"Course concluded, unable to send messages" error

[Carter41]

I have an instructor that can't message their students and received the attached error. The term ended, but the instructor and students still have access to the course until 11:59 tonight. I ran some tests on our testing server and extended the access date by two days but still experienced the same thing.

[SusanNiemeyer]

Given that the course is nearly concluded, I would suggest that the instructor send emails instead. I assume the instructor would be able to send both mass and individual emails through SIS. 

Trying to use the Canvas Inbox at the very last minute is probably not the best idea as students would not be able to respond. They will get the same error message. 

The easy solution is email.

[Carter41]

Appreciate that advice and I will pass it along. But curious as to why this is happening. Can the instructor only send messages until the end of term date and not the end of access date?

[tori_sifantonak]

Hi @Carter41 , 

Our documentation states, "Once a course has concluded and its term date has passed, you can no longer message students in that course."

I hope this is helpful! 

[SusanNiemeyer]

Hi @tori_sifantonak 

A lot of instructors, including myself, would love to be able to contact students through Inbox messaging after a course had been concluded. It would be very helpful for Instructure to allow for this functionality.

[tori_sifantonak]

Hi @SusanNiemeyer 

I completely understand and have heard perspectives on both sides of this request. I haven't seen any consideration to change this behavior listed on the roadmap but will certainly mention it to the product team! 

[zcolston]

Thank you! This would be extremely helpful when I have different Sections of a course. Some sections end at different times. It's a pain to have to move students to a separate section with a different date just so I can send a message. I don't understand why this is even a restriction. 

[tammi_brandon]

Please bring back the feature that allows students and instructors to communicate through Inbox after a course has concluded. we sometimes have students message us at near the end of a course, and we cannot reply to them. Our instructors are required to communicate only through Inbox.