Release notes outline upcoming customer-impacting changes that are expected to be displayed in production environments. Please note that features considered for future development are not included in the notes.
Canvas Catalog is an all-in-one learning solution that integrates with the Canvas LMS as a course registration system, payment gateway, and learning platform. Learn more about Canvas Catalog.
Unless otherwise stated, all features in this release are available in the Beta environment on 2025-07-08 and the Production environment on 2025-07-21.
New Features |
Deadline Nudge Emails for Course Completion
Summary
The automated deadline nudge email feature in Canvas Catalog enables admins to automatically send personalized reminder emails to students based on the internal section end date derived from the Days to Complete field set in the Catalog listing. These nudges are configured through a dedicated automation menu and use customizable templates with dynamic variables.
Notes:
- Deadline nudge emails only apply to courses, not programs.
- Deadline nudge emails apply to catalogs and subcatalogs.
- The nudge feature does not use the course end date set in Canvas. Instead, it relies on the internal section end date generated by the Catalog listing’s Days to Complete setting. If Days to Complete is not configured, no nudge is sent.
- Nudges are only triggered for students who self-enroll via Catalog. Admin-enrolled students will not receive nudges unless placed in a section with a valid Days to Complete setting.
Change Benefit
This update streamlines student communication and reduces the need for manual outreach by introducing automated, progress-based email reminders. Admins spend less time following up with individuals, while students receive timely, personalized nudges that help them stay on track. This results in higher course completion rates, improved learner engagement, and a more scalable, data-informed approach to student support.
Feature Workflow
Admins can configure the deadline nudge email template and set up automated triggers through the Automatization menu. Reminder emails are sent a few days before a course ends, with dynamic content based on the student’s enrollment details, progress, and timing.
In Catalog settings, click the Customizations tab [1] and then click the Deadline Nudge Email link [2]. To customize the nudge email, click the Create Email button [3]. To preview the email template, click the Show Preview button [4].
- {Student first name} – Personalizes the email for a more engaging touch.
- {Student last name} – Useful for formal communications.
- {Student email} – Could be used for CC/BCC tracking or in email footers.
- {Current progress percentage} – Helps encourage students to complete remaining tasks.
- {Course start date} – Important for reminders related to course kick-off.
- {Course end date} – Critical for deadline-driven nudges.
- {Days until Course ends} – Helps create urgency for incomplete coursework.
- {Incomplete modules count} – Highlights how much content remains to be completed.
- {Enrollment date} – Helps track time-based nudges.
- {Days since enrollment} – Useful for engagement nudges (e.g., "You enrolled 30 days ago!").
- {Institution name} – Allows institutions to brand their nudging emails.
- {Root Catalog name} – Personalizes messaging for multi-campus use cases.
- {Subcatalog name} – Useful if nudging emails are customized per department.
Add a name [1], enable or disable the Active toggle [2], select course listings for reminder emails [3], select the completion percent [4], select the number of days before the deadline [5], and click the Save button [5].
The Automatization page lists the nudges in the Catalog account. The table includes the nudge name [1], the Active toggle [2], the threshold percentage [3], the number of days before the deadline [4], the creation date [5], the listings included in the reminder email [6],and the ability to manage the nudge by editing [7] or deleting [8].
In the Analytics page, admins can view a Nudges tab. This offers visibility into who received reminders, when they were sent, and what impact they had on course completion.
Admins can click the Filters button to filter the nudges [1]. The nudges can be exported as a CSV file by clicking the Export CSV button [2].
The table includes the student name [4], the Catalog name [4], the email address the nudge is sent to [5], the date and time the email was sent [6], and the automatization name [7].
The Completion Before column displays the course completion percentage at the time the learner received the nudge [1] and the Completion Today column indicates the current completion percentage as of today, after receiving the nudge [2]. This information is synced several times a day.
Change Log
2025-08-04
2025-07-10
