Cross Listing Assistant: Overview

The Cross Listing Assistant is an OTLT-built tool that streamlines the cross listing process. The traditional cross listing process requires information from multiple courses and has historically caused confusion. This tool replaces the process found in Canvas Settings, which requires navigating into each individual section.

Where to Find the Cross Listing Assistant

The tool is available in the Course Settings sub-menu.

Select Sections to Cross List

When opened, the tool displays the current course information at the top.

It also automatically identifies sections eligible for cross listing. These are sections within courses that match the current course’s subject, course number, and term, and where you have instructor-level access.

For example, if you are enrolled as an instructor in BIOL1401-01_1_SP26 and BIOL1401-03_1_SP26, those sections will appear as options. A course like BIOL1402-01_1_SP26 will not appear because, although the subject is the same, the course number is different.

You can hover over the “Sections already cross-listed” area to view a list of sections that have already been added to the course. This is helpful if you are unsure what has been cross listed during your current session or when collaborating with another instructor.

To continue, select one or more sections using the checkboxes.

The selection bar at the bottom of the list shows how many sections are selected and provides a Continue button once at least one section is chosen. Use the Clear button to deselect all sections and start over.

Review and Confirm

After selecting sections and clicking Continue, the Step 2 panel populates with a summary of the sections being merged, including the section name and student count. Review this list carefully before proceeding.

Select Cross list Sections to open a confirmation prompt. Confirm to apply the cross listing. Once complete, a success message will confirm the sections have been merged.

Once complete, a success message confirms the sections have been merged. You can then return to the main menu or leave the tool.

Note: As stated in the confirmation modal, cross listing can only be reversed by a Canvas Administrator. Use caution when cross listing courses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What sections are eligible to appear in the list?

The tool displays sections that share the same course subject, number, and term as the course you launched the tool from, and where your Canvas account has an instructor-level role (Teacher, Colleague, Librarian, TA, and similar roles). Sections from other terms, subjects, or courses you do not teach will not appear.

A section will not appear if:

It is in a different term or has a different course subject or number
You do not hold an instructor role in that section
It has already been cross listed into another course

If a section does not appear in the list of available sections to cross list, it likely means the courses exist as separate course shells. In that case, they need to be officially cross listed in Banner. Please contact your department scheduler to request this update.

Can I undo a cross listing?

A cross listing can be reversed, but only by a Canvas Administrator. It is strongly recommended to reverse cross listings before the course is published or graded, as reversing after grading may cause grade data issues.

Will students from all sections see each other after cross listing?

By default, yes. Once sections are merged into a single course, all enrolled students share the same Canvas environment.

If your sections meet separately, such as different times, locations, or modalities, you may need to configure section-level restrictions in Canvas to limit student visibility. See the FERPA Requirements for Cross listed Courses guide for details.

I do not see a section I expected. Why?

A section will not appear if it is in a different term or has a different course subject or number, if you do not hold an instructor role in that section, or if it has already been cross listed into another course.

If a section does not appear in the list of available sections to cross list, it likely means the courses exist as separate course shells and must be officially cross listed in Banner.

What happens to students already enrolled in the target course?

Their enrollment is unaffected. Cross listing adds enrollments from the selected sections into the target course. It does not remove or alter existing enrollments.

Can I cross list sections from different courses or terms?

No. The tool only displays sections that match the current course’s subject, number, and term.

If you are the instructor of different courses, you would need to use a traditional cross listing method or contact your department’s Banner scheduler to complete the process in Banner.

Cross listing across different courses or terms is not supported through this tool and is generally not recommended, as it can create grading and reporting inconsistencies.

Do I have to use this tool to cross list courses?

No. The traditional cross listing method is still available and remains a viable option.

Can each section have a different participation start date?

Yes. Instructors can set different start dates and times for each section. Learn how to manage course access in six minutes.

Can each section have different assignment due dates?

Yes. Instructors can use the Manage Assign To options to set different due dates by section. Add as many assignments as needed to customize the experience.

Note: Removing an "Assign To" entry after entering grades will cause those grades to disappear from the gradebook. Always add new entries instead of deleting existing ones.

Can I cross list two different courses, not just sections of the same course?

Cross listing is typically used to combine sections of the same course at UIW. If you are teaching different courses with separate course numbers, consult the Office of the Registrar or your department’s Banner scheduler to determine whether cross listing through Banner is appropriate.