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Online@JSU this Week | 4.15.25

Fall 2025 Canvas Course Shells are Here!

Fall 2025 Canvas Course Shell Changes


As you prepare your Fall 2025 courses, there are a few changes of which you should be aware.


  1. Academic Policies - a new "Academic Policies" link has been added to the course navigation menu in all courses. This new link connects to a new centralized academic policies web page (still under development) that will contain all university-wide academic policies such as Title IX, Military-Connected, and more.
  2. Module Removal - the Academic Support & University Policies module has been removed. Please do not perform a complete course copy into the new course shell; doing so will import the now outdated module. If you do copy the module into your course, delete it and it's contents.
  3. Module Additions: two modules have been added: Online Learning & Technical Support, and Faculty Resources.
  4. Student Access After Term Ends - Using the Ellucian ILP Bridge configuration which manages data integration between Banner and Canvas, courses are now configured to extend student course access to 3 days past the last day of final exams for each term. Because of this new configuration, the "Restrict students from viewing course after course end date" setting will no longer be disabled by default. This results in students having full participation access through the third day after final exams and no access (not even view-only) after that point.

Reminder!


BEFORE You Copy a Course OR

Request a Course Copy


Before you complete a course copy or request a course copy, check your course's Blueprint association.


All Canvas courses are associated with a blueprint. Blueprints determine the content that appears in the course, dictate the course's settings, and sets the course's navigation menu.


To check your association:

  1. In your course navigation menu, click on "Settings."
  2. You will see the Course Details page. Look next to "Blueprint Course" and make sure you see a Blueprint association.
  3. In the image below, the Blueprint association is "JSU General Template (Fall 2024)."
  4. Your course will have a different Blueprint association - just make sure you see an association.
  5. After you see the association, you can complete a course copy or request a course copy.

Course Copy Requests, Merge Requests, and Other Key Information


Course Copy: Course copies can be completed by instructors, or by Online@JSU by request.

  • If you complete your own course copy, do not select "All Content." Instead, choose "Select specific content."
  • If you select "All Content," important information contained within your course's details and other course settings can be overwritten - you do not want to overwrite your course settings!
  • If your previous course has Late Policy settings in the gradebook and you select "All Content" during a course copy, the Late Policy settings will be copied into your new course and zeros may appear in your gradebook for assignments. Read more about this issue and how to prevent it.
  • Review this information about course copying before you complete a course copy or request a course copy.
  • Completing a Course Copy (Video - March 2025)
  • Request a Course Copy from Online@JSU


Course Enrollment Merge Requests:

  • Requests must be submitted at least three business days before the first day of class per JSU's Academic Calendar.
  • Enrollment merges transfer to a parent course only course enrollments (faculty and students) but do not transfer content, assignments, student submissions, or student grades.
  • Warning: Merging after student submissions have been submitted and graded will erase all submissions and grades in the child course(s).
  • Request a Course Merge from Online@JSU.


Important Reminders:

  • Remember to Publish Your Course
  • Courses should be published by the first day of the semester according to JSU's Academic Calendar.
  • Optional - Prior to the term, view-only mode may be configured for early student view-only access.
  • Check eBook links - If you or your students experience any issues accessing your eTextbook via the FirstDay Course Materials course menu navigation link in your Canvas course, please contact the JSU Bookstore for assistance.  
  • Course Navigation Menu Links - Academic Policies, Academic Support, and Tutor.com should not be removed from your course navigation menu in Canvas. These links support university initiatives.

Online@JSU Needs YOU!


Online@JSU is in the planning stages for the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 professional development workshop and presentation schedule, and all Jax State faculty are cordially invited to deliver a workshop or presentation to their peers and colleagues at Jacksonville State. If you are interested, here are pertinent details to consider:

  • All workshops/presentations are delivered synchronously in Microsoft Teams. 
  • One hour to 90 minutes in duration
  • Presented on a Monday or Tuesday, but times are flexible
  • Present by yourself or with a colleague/peer
  • Topics must be related to online or hybrid teaching, learning, productivity, and research
  • Presentation types: Presentations, Hands-On and/or Demonstration Workshops, Round Table Discussions
  • If you are unsure about your topic, please go ahead and submit your idea!
  • If you are interested in presenting multiple times, please submit a form for each submission. (Thank you!)


Presentation Interest Form - Please Complete!

Spring 2025 Course/Instructor Evaluation Schedule


  • Spring B/Block 2 - April 20 (12:00 am) to April 27 (11:59)
  • Final Exams - April 28
  • Full Spring 2025 Semester - April 14 (12:00 am) to April 22 (11:59 pm) - OPEN NOW!
  • Final Exams - April 23 - 29

Helpful Resources and Links from Online@JSU


Questions or Comments?


Visit our website, email us at online@jsu.edu, or call us at 256-782-8172.


We look forward to hearing from you!

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