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Quick Links: | About Canvas Organizations | Request an Organization | Enrollment Management in Organizations |
At Chico State, a Canvas Organization is a long-term Canvas space used for activities that are not associated with an official, credit-bearing course in PeopleSoft.
Organizations can support orientations, professional development, advising programs, committees, and other groups that require a structured online space or need Canvas features such as modules, announcements, discussions, assignments, or quizzes.
About Canvas Organizations
Organizations are created by the Technology & Learning Program (TLP) upon request. Unlike official Canvas courses, they are not tied to a specific academic term and may remain available across multiple terms.
Each Organization must have at least one faculty or staff leader who is responsible for:
- Maintaining its content and activities
- Managing participant enrollment
- Reviewing access and membership
- Notifying TLP when the Organization is no longer needed
Examples of appropriate faculty or staff leaders include a director, department chair, dean, instructor, or full-time staff, such as an ASC. A student representative can help support management of the organization but may not be assigned the primary delegation of these responsibilities.
Members generally must have an active Chico State account and already exist in Chico State Canvas. Organizations may not be appropriate for groups primarily composed of members of the public, former students, or others without active Chico State accounts.
When to Use an Organization
Consider requesting a Canvas Organization when the space:
- Supports an activity that is not an official credit-bearing course
- Requires structured content, activities, or communication
- Will be used across multiple academic terms
- Requires Canvas features such as Modules, Pages, Announcements, Assignments, Quizzes, or Discussions
- Primarily serves current Chico State students, faculty, or staff
Common examples include:
- Orientations and training: Onboarding, professional development, certification, or other structured learning activities that are not credit-bearing courses.
- Program and advising hubs: Long-term spaces for sharing resources, announcements, activities, and support with members of an academic program.
- Faculty or staff communities: Committees, learning communities, and other groups that need ongoing communication or structured activities.
When to Use Another Platform
A Canvas Organization may not be the best option when your primary need is file storage, public web publishing, student-club management, or communication with people who do not have Chico State Canvas accounts.
File Storage and Collaboration
- Use OneDrive or Google Drive to store personal files or share files with a small number of people.
- Use Microsoft Teams for ongoing departmental or project collaboration and shared ownership of files.
- Use the SharePoint Intranet to publish information and resources for Chico State employees.
- Contact IT Support if you need storage for restricted or confidential data.
Websites and Public Information
- Use Chico State Web Hosting for official public-facing departmental or university content. Contact Web Services for details.
- Use YourWeb for a personally managed website, portfolio, or instructional web project.
- Google Sites may be appropriate for informal or instructional projects, but should not replace the official university website for departmental content.
Other Needs:
- Student Clubs: Use CatsConnect to manage recognized student clubs and organizations, including membership, events, and involvement activities.
- Video Libraries: Use Kaltura to host and share video. Kaltura channels can be used to organize related media for a group or audience.
- Official Academic Courses: Organizations cannot be used in place of official credit-bearing courses. Courses listed in the University Catalog or Class Schedule must be created and managed through PeopleSoft.
- CSU-Wide Courses: For courses serving participants from multiple CSU campuses, consider the Chancellor’s Office Canvas environment.
- Audiences Outside Chico State: For courses or resources intended primarily for people who are not affiliated with Chico State or the CSU, consider a public platform.
Request an Organization
Select Request an Organization and provide:
- The proposed Organization name
- Its purpose and intended audience
- The names of the faculty or staff members who should be added as Teachers
TLP will review the request, create the Organization when appropriate, and add the initial Teachers.
Request an Organization
Manage Membership
Organization Teachers are responsible for maintaining participant enrollment.
Teachers can add participants in roles such as Student, Designer, or TA. To add another Teacher, contact the Technology & Learning Program.
For enrollment instructions, see Invite People to Your Organization in Canvas.
Still need help? If you run into problems or still need help, contact the Technology & Learning Program.
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