Canvas Roles | Course Associate Roles

Roles in Canvas define what users can see and do within the platform. From instructors to students and designers, each role has specific permissions tailored to their responsibilities. 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.

UIW Course Associate Roles

The table below lists the course associate roles, which are defined by course-level roles that 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.
Tutor Tutors have limited permissions to view course materials and assist students. They can view assignments, provide feedback, and assist with discussions but do not have access to grading or course editing.
Tutors providing academic support and 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.

Permissions for Course Associate Roles

Permission Affiliate - View Only Affiliate - Build
Colleague Designer Librarian Observer Tutor
Visiting Professor
Analytics - view pages
❌
❌
❌
❌
✅
❌
❌
✅
Announcements - View ✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅

✅ Conversations - send messages to entire class
❌
❌
✅
✅
✅
❌
✅
✅
Conversations - send messages to individual course members ❌
❌
❌
✅
✅
❌
✅
✅
Course Calendar - add / edit / delete events ❌
✅
✅
✅
✅
❌
❌
✅
Courses - change visibility ❌
✅
❌
✅
✅
❌
❌
✅ Courses - view usage reports ❌ ❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
Discussions - create ❌
✅
✅
✅
✅
❌
✅
✅
Discussions - moderate
❌
❌
✅ ✅
✅
❌
✅
✅ Discussions - post ❌
✅
✅
✅
✅
❌
✅
✅
Discussions - view ✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
✅
Grades - edit ❌
❌
❌
❌
✅
❌
❌
✅ Grades - select final grade for moderation ❌
❌
❌
❌ ✅
❌
❌
✅
Grades - view all grades ❌

❌ ❌
❌
✅
❌
❌
✅
Grades - view audit trail ❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
Groups - add / edit / delete ❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌ Groups - view all student groups ❌
❌
✅
✅
✅
❌
✅
✅ Grades - view audit trail ❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
Item Banks - manage account ❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
Learning Outcomes - add / edit / delete ❌
✅
✅
✅
❌
❌
❌
❌
Learning Outcomes - import ❌
✅
✅
✅
❌
❌
❌
❌
Manage Assignments and Quizzes ❌

✅ ✅
✅
✅
❌
❌
✅
Manage Course Content ❌
✅
✅
✅
✅
❌
❌
✅
Manage Course Files ❌
✅
✅
✅
✅
❌
❌
✅
Manage Course Sections ❌
❌

✅ ✅
❌
❌
❌
❌
Manage Courses ❌
❌
✅*
✅*
❌
❌
❌
❌
Manage Groups ❌
❌
✅
✅
✅
❌
❌
✅ Manage LTI ❌
✅
✅
❌
❌
❌
❌
✅
Manage Pages ❌
✅
✅
✅
✅
❌
❌
✅
Outcome Mastery Scales - add / edit ❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
Outcome Proficiency Calculations - add / edit ❌ ❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌ Questions banks - view and link ❌
✅
✅
✅
✅
❌
❌
✅
Reports - manage ❌
❌
❌
✅
✅
❌
❌
✅
Rubrics - add / edit /delete ❌
✅
✅
✅
✅
❌
❌
✅
SIS Data - read ❌ ❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
Student Collaborations - create ❌
❌
❌
✅
✅
❌
✅
✅
Submissions - Submit on behalf of students ❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
Users - Designers ❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌ Users - Observers ❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
✅
Users - Students ❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
✅
Users - TAs ❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌ Users - Teachers ❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
Users - allow administrative actions in courses ❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌

❌ Users - generate observer pairing codes for students ❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
Users - manage students in courses ❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
❌
✅
Users - view list ❌
❌
❌
✅
✅
❌
✅
✅
Users - view login IDs ❌
❌
❌
❌
✅
❌
❌
✅
Users - view primary email address ❌
❌
❌
❌
✅
❌
❌
✅
Web Conferences - create ❌
❌
❌
✅
✅
❌
✅
✅