Dear Patriot,
We hope you are feeling refreshed and ready for the new academic year!
This past spring and summer, we have been working tirelessly to prepare for the university’s transition to the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS), and we are pleased to share that more than 700 faculty have opted to use Canvas this fall. During the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters we will transition from Blackboard to Canvas. During this transition period your course(s) may be hosted on either platform.
We understand this may cause some inconvenience, but we want to assure you that this change aims to provide a more robust and user-friendly platform for your studies. By Summer 2025, all courses will be hosted exclusively on Canvas. For the fall, to determine which system will host content and/or resources for your course(s), we encourage you to review any course materials your instructor(s) may have sent, as they have been advised to include information on which LMS they will use.
Please note:
- Not all courses use an LMS as part of their course delivery.
- If a course does use an LMS it will only be in one. If it is not in Blackboard, it is in Canvas. It will not be in both. In Canvas, your homepage only shows courses you can access. Click Courses/All Courses to view the full list.
To help you navigate this transition, here are the options that are available to get acclimated to Canvas:
- Canvas Student Guide: Comprehensive documentation and tutorials to help you understand and use Canvas effectively
- Online Training Sessions: Interactive sessions where you can learn the ins and outs of Canvas
- Canvas Support: Access to 24/7 support is available within the platform clicking the “Help” link in the navigation menu
- Mobile Mason App: Use the mobile app to view your course list, announcements, and due dates for both Blackboard and Canvas. Visit https://gettheapp.gmu.edu/ to download the app.
Additional training resources and information about Canvas can be accessed at https://lms.gmu.edu/getting-started-students/ and for Blackboard at https://its.gmu.edu/knowledge-base/blackboard-instructional-technology-support-for-students/. If you have specific questions about how your courses are managed, please contact your instructor(s).
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this transition period. We are committed to making this as smooth as possible and appreciate your patience as we work towards providing a better learning environment for all.
Best regards,
Charmaine Madison
Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Information Technology Services
Janette Muir
Vice Provost, Academic Affairs
Office of the Provost