Teacher

Primary use: For instructors who need full access to the Canvas features for instruction.

Permissions: Teachers have all course-level permissions, including the ability to add, edit and delete all content in a course, edit course settings, and manually add individuals with active Canvas user accounts.

Limitations: None.

Student

Primary use: Students enrolled in a course site.

Permissions: The student role has permissions to view course content and engage in course activities, including the ability to submit assignments, participate in discussions, and view the course roster.

Limitations: Students cannot view or modify settings for a course.

Course Support

Primary use: For providing the same level of access as Teacher but excluding the user from the Course Evaluation.

Permissions: Course Support have all course-level permissions, including the ability to add, edit and delete all content in a course, edit course settings, and manually add individuals with active Canvas user accounts.

Limitations: None.

TA (Teaching Assistant)

Primary use: For assistant instructors and teaching assistants.

Permissions: TAs have permissions similar to the Teacher role. They have all course-level permissions, including the ability to add, edit and delete all content in a course, edit course settings, and manually add individuals with active Canvas user accounts.

Limitations: TAs cannot add other Instructors or TAs into the course, nor publish the course.

Designer

Primary use: For instructional designers (and staff with similar responsibilities) who write and manage course content, but do not actually teach courses or grade student work.

Permissions: Create course content, discussions, announcements, assignments, quizzes, and other content features.

Limitations: Designers cannot add other TAs or Instructors to a course, and cannot modify grades or course member data.

Facilitator

Primary use: Section Instructor. This a non-editing role intended for programs that provide complete course content for an instructor.

Permissions: Facilitators can view submitted student work, and enter grades and comments. They can also view files, announcements, assignments, quizzes and import/export course content.

Limitations: Facilitators cannot manage course content, manage messages, and view question banks, nor add other Instructors or TAs into the course.

Observer

Primary use: For users who have no official role in the course, but have been given permission to view course content and discussion forums.

Permissions: Observers have access to view course content. This role can be linked to a student enrolled in a course in order to to monitor their progress.

Limitations: Observers have no permissions to edit or participate in course activities.