Additional Roles in Canvas

Important: Roles listed on this page are assigned within the Canvas course and aren't assigned by Banner.

Roles in Canvas define what users can see and do within the platform. Generally, it’s important to know who has access to course information, particularly sensitive and legally protected information like student work and grades. Whether you're assigning roles or troubleshooting access issues, a clear understanding of Canvas roles helps streamline collaboration and supports effective learning environments.

Overview: Additional Roles In Canvas

The table below lists Canvas role options that aren't Teacher or Student. All roles listed below are assigned within the Canvas course and aren't assigned by Banner.

Course role Definition Ideal for... Affiliate - View Only This role allows the user to view course content and materials without making any edits or interacting with the course. Users with this role can see announcements and discussions, but cannot submit work, grade assignments, or modify any content. Individuals who need to review course happenings without contributing or editing. Affiliate - Build Users with this role can view and build course content, such as creating modules, assignments, and quizzes. However, they cannot interact with students or manage grading. Support staff assisting with course setup or development without interacting with students. Colleague This role is designed for peers collaborating on a course. Users can view and build course content, manage discussions, and contribute to course development. However, they do not have access to grading or student data. Faculty or peers who are monitoring or collaborating on course materials without grading responsibilities. Designer Designers focus on creating and managing course content. They can build modules, assignments, and assessments and manage course structure. However, they cannot grade assignments, interact with students, or access student data. Instructional designers or staff focused on building and organizing course content. Librarian The librarian role allows users to administer and view course content while having access to grading and participation aspects of the course. Librarians providing academic resources or instruction into a course. Observer Observers can view course content and student progress without interacting or contributing. Parents or stakeholders monitoring a student’s progress in the course. TA (Teacher Assistant) The TA role retains most of the permissions of the Teacher role. While TAs cannot manage sections, users, or learning outcomes, they can edit and view grades, post announcements, and work on most course content. This role is ideal for individuals who support the instructor by managing course content and communication while handling grading tasks. It’s perfect for those who need robust access without the full administrative responsibilities of a Teacher. Tutor Tutors have limited permissions to view course materials and assist students. They can preview assignments (quizzes included), provide feedback, and assist with discussions but do not have access to grading or course editing. Tutors providing academic support in areas like quizzes and discussions, while giving feedback to students without managing grades. Visiting Professor This role gives temporary teaching permissions. Visiting Professors can view and edit course content, manage assignments, and interact with students. They have grading permissions but may have restricted administrative access compared to full instructors. Temporary faculty teaching or co-teaching a course for a specific term or duration.

Note: An individual may only be assigned to one course role per course.

Permissions: Additional Roles In Canvas

Permission Affiliate - View Only Affiliate - Build TA (Teacher Assistant) Colleague Designer Librarian Observer Tutor Visiting Professor Analytics - view pages No ❌ No ❌ ✅ No ❌ No ❌ ✅ No ❌ No ❌ ✅ Announcements - View ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ Conversations - send messages to entire class No ❌ No ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ No ❌ ✅ ✅ Conversations - send messages to individual course members No ❌ No ❌ ✅ No ❌ ✅ ✅ No ❌ ✅ ✅ Course Calendar - add / edit / delete events No ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ No ❌ ❌ ✅ Courses - change visibility No ❌ ✅ ✅ No ❌ ✅ ✅ No ❌ ❌ ✅ Courses - view usage reports No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ ❌ ❌ Discussions - create No ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ❌ ✅ ✅ Discussions - moderate No ❌ No ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ❌ ✅ ✅ Discussions - post No ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ❌ ✅ ✅ Discussions - view ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ Grades - edit (Includes quiz moderation) No ❌ No ❌ ✅ No ❌ No ❌ ✅ No ❌ No ❌ ✅ Grades - select final grade for moderation No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ ✅ No ❌ No ❌ ✅ Grades - view all grades No ❌ No ❌ ✅ No ❌ No ❌ ✅ No ❌ No ❌ ✅ Grades - view audit trail No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ Groups - add / edit / delete No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ Groups - view all student groups No ❌ No ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ No ❌ ✅ ✅ Grades - view audit trail No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ Item Banks - manage account No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ Learning Outcomes - add / edit / delete No ❌ ✅ No ❌ ✅ ✅ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ Learning Outcomes - import No ❌ ✅ No ❌ ✅ ✅ No ❌ No ❌ ❌No ❌ No ❌ Manage Assignments and Quizzes No ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ No ❌ No ❌ ✅ Manage Course Content No ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ No ❌ No ❌ ✅ Manage Course Files No ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ No ❌ No ❌ ✅ Manage Course Sections No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ ✅ ✅ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ Manage Courses No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ ✅* ✅* No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ Manage Groups No ❌ No ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ No ❌
No ❌ ✅ Manage LTI No ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ❌ No ❌
No ❌ No ❌ ✅ Manage Pages No ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ No ❌ No ❌ ✅ Outcome Mastery Scales - add / edit No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ Outcome Proficiency Calculations - add / edit No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ ❌No ❌ No ❌ Questions banks - view and link No ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ No ❌ No ❌ ✅ Reports - manage No ❌ No ❌ ✅ No ❌ ✅ ✅ No ❌ No ❌ ✅ Rubrics - add / edit /delete No ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ No ❌ ❌No ❌ ✅ SIS Data - read No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ Student Collaborations - create No ❌ No ❌ ✅ No ❌ ✅ ✅ No ❌ ✅ ✅ Submissions - Submit on behalf of students No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ Users - Designers No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ Users - Observers No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ ✅ Users - Students No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ ✅ Users - TAs No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ Users - Teachers No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ Users - allow administrative actions in courses No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ Users - generate observer pairing codes for students No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ Users - manage students in courses No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No ❌ ✅ Users - view list No ❌ No ❌ ✅ No ❌ ✅ ✅ No ❌ ✅ ✅ Users - view login IDs No ❌ No ❌ ✅ No ❌ No ❌ ✅ No ❌ No ❌ ✅ Users - view primary email address No ❌ No ❌ ✅ No ❌ No ❌ ✅ No ❌ No ❌ ✅ Web Conferences - create No ❌ No ❌ ✅ No ❌ ✅ ✅ No ❌ ✅ ✅