Canvas Course Support

Course Creation and Enrollment

Most Registrar courses are created automatically in Canvas based on the information listed in CAESAR. Discussion sections, lab sections, clerkships, and independent studies are excluded from this automatic process; requests for creation of these types of course sites in Canvas may be submitted via Canvas Course Request for Existing CAESAR Section.

Canvas synchronizes with CAESAR three times daily on weekdays (at approximately 8 a.m., 2 p.m., and 5 p.m.) and once a day on weekends, bringing over new enrollment and course information from CAESAR to Canvas each time the synchronization process runs. An instructor must be listed as a Primary Instructor in CAESAR in order to be automatically added to Canvas as a Teacher.

Custom Courses

Custom course sites may be created within Canvas for academic and University business purposes upon faculty or staff request. Any course that is not maintained by the Registrar is considered a custom course site in Canvas.

Instructors may request a prep site at any time in order to prepare material for an upcoming course or try Canvas features.

Multi-section Courses and Combined Courses

Some courses have multiple sections that students may enroll in within CAESAR. For multi-section courses, each individual section automatically has its own course site created within Canvas. Each section’s course site in Canvas contains the student enrollments and the instructor(s). Instructors who teach multi-section courses may manage their sections either separately or by combining them.

Canvas Exceptional Enrollment Request 

For courses with CAESAR enrollments, students cannot be manually added to Canvas. Request an exemption by completing the Canvas Exceptional Enrollment Request form with the Office of the Registrar. To enroll students in custom sections within this course, or for any other questions about manual enrollments in a Canvas course, please email consultant@northwestern.edu. 

 

Available to

  • Northwestern Teachers, TAs, and course Support roles in Canvas

 

Cost

N/A

 

How to Request Service

Click the appropriate button to the right to access this service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Canvas Course Request for Existing CAESAR Section Request Canvas Custom Course Sites Request Multi-Section Courses in Canvas Canvas Exceptional Enrollment Request

Service Offerings (4)

Canvas Course Request for Existing CAESAR Section
Generally, only lecture and seminar sections have Canvas sites created by default. Canvas sites for labs, discussion sections, or independent studies need to be requested in advance of the start of a term.
Canvas Custom Course Sites
Custom course sites within Canvas may be created for academic and University business purposes.
Multi-Section Courses in Canvas
Some courses have multiple sections that students may enroll in within CAESAR. For courses like this, each individual section automatically has its own course site created within Canvas. Instructors who teach multi-section courses may manage their sections either separately or by combining them.
Canvas Exceptional Enrollment Request
For courses with CAESAR enrollments, students cannot be manually added to Canvas. Request an exemption by completing the Canvas Exceptional Enrollment Request form with the Office of the Registrar.