Canvas

As an admin, you can choose to set default restrictions for student access in your institution. These restrictions include student access to courses before or after the start and end date. These restriction settings can be used independently or in conjunction with override course start and end dates for the course. If no override dates are specified for the course, the start and end dates apply to the term dates. However, instructors can add override course start and end dates. For more information, view the interactive Student Course Visibility and Participation flowchart.

To manage student access, you can set the default value but allow instructors and sub-account admins to edit access for the course and sub-account levels as necessary, or you can set and lock the student access setting for the entire institution. The checkbox settings at the account level are passed to the sub-account and course levels as default values.

Restrict students from viewing course before start date: When a student enrolls in a future course, the course displays in the Future Enrollments section in the student Courses list. Once a course is published, the course displays an invitation to join the course, where the students can view course content at any time before the course begins. However, when the student restriction for the course start date is enabled, students cannot view a link to the course until the start date, even if the course is published.

Restrict students from viewing future courses in enrollments list: When a student enrolls in a future course, the course displays in the Future Enrollments section in the student Courses list. However, when the view courses before the start date restriction is enabled, a second option is displayed to completely remove the future enrollment from the Courses list. This setting can also be enabled to keep students from knowing they are enrolled in a course with a future start date.

Restrict students from viewing course after end date: Once a course has concluded, students can still view the course but all content is displayed in a read-only state. However, when the student restriction for the course end date is enabled, students can no longer view the course in the Courses list after the course has concluded. This setting can be used if your institution uses the course across multiple terms and want to restrict students from accessing prior content for future students, or if students have to re-enroll in the course.

Note: Although any changed section dates override course dates, student access restrictions cannot be set at the section level, and restriction options apply to all sections within the course.

Open Account

In Global Navigation, click the Admin link [1], then click the name of the account [2].

Open Account Settings

In Account Navigation, click the Settings link.

View Restriction Options

In the Account Settings tab, locate the course restriction options.

By default, student access checkboxes are not selected, meaning students can view a link to any enrolled future course (after they accept their course invitation) or a concluded course.

To retain this default for the entire institution, do not select any checkboxes.

Notes:

The student restriction checkboxes set a preset for all new courses created in the account, as well as section override dates.
The lock settings apply immediately to all existing courses and section override dates in the account.

Restrict Students Before Start Date

To set a default for the entire account so that students cannot view a link to the course before the start date, click the Restrict students from accessing courses before start date checkbox [1]. When selected, the course is inaccessible before the course start date. If the course dates are blank, the start date applies to the term start date.

If you want to lock the default setting for sub-accounts and courses and apply the change immediately, click the Lock this setting for sub-accounts and courses checkbox [2].

Restrict Course in Enrollments List

When you restrict students from accessing courses before the start date, you can also restrict students from viewing future courses in the Enrollments list.

If you don't want students to see they have been enrolled in a future course, select the Restrict students from viewing future courses in enrollments list checkbox [1].

If you want to lock the default setting for sub-accounts and apply the change immediately, click the Lock this setting for sub-accounts checkbox [2].

Restrict Students After End Date

To set a default for the entire account so that students cannot access the course after the course end date, Restrict students from viewing courses after end date checkbox [1]. When selected, the course is inaccessible after the course end date. If the course dates are blank, the end date applies to the term end date.

If you want to lock the default setting for sub-accounts and courses and apply the change immediately, click the Lock this setting for sub-accounts and courses checkbox [2].

Update Settings

Click the Update Settings button.