Steps for finalizing grades in Canvas and submitting grades to Howdy

We encourage you to follow the steps below to ensure your grades in Canvas are submitted to Howdy accurately.

In Canvas

1. Set up Gradebook

   • Align your Gradebook setup with your course syllabus.

2. Confirm grading scheme

   • Review your course grading scheme.

3. Enter and post grades

   • Verify there are no blank cells in the Gradebook and that all grades are posted.

4. Conduct final check

   • Review the columns in Microsoft Excel (if applicable)

In Howdy

5. Access sections

   • Access your class roster and syllabus in Howdy.

6. Import grades

   • Import grades directly from Canvas into Howdy.

Detailed information is available on the learning management system (LMS) website including updating options for completing Steps 5-6.

Final Grade Submission Window

• Final grading opens: Wednesday, Aug. 6 at 8 a.m.
• Final grading due for degree candidates: Friday, Aug. 8 at 12 p.m.
• Grading closes for non-degree candidates: Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 12 p.m.

Yuja Panorama

Yuja Panorama assists with improving digital accessibility directly within Canvas as well as through the web portal.  The Canvas integration will be enabled on Thursday, Aug 14th (the web portal has been active since May 2025). For training and resources, please see the CTE Digital Accessibility page. Additionally, an email was sent to all faculty on August 4 that includes additional information related to the digital accessibility mandates and resources to meet the upcoming deadline.

Ally will continue to remain available within Canvas and does not conflict with Panorama. On 8/14, Accessibility Report will be renamed to Ally Report given the addition of Panorama.

Simple Syllabus

Simple Syllabus was enabled in the Canvas course navigation pane when Fall 2025 shells were provisioned in early June. After the minimum syllabus requirements were updated on July 30, the syllabus templates were finalized and the anticipated release of the tool is Friday, August 8. The Office of the Provost is providing training opportunities via Zoom over the next two weeks.

All faculty are welcome to either use Simple Syllabus for the fall semester or use the updated minimum syllabus requirements template provided by Faculty Senate. The Simple Syllabus page on the LMS website includes resources for how to get started with the tool as well as recommendations related to the Syllabus provided in fall Canvas templates.

Please note that syllabi still need to be uploaded into Howdy for undergraduate courses and for HB2504 compliance.

Microsoft Education/Teams LTI Deprecation

As noted in prior communications, Microsoft is deprecating the existing Teams integration with Canvas by September 15 in favor of a more unified tool called Microsoft Education. The LMS teams will disable the Teams LTI in Canvas during the 8/14 technical change window. This change will allow existing classes to continue for the time being, but prevent the creation of new classes. The LMS teams recently received access to the new tool and are testing/developing training documentation for use in the fall semester with more information to come in CTE's start-of-semester email (coming late next week).

If you are not using Teams in Canvas, there will be no impact to your courses. Additionally, O365 will continue to remain as an option in Canvas for the fall semester with a plan to start transitioning to OneDrive within the unified tool Spring 2026.

Centrally-Supported/-Funded Tools

Texas A&M University supports the teaching and learning mission through the integration of centrally-supported/-funded technologies that are available to all users within Canvas. By leveraging these tools, faculty can reduce burdens of students including financial costs, external logins to manage, and time spent learning new tools in addition to their coursework. The LMS website provides resources for these tools, and the LMS support teams and partners also offer various training and professional development sessions throughout the year.

Colleges and schools may request additional tools supported by the requestor and/or vendors. Although some tools may be paid for by colleges, schools, and departments, other tools may have additional direct cost to students. To learn more, explore the LMS Tool Filter which includes a fee-incursion chart as well as options to filter tools that may have an extra cost.

Need Additional Assistance?

Support Channels

For technical assistance with Canvas, use the support option available to all faculty, teaching staff and students at Texas A&M University.

Watch On-Demand Videos

Browse the Gradebook Setup in Canvas video playlist to help you through the process for verifying and finalizing grades in Canvas.

Teaching and Learning with Canvas

For questions about teaching with Canvas, contact the Center for Teaching Excellence to schedule a training or individual consultation.

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