Canvas Support - Troubleshooting Guide: Missing Courses (Students)

Step 1: Check enrollment

Enrollments are updated in Canvas nightly from PAWS information, with some exceptions. It is also important to note that while most instructors use Canvas for practically all their courses, instructors may choose to not use Canvas for various reasons. It is important to check your enrollment status in PAWS, and with your instructor as a general starting point for enrollment issues. 

• Did you enroll in class today before 4:00 pm US Central time?
  • Yes, yesterday or earlier - Proceed to Step 2
  • Yes, today- Enrollment will be processed overnight, and the course should appear tomorrow morning. If by the following day, the course is still missing, proceed to Step 2.
  • No - Enrollment will be processed tomorrow night, and the course should appear the following morning. If the course is still missing at that time, proceed to Step 2.

More Information:

• Canvas - When PAWS Enrollments and Section Changes are Made

Step 2: Check Canvas

The Canvas Dashboard (in both Card view and List view) have a limit to the number of courses shown. The Courses page shows all courses, past, present, and future. Favoriting courses forces Canvas to move the course to your Dashboard.

• Is the course listed on the Courses page?
  • Yes - The student may wish to add the course to Dashboard by making the course a favorite.
  • No - Proceed to Step 3.

More Information

• How do I customize my Courses list as a student? - Instructure Community - 500 (canvaslms.com)
• How do I view all my Canvas courses as a student? - Instructure Community - 520 (canvaslms.com)
• How do I use the Dashboard as a student? - Instructure Community - 512 (canvaslms.com)

Step 3: Check with the instructor

• What is the official first day of the missing class in PAWS? (Time and Date calculator)
  • More than 59 days in the future - The course is not yet available in Canvas. Please wait until the course is created before continuing.
    • Data is sent from PAWS to Canvas at 60 days before the first day of the class.
    • Processing happens overnight and the course appears at 59 days before the first day of the class.
    • If day 60 is a Friday or a Saturday, courses appear on the following Sunday.
  • Otherwise - The student should contact the instructor-of-record of the course to verify the course is published and visible to students. If the instructor has published the course and the course is still not accessible, proceed to Step 4.

More Information

• Canvas - When PAWS Enrollments and Section Changes are Made
• Session Code Lookup - The first day of class is documented by the session in the Schedule of Classes and PAWS. Most UWM courses are in session 1 which spans the entire semester. 

Step 4: If all else fails

• Students: contact Canvas Tier I support with your support request. Share this article and note that all steps have been reviewed to expedite your support experience.
  • Email Canvas Support | Canvas (uwm.edu)
  • Chat with Canvas Support
  • Call 414-251-5050 to reach phone support