In Permissions, Separate "Manage (add/edit/delete) assignments and quizzes" into 3 permissions

This idea has been developed and deployed to Canvas

For more information, please read through the  Canvas Release Notes (2021-09-18).


Please change each the  "Manage (add/edit/delete) assignments and quizzes" from a single setting to three separate settings.

 

Current:

Manage (add / edit / delete) assignments and quizzes

 

Should become:

  • Add assignments and quizzes
  • Edit assignments and quizzes
  • Delete assignments and quizzes

 

One reason for this request:

This will allow you to set TAs (or other roles) to only having the permissions needed. For example, just the ability to edit assignments but not delete or add one.

27 Comments
elisabeth_green
Community Participant

This is a functionality that instructors desire for their teaching assistants- we've had cases of accidental deletions since we can't separate these actions.

BROEKERC
Community Novice

Elisabeth we have had the same problem.  Hope this gets enough votes.

BROEKERC
Community Novice

Rationale: this functionality is needed as faculty have requested that their TAs be able to add or edit assignments but they don't want TAs to delete quizzes or assignments.

cdoherty
Community Participant

Rationale for Stanford: It's very important to keep delete permissions to a minimum. Instructors may need their TAs to edit assignments (to make corrections) or even add assignments, but it's dangerous to give too many people delete permissions which leads to accidental deletions.

millerjm
Community Champion

We have some nursing clinical instructors who may need to just be able to edit the assignment/quiz for their sections.  Giving them the ability to edit only at least means that they wouldn't be able to add or delete. 

We have instructional support staff who may need to be able to add or edit assignments/quizzes/question banks but not delete. 

We have technical staff who may need to be able to add assignments/quizzes/question banks but not edit or delete. 

Taking away the delete button from anyone who doesn't need it just makes sense, especially since it would affect the students in a course. 

jsparks
Instructure Alumni
Instructure Alumni

Hello Canvas Family!  This is intriguing, and something I can see as a needed feature.  The trick is how to prioritize the work with the team. I will have to work with my colleagues across other teams to see how we want to affect permissions and roles in Canvas.  There are some larger implications here across all roles and at the account and sub-account level.  How would you all imagine this being set-up for pre-existing roles already existing in Canvas?

cms_hickss
Community Contributor

Deactivated user​, I believe we've already started answering this question. Deactivated user​,  @millerjm ​, and cdoherty​ have all mentioned that the "DELETE" option is where this set of permissions fails. DELETE is not always an item you want a TA to have access to.

cms_hickss
Community Contributor

As for how to set it up? Are you asking what the permission would look like?

Now:

Manage (add / edit / delete) assignments and quizzes

     which has toggle boxes for enabled, disabled, enabled locked, disabled locked

After change:

  • Add assignments and quizzes
  • Edit assignments and quizzes
  • Delete assignments and quizzes

     with toggle boxes for each that allow for: enabled, disabled, enabled locked, disabled locked

kona
Community Champion

I will second this. We literally just had a TA delete EVERY assignment out of an active course. Luckily undelete works like a charm, but definitely not what you want to start your Monday with. Smiley Sad

millerjm
Community Champion

It would prevent a lot of work if we could set up these permissions for every feature to not have the ability to edit/delete since if the button is there they will click it - and then wonder how it got deleted (and claiming that they didn't click that button)!!! 

Many times these deletions are due to an instructor or TA wanted to get it off their screen, not realizing that it affects all students!