Institution Enabling of Chat

[klimack_cheryl]

How can I get Chat enabled for my institution?  It would be invaluable to us attempting to teach our students online over the next few weeks.  The Discussion is good, but cumbersome for quick questions.

[Stef_retired · Accepted solution]

Hello,  @klimack_cheryl  Welcome to the Canvas Community! As outlined in What is Chat? , chat needs to be enabled at the account level by the school's CSM, so if you're the admin for your Canvas instance, please reach out to your CSM for assistance; if you're not the admin, please ask the admin to make the contact.

If you are using a Free for Teachers account, use the Report a Problem option on the Help menu in your Canvas course to initiate the request to have Chat enabled in your courses.

[hamilton_tara]

I am using the free for teachers version. I will go ahead and initiate a request through 'Report a Problem'. Thank you!

[Stef_retired]

You're welcome!  

[hamilton_tara]

I also work at the same school as Cheryl. Our doors are closing due to the COVID-19 outbreak and we are to continue teaching students via remote-programming. A few of us here use Canvas and would like to enable Chat. 

[Stef_retired]

 @hamilton_tara ‌, if each of your teachers is using their own Free for Teachers account, there's not a school-wide instance or account—so each teacher will need to contact Canvas Support as described above to request that Chat be enabled.

[hamilton_tara]

Hello Kelley,

I have informed the two other teachers in the school that use Canvas. I have gone and contacted Canvas Support asking them to enable Chat for me. I have not heard back from them as of yet.

Tara

[kmeeusen]

I am suspecting that with the huge influx of Canvas FFT users because of CoVid-19, and the limitations placed on Instructure staff by that same outbreak, that support is a tad bit overwhelmed. Rest assured, their customer service is most excellent, and they will get to you when they can.