Canvas Student FAQ

• How do I access Cougar Courses Canvas?
  Login to the Cougar Courses Canvas website using your CSUSM email address.
  
  *not available until the week of August 15
• Is there an app for Canvas?

  Canvas Student allows students to access their courses and groups using a mobile device. Students can submit assignments, participate in discussions, view grades and course materials. The app also provides access to course calendars, To Do items, notifications, and Conversations messages.

  Canvas Student requires a Canvas account and is available for both Android and Apple iOS devices.

• How do I get support?

  You can get help in a variety of ways. 

  Canvas Support

  In Canvas, you will see a Question Mark Icon ( ? ) on the bottom left navigation that lists how to get support. For specific Canvas questions (e.g. how do I submit an assignment, post to a forum, check my grades), you can reach out to Canvas support via phone or chat. You will choose the Canvas chat or phone number option. 

  Non-Canvas Support

  For non-Canvas questions (e.g. I am getting a login error, I need to change my password, I forgot my password), you will contact the CSUSM helpdesk by emailing techsupport@csusm.edu 

• How do I contact my instructor?
  Canvas has an Inbox in the left navigation that you will open to get started.
• How do I submit assignments or take a quiz?
  Canvas has many support guides available.
• How do I reset my password?
  The password/passphrase instructions will step you through the process. If you are still having issues, there are several ways to contact the helpdesk for assistance.
• Why can't I see my course(s)?

  Your list of active courses can be found on the Dashboard after you log in. 

  
  Recently registered?

  • It can take up to 24 hours from the time you officially add a course in MyCSUSM until you are added to the Cougar Courses container.

  Registered more than 24 hours ago?

  • If it has been over 24 hours since you officially enrolled through MyCSUSM the course might not have been made visible by the instructor yet.  Instructors choose when to make their course visible to students. 
  • There is a way you can check whether the course is visible or not:
  • While logged in, go to the Cougar Courses homepage and the search bar near the bottom. Search by the name and number of the course (for example, Fall 2020 BIOL 104). 
  • If you see the course (and correct section) listed there it means the course is active/visible to students, but you might not have been added yet. It you need immediate access, contact the instructor.

  • If you do not see the course (and correct section) that means the course is not yet active/visible to students.  In that case, you will need to contact the instructor to ask when it will be made visible.
• Why do I see an error "Canvas doesn't have an account for user:" when I log in to Canvas?
  This message is displayed because students have not been added to the Cougar Courses Canvas database. We anticipate students will be added by mid-August.
• I just added a course in MyCSUSM, but I don't see it in Cougar Courses yet. Can you give me access?
  It can take up to 24 hours for your add to be processed by the registrar and your name to be added to the course roster in Cougar Courses. If you require immediate access to the course materials, contact your instructor for access. 
• How do I use the calendar to find assignment due dates?
  The Calendar is a great way to view what you have to do for all your courses in one place. Only assignments collected in Canvas will be on the calendar.
• How do I add a picture to my profile?
  There are three ways you can select a profile picture to use throughout Canvas.
• How do I see my grades?
  The Grades page in a course displays grades that have been added by your instructor.
• How do I change my notifications?
  Canvas includes a set of default notification preferences you can receive for your courses. You can customize your notification settings.
• How do I add my pronouns?
  You will add pronouns in MyCSUSM We don't have a method to automatically add them to Canvas yet. Once you set pronouns in Canvas, they will display after your name in various areas in Canvas