#  Canvas Behind the Scenes 

 



Helpful behind the scenes info on how Canvas integrates with my.harvard, common administrative questions, and more.

## **Data Feeds**

Canvas gets data feeds from my.harvard every 5 minutes, including:

- Course catalog information (course description)
- Class roster (instructors, enrolled students, prospective enrollees, teaching fellows)
- Sections

## **Accessing Canvas site(s)**

- Students: via the course catalog in [my.harvard](https://my.harvard.edu) (once enrolled, [canvas.harvard.edu](https://canvas.harvard.edu)).
- Instructors and Teaching Staff: via the [my.harvard course portal](http://portal.my.harvard.edu/) or [canvas.harvard.edu](https://canvas.harvard.edu).
- Course Support Staff: via [canvas.harvard.edu](https://canvas.harvard.edu).

## **Giving people access**

- Faculty, teaching fellows, teaching assistants, and other instructional staff should be added in [my.harvard](https://my.harvard.edu).
- Other guests, course librarians, and course support staff can be added within Canvas. 
    - [Learn more about how to add people in Canvas](https://harvard.service-now.com/ithelp?id=kb_article&sys_id=40e4c66b37553a403dc68ff1b3990e54)

## **Combining sites**

Courses with multiple catalog listings, but one actual meeting time/group of students, can use a single Canvas site. This includes:

- Cross-listed courses between schools
- Cross-listed courses across departments
- Multi-level courses (e.g. for both undergraduate and graduate students)
- Courses taught in section (e.g. Expository Writing, Languages)

## **Sectioning** 

Courses with sections can either:

- Use the my.harvard Sectioning process, which feeds automatically into Canvas (best for large courses)
    - [Learn more about my.harvard sectioning](https://harvard.service-now.com/ithelp?id=kb_article&sys_id=297014c5dbad5b80d1257ee5bf96198d)
- Create sections manually in Canvas (best for small courses)
    - [Learn more about managing sections in Canvas](https://harvard.service-now.com/ithelp?id=kb_article&sys_id=8a9cdc5d37a5b2803dc68ff1b3990ebb)

## **Course conclusion**

- Course sites become “read-only” at the end of academic year
- Alumni can still access their Canvas sites via their HarvardKey (in most cases)



 



 

 See also:- [ Technology ](/page-type/technology)
- [ Canvas ](/technologies/canvas)
- [ Core Platforms ](/technology-categories/core-platforms)