Canvas Shared Services

Semester Setup Checklist

Below is the information to share with UHV Library and UHV student workers and lab assistants who are responsible for updating the software on lab computers (including the UHV Katy location, so please share this information with the appropriate contacts for these locations).

Users Who Report Issues Using a Specific Browser

• For those students (or faculty) who report issues using a specific browser, please have them try setting the browser to “Safe Mode” to see if this resolves the issue. If it does, this is usually an indication that they have inadvertently installed a browser add-on that is causing compatibility issues with Canvas. If they don’t know which add-on to remove, they can use a different browser.

• Canvas recommends using a different web browser if issues occur in one particular browser. So, for example, if the student or instructor encounters an issue using Microsoft Edge, Canvas recommends they log out, close Microsoft Edge, launch another browser (like FireFox or Google Chrome), and repeat the steps. If the user is still experiencing a problem, they can check their hardware/browser for Canvas compatibility and/or check the status of the Canvas cloud service.

Check Status of Canvas:

• To check the status of the Canvas LMS, users can review the How will I know if there is a Canvas outage resource provided by the Canvas vendor.

Compatible Canvas Browsers & Operating Systems:

• For a specific list of compatible operating systems and web browsers for the Canvas LMS, please refer to the What are the browser and computer requirements for Instructure products resource provided by the Canvas vendor.

Respondus LockDown Browser for Lab Computers:

• The latest version of the Respondus LockDown Browser for lab computers is V. 2.1.2.00 (Lab). Note that this will change and be updated as the Respondus vendor provides additional releases. UHV does not control when these versions of the Respondus LockDown Browser software are released to customers or clients. 

Important UHV Semester Canvas Dates:

The UHV Fall 2024 semester begins Monday, August 26, 2024. Please review the important Fall 2024 semester information below regarding the UHV Canvas system.

• Tuesday, August 20, 2024: first day new students registered for Canvas online courses for the Fall regular & 8W1 terms can log into Canvas
• Monday, August 26, 2024: first day students can access Canvas online course information for the Fall regular & 8W1 terms
• Tuesday, October 15, 2024: first day new students registered for Canvas online courses for the Fall 8W2 term can log into Canvas
• Monday, October 21, 2024: first day students can access Canvas online course information for the Fall 8W2 term
• Not sure if you are registered for a regular, 8W1, or 8W2 term course...check the UHV course offerings page and search for your specific course to find out
• To resolve issues, confirm you're successfully registered for a Canvas online course, you're accessing information on the correct date (see above), you've changed your pre-expired password; check with your Online Support Technician for help and assistance
• For information regarding course evaluations, please visit the UHV course evaluations website.

The UHV Summer 2024 semester begins Monday, June 3, 2024. Please review the important Summer 2024 semester information below regarding the UHV Canvas system.

• Tuesday, May 28, 2024: first day new students registered for Canvas online courses for the Summer regular & 5W1 terms can log into Canvas
• Monday, June 3, 2024: first day students can access Canvas online course information for the Summer regular & 5W1 terms
• Tuesday, July 2, 2024: first day new students registered for Canvas online courses for the Summer 5W2 term can log into Canvas
• Monday, July 8, 2024: first day students can access Canvas online course information for the Summer 5W2 term
• Not sure if you are registered for a regular, 5W1, or 5W2 term course... check the UHV course offerings page and search for your specific course to find out
• To resolve issues, confirm you're successfully registered for a Canvas online course, you're accessing information on the correct date (see above), you've changed your pre-expired password; check with your Online Support Technician for help and assistance
• For information regarding course evaluations, please visit the UHV course evaluations website.

The UHV Spring 2024 semester begins Tuesday, January 16, 2024. Please review the important Spring 2024 semester information below regarding the UHV Canvas system.

• Tuesday, January 9, 2024: first day new students registered for Canvas online courses for the Spring regular & 8W1 terms can log into Canvas
• Tuesday, January 16, 2024: first day students can access Canvas online course information for the Spring regular & 8W1 terms
• Tuesday, March 12, 2024: first day new students registered for Canvas online courses for the Spring 8W2 term can log into Canvas
• Monday, March 18, 2024: first day students can access Canvas online course information for the Spring 8W2 term
• Not sure if you are registered for a regular, 8W1, or 8W2 term course...check the UHV course offerings page and search for your specific course to find out
• To resolve issues, confirm you're successfully registered for a Canvas online course, you're accessing information on the correct date (see above), you've changed your pre-expired password; check with your Online Support Technician for help and assistance
• For information regarding course evaluations, please visit the UHV Course Evaluations website.

The UHV Fall 2023 semester begins Monday, August 28, 2023. Please review the important Fall 2023 semester information below regarding the UHV Canvas system.

• Tuesday, August 22, 2023: first day new students registered for Canvas online courses for the Fall regular & 8W1 terms can log into Canvas
• Monday, August 28, 2023: first day students can access Canvas online course information for the Fall regular & 8W1 terms
• Tuesday, October 17, 2023: first day new students registered for Canvas online courses for the Fall 8W2 term can log into Canvas
• Monday, October 23, 2023: first day students can access Canvas online course information for the Fall 8W2 term
• Not sure if you are registered for a regular, 8W1, or 8W2 term course...check the UHV course offerings page and search for your specific course to find out
• To resolve issues, confirm you're successfully registered for a Canvas online course, you're accessing information on the correct date (see above), you've changed your pre-expired password; check with your Online Support Technician for help and assistance
• For information regarding course evaluations, please visit the UHV Course Evaluations website.

Canvas Recommends Installing more than one Web Browser:

• Use Google or Bing to search for and install Firefox and Google Chrome browsers on the computer
• When a Canvas issue occurs in one browser, log out of that browser and close that browser, and launch a different browser and repeat the steps
• If issues still occur, have the user confirm they are using a supported browser and/or have them contact their UHV Online Support Technician for additional help and assistance

Logging into Canvas:

• UHV Login available via the cloud-hosted Canvas LMS

Before Using Canvas for the First Time:

• Confirm you are using one of the supported operating systems and approved web browsers

Required on Lab Computers - Respondus LockDown Browser Lab Version:

• Contact the UHV Computer Labs Supervisor for more information (you can call the UHV Help Desk at (361)570-4399 for more information)

Troubleshooting Respondus LockDown Browser:

1. Launch the Respondus LockDown Browser (RLDB) application and click on the Help Center? icon that appears in the top, left menu area.
2. Click on the Run System Check button.
3. Wait for the system check results to complete for: (1) Bandwidth Test, (2) Latency Test, (3) Ports Check, (4) Flash Check, (5) Web Cam (optional) and (6) Microphone (optional). A green check should appear for all items.
4. If there was an error or issue with Bandwidth, Latency, or Ports, the student will need to switch to a different wireless connection or stop using a wireless connection and switch to a wired connection and complete the steps above until there are no issues reported.
5. Once no issues are reported, students can click the Return to Course button to log into the Blackboard system and complete the RLDB test or quiz.;
6. Confirm whether or not an upgrade is required for the RLDB application. Launch the RLDB application and click on the Information - Settings option (appears in the menu in the top toolbar as a small letter "i" surrounded by a circle).
7. Click the Check for Newer Version button. Confirm whether or not a new version is available. If a newer version is available, follow the procedures on the screen to download and install the latest version of the RLDB application.
8. If a newer version of the RLDB for lab computers is available, contact UHV Computer Labs Supervisor for more information (you can call the UHV Help Desk at (361)570-4399 for more information).

Required - VideoLAN:

• Get VLC Media Player 

Required - Adobe Reader:

• Get Adobe Reader 

Optional for Faculty/Instructor of Record - Respondus 4.0:

• Respondus 4.0 allows UHV faculty and adjuncts to create and manage exams that can be published to the Blackboard system. UHV faculty & adjuncts who may want to use the Respondus 4.0 product should contact their UHV Online Support Technician for more information. Respondus is available from UH Software Downloads site (contact UHV Online Support Technician for UHV Cougarnet account name and password)

UHV Canvas FAQs