactive?
When Teachers or participants in different roles are marked as inactive, it means that they were removed from the course. Like students, they cannot access the course and they do not appear to other students on the roster.
Do inactive students appear in the gradebook?
In the Gradebook, instructors have the option to view inactive enrollments, although this feature is disabled by default. This can be particularly useful when you need to assess historical performance or review the impact of dropped students on grading trends.
To view inactive students in the gradebook, hover over the Student Name column header and click the Options icon ( ⁝ ). From the menu, select the Inactive enrollments option.
My course has student groups with inactive students. What happened?
In group settings, new student groups won't include inactive enrollments. When an instructor creates a group set and assigns students, Canvas only pulls from the active students in the course. Any students who drop the course after groups have been created will still retain their group memberships. However, these students will remain inactive and unable to access group content or interactions.
Instructors can remove inactive students from groups manually. This ensures that the composition of active students within groups remains accurate and aligned with course participation.
How do I remove inactive enrollments from the People page?
Unfortunately, there isn't a way to remove or hide these enrollments on the people page. However, the Course Analytics tool may offer a better alternative to the People page, allowing you to see student emails, participation indicators, and more. Course Analytics does not show students who dropped the class.
Course Analytics is a feature within Canvas that allows instructors to gather data and visualize student engagement, assignment submissions, and course outcomes. To learn more about how Course Analytics works and how it can benefit your teaching and assessment strategies, you can explore the Canvas Basics Guide on Course Analytics.
Why don't dropped students get removed from the course?
Dropped students' enrollments are intentionally retained to uphold accurate record-keeping and the integrity of course data. When a student initially enrolls, their interactions, grades, submissions, and communication are all logged. Removing students entirely upon dropping could compromise data consistency and historical insights.
By preserving dropped enrollments, instructors can reference past data, analyze course dynamics, and offer re-enrolling students a smoother experience. While inactive students can't access course materials, their presence aids in maintaining precise records. To address concerns about inactive enrollments' visibility, consider utilizing tools like Course Analytics, which provides participation insights while excluding those who've dropped.
Still need help? Faculty and staff can reach out to the Technology & Learning Program. Students can reach out to the Center for Technology Equity.
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