Canvas allows people to access a course in a variety of roles, depending on their instructor role in PeopleSoft. Use this reference to understand the level of access each role permits and their use cases. An individual may only be assigned to one role per course. A person's role in one course does not affect their role in another course or their wider system access. For example, a person can be a Teacher in one course and a Designer in another course.
All people are managed through an integration between PeopleSoft and Canvas. New people are keyed into PeopleSoft by the relevant academic department's scheduler at the department chair's direction. PeopleSoft enrollments and instructors are typically synced every 15 minutes to Canvas. Academic departments are responsible for managing access to courses based on an individual's affiliation with the university.
This article only covers the definitions and permissions for each role. For information on how to add someone to your Canvas course, see our course access guide or reach out to your department chair. The roles below are categorized by the role's intended function. To compare all roles side-by-side, refer to our roles and permissions comparison.
Teaching and Learning Roles
Overview of Available Roles
At Chico State, the following roles are available in the LMS:
- Student - grants access to participate in the course, including submitting assignments, discussion posts, etc.
- Teacher - grants full access to the course, including the ability to create, edit, and delete content. Users with this role can view and edit all student grades in the course.
- TA - grants access to create and edit content in the course but cannot delete content. Users with this role can view and edit all student grades in the course. This role can manage all course settings.
- Designer - grants access to create and edit content in the course but cannot delete content. This role can manage all course settings. Cannot view or edit grades.
- Grader - grants access to view course content and the gradebook. Users with this role can view and edit all student grades in the course. This role can manage all course settings.
- Faculty Peer Evaluator - grants the same access as Student.
- Peer Mentor - grants read-only access to the course and the ability to send messages to the entire class. Cannot view or edit grades.
Protection of Student Data
The security of student information is a top priority of California State University, Chico. Choosing the appropriate role for course users added outside the regular process is critical to protecting this data. Our legacy LMS, Blackboard Learn, has offered instructors of record the ability to grant "backdoor" access into to other individuals. As we move to a new LMS, Canvas, we intend to prohibit this kind of untracked access.
With Canvas, not only is access to the LMS granted almost exclusively via assignment to a class Instructor Role in PeopleSoft (CMS-CS), but those Role assignments will be made only upon satisfactory completion of required HR paperwork which establishes the desired contractual relationship and proper vetting.
"Instructor" can, for example, mean the primary individual delivering course content to the class, student employees who are supporting the instruction or grading the course assignments, peers who need access to the course materials in the LMS for different reasons. These roles and their capabilities within a course are discussed below.
Learning and Teaching Roles
Teaching and learning roles are the most common roles in the Learning Management System and represent the most common use cases of Canvas. Teachers can be added to courses by department staff in PeopleSoft at the direction of the department chair. Students can be added to courses through normal registration processes. In sandboxes and organizations, Teachers can be added through a request to Learning Technology Services. Students can be freely added to organizations by a teacher, but they cannot be added to sandboxes.
Teaching and Learning Role Definitions
| LMS Course Role |
Definition |
PeopleSoft Instructor Role |
| Teacher |
An individual that delivers the course content, often serving as the Instructor of Record on the Class Schedule and responsible for submitting final grades in PeopleSoft. |
Primary Instructor
Secondary Instructor
|
| Student |
An individual student for an academic course enrolled in a section. |
N/A |
Permissions
The table below shows the permissions provided by Canvas that moderate how a person in one of these roles can interact with course content, features, and tools.
Permissions for Teaching and Learning Roles
| Permission |
Student |
Teacher |
| Manage Course Settings |
No |
Yes |
| Allow Course Admin Actions |
No |
Yes |
| Edit Section Settings |
No |
Yes |
| View Own Analytics |
Yes |
Yes |
| View Others' Analytics |
No |
Yes |
| Publish/Unpublish Course |
No |
Yes |
| Manage People - Teacher |
No |
No |
| Manage People - TA |
No |
No* |
| Manage People - Designer |
No |
No* |
| Manage People - Observer |
No |
No |
| Manage People - Student |
No |
No* |
| Manage Groups |
No |
Yes |
| View All Group Pages |
No |
Yes |
| Manage Outcomes |
No |
Yes |
| Import Outcomes |
No |
Yes |
| Manage Proficiency Calculations |
No |
Yes |
| Manage Proficiency Scales |
No |
Yes |
| Manage Rubrics |
No |
Yes |
| Read Reports |
No |
Yes |
| Read Roster |
Yes |
Yes |
| Read SIS Data |
No |
Yes |
| View Audit Trail |
No |
Yes |
| View User Logins |
No |
Yes |
| Create Collaborations |
Yes |
Yes |
| Create Discussions |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moderate Discussions |
No |
Yes |
| Post To Discussions |
Yes |
Yes |
| Read Discussions |
Yes |
Yes |
| Read Announcements |
Yes |
Yes |
| Manage Assignments |
No |
Yes |
| Submission - Submit on behalf of student |
No |
Yes |
| Manage Grades |
No |
Yes |
| View All Grades |
No |
Yes |
| Moderated Assignments - Select Final Grade |
No |
Yes |
| Manage Calendar |
No |
Yes |
| Manage Course Content |
No |
Yes |
| Manage Files - Add |
No |
Yes |
| Manage Files - Edit |
No |
Yes |
| Manage Files - Delete |
No |
Yes |
| Manage Pages - Add |
No |
Yes |
| Manage Pages - Edit |
No† |
Yes |
| Manage Pages - Delete |
No |
Yes |
| Send Messages |
Yes |
Yes |
| Send Messages to All |
No |
Yes |
^ *Teachers can manage TAs and Designers in the following types of courses: Sandbox, Migrated Courses. Additionally, Teachers can manage students in Organizations.
^ †Teachers can set specific pages as student-editable.
Course Associate Roles
Course associates are specialized faculty, staff, and student employees that assist instructors with one or more aspects of course construction, delivery, or grading. These roles offer varying levels of access to course content and student information depending on the specific role selected. Course associates, such as TAs, Designers, and Graders need to be added to academic courses by departments staff at the direction of the department chair. In sandbox courses and organizations, course associates can be added freely by the person who created the course.
Course Associate Role Definitions
| LMS Course Role |
Definition |
PeopleSoft Instructor Role |
| TA |
An academic student employee, typically a graduate student, working with the Teacher(s), assisting with course instruction and delivery. Responsibilities can include providing classroom and/or lab instruction, making assignments, preparing course materials, administering exams, assessing student performance, tutoring students, and determining course grades. |
Teaching Associate |
| Designer |
A professional that provides specific course design, content, navigation, and/or accessibility assistance for a course within the Learning Management System. |
Course Designer |
| Grader |
A graduate or undergraduate academic student employee that provides grading for course assignments, quizzes, and other projects within the course. |
Grader |
The table below shows the permissions provided by Canvas that moderate how a person in one of these roles can interact with course content, features, and tools.
Permissions for Course Associate Roles
| Permission |
TA |
Designer |
Grader |
| Manage Course Settings |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Allow Course Admin Actions |
No |
No |
No |
| Edit Section Settings |
No |
Yes |
No |
| View Own Analytics |
Yes |
No |
No |
| View Others' Analytics |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Publish/Unpublish Course |
No |
No |
No |
| Manage People - Teacher |
No |
No |
No |
| Manage People - TA |
No |
No |
No |
| Manage People - Designer |
No |
No |
No |
| Manage People - Observer |
No |
No |
No |
| Manage People - Student |
No |
No |
No |
| Manage Groups |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| View All Group Pages |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Manage Outcomes |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Import Outcomes |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Manage Proficiency Calculations |
No |
No |
No |
| Manage Proficiency Scales |
No |
No |
No |
| Manage Rubrics |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Read Reports |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Read Roster |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| Read SIS Data |
No |
No |
No |
| View Audit Trail |
No |
No |
No |
| View User Logins |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| Create Collaborations |
No |
No |
No |
| Create Discussions |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Moderate Discussions |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Post To Discussions |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Read Discussions |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Read Announcements |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Manage Assignments |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Submission - Submit on behalf of student |
No |
No |
No |
| Manage Grades |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| View All Grades |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| Moderated Assignments - Select Final Grade |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Manage Calendar |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Manage Course Content - Add |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Manage Course Content - Edit |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Manage Course Content - Delete |
No |
No |
No |
| Manage Files - Add |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Manage Files - Edit |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Manage Files - Delete |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Manage Pages - Add |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Manage Pages - Edit |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Manage Pages - Delete |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Send Messages |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Send Messages to All |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Course Observer Roles
Course observers are people who are not formally enrolled in the course for credit but who otherwise need access to the content. Examples of this access can include tutors and SI Leaders who need to communicate with members of the class or faculty peers who need to evaluate online instruction. Course observers can be added to academic courses by department staff only at the direction of the department chair. Observers can be added to sandbox courses and organizations through a request to Learning Technology Services.
Course Observer Role Definitions
| LMS Course Role |
Definition |
PeopleSoft Instructor Role |
| Peer Mentor |
An undergraduate or graduate academic student employee that provides tutoring or supplemental instruction to students enrolled in the course. |
Peer Mentor |
| Faculty Peer Evaluator |
A faculty peer enrolled in the course to evaluate instruction. |
Faculty Peer Evaluator |
Permissions
The table below shows the permissions provided by Canvas that moderate how a person in one of these roles can interact with course content, features, and tools.
Permissions for Course Observer Roles
| Permission |
Peer Mentor |
Faculty Peer Evaluator |
| Manage Course Settings |
No |
No |
| Allow Course Admin Actions |
No |
No |
| Edit Section Settings |
No |
No |
| View Own Analytics |
No |
No |
| View Others' Analytics |
No |
No |
| Publish/Unpublish Course |
No |
No |
| Manage People - Teacher |
No |
No |
| Manage People - TA |
No |
No |
| Manage People - Designer |
No |
No |
| Manage People - Observer |
No |
No |
| Manage People - Student |
No |
No |
| Manage Groups |
No |
No |
| View All Group Pages |
No |
No |
| Manage Outcomes |
No |
No |
| Import Outcomes |
No |
No |
| Manage Proficiency Calculations |
No |
No |
| Manage Proficiency Scales |
No |
No |
| Manage Rubrics |
No |
No |
| Read Reports |
No |
No |
| Read Roster |
No |
No |
| Read SIS Data |
No |
No |
| View Audit Trail |
No |
No |
| View User Logins |
No |
No |
| Create Collaborations |
No |
No |
| Create Discussions |
No |
No |
| Moderate Discussions |
No |
No |
| Post To Discussions |
No |
No |
| Read Discussions |
Yes |
Yes |
| Read Announcements |
Yes |
Yes |
| Manage Assignments |
No |
No |
| Submission - Submit on behalf of student |
No |
No |
| Manage Grades |
No |
No |
| View All Grades |
No |
No |
| Moderated Assignments - Select Final Grade |
No |
No |
| Manage Calendar |
No |
No |
| Manage Course Content |
No |
No |
| Manage Files - Add |
No |
No |
| Manage Files - Edit |
No |
No |
| Manage Files - Delete |
No |
No |
| Manage Pages - Add |
No |
No |
| Manage Pages - Edit |
No |
No |
| Manage Pages - Delete |
No |
No |
| Send Messages |
No |
No |
| Send Messages to All |
Yes |
No |