Fall 2026 Start of the Semester Faculty

Welcome to the start of the Fall 2026 semester! We encourage you to follow the steps below to help you set up your course in Canvas. 

1. Merge course sections

Combine course sections via ORCA by Aug. 19^th, 11:59 p.m. (for main terms). After Aug. 23^rd, course sections may not be able to be merged due to the potential loss of student data. 

2. Assign course roles

Verify all users enrolled in a course associate role have completed FERPA and Information Security Awareness training in TrainTraq.  

3. Access Canvas

Use your Texas A&M NetID and password to sign into the technologies that comprise Texas A&M University’s digital learning environment. 

4. Set up your course

Leverage our Start of Semester Checklist to set up your course in Canvas to enhance your students' experience.

5. Participate in the Observer Program for Athletics

Opt-in to the program beginning Aug. 29^th, 12:00 PM if you have a student-athlete enrolled in your course.  

Recent and Upcoming Changes

Canvas Profile Picture Changes

Canvas profile pictures are currently being updated to provide a scalable and sustainable solution for management moving forward. Approved through LMS Governance, all profile images have been replaced with a gray avatar.

Faculty and non-distance education students will be able to opt into using their approved Aggie ID images using the steps noted below by May 20, 2026. Staff images will be added shortly after, and this message will be updated at that time. Students in distance education programs are not able to add their images at this time due to Student Business Services guidelines; however, future updates may allow this option.

To sync your Canvas profile picture with your university-approved Aggie ID image, visit the Howdy Portal and follow these steps:

1. Log in with your NetID.
2. Click your profile name at the top right.
3. Select Preferences.
4. Turn on the toggle for Canvas profile picture Opt-in (default is off; please note that this can be disabled at any time).

We anticipate that this update will be completed for all users before the main summer term begins on May 26, 2026.

Enhanced Rubrics Now Available

Instructure is moving toward universal enforcement of Enhanced Rubrics late Fall 2026. To avoid potential issues resulting from a mid-semester change, we have now made it available ahead of the summer and fall main terms. More information is available through Instructure’s community guides and CTE will begin sharing customized resources as we move into summer.

University-Wide Tools/Features in Canvas

Canvas Portfolium/Folio Deprecation Final Reminder

Portfolium/Folio will no longer be supported by Instructure as of June 30, 2026. If your students are currently using the legacy portfolio tool, please remind them to download their items before this date to retain access to their ePortfolio content using the download instructions. Doing so will provide a single zip file for their entire ePortfolio, including sections, projects, files, and descriptions. If you have any further questions, please reach out to LMS Support.

Mediasite/Panopto Update

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 for 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 that are supported by the requestor and/or vendors. Although some tools may be paid for by colleges/schools/departments, other tools may have additional direct costs for 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.

Support Channels
For technical assistance with Canvas, use the support options available to all faculty, teaching staff and students.

Watch On-Demand Videos

Browse the Gradebook in Canvas video playlist or What Grade Would Your Canvas Gradebook Earn for effective strategies in maximizing your teaching experience.

Teaching and Learning with Canvas

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

We are excited to work with you as the fall semester approaches. As always, please visit our support channels for all your digital learning needs. We hope you have a great semester!