Why Can't I See My Course?

If you can't see your courses in Canvas, don’t worry, this is usually caused by one of three things: your course hasn’t been published, your enrollment isn’t active, or semester access dates are in effect.

What to Do If Your Course Is Missing in Canvas

Step 1: Confirm Your Enrollment in Banner

Canvas only shows courses you’re officially enrolled in through Banner, UIW’s registration system.

To check your enrollment:

Log in to Cardinal Apps
Open BannerWeb Self-Service
Go to Student Services > Registration > View Registration Information

If your course isn’t listed, it won’t appear in Canvas. Learn more about registration at UIW.

Step 2: Check the Semester Start and Publishing Status

Courses are typically unavailable in Canvas until the official semester start date, unless your instructor opens them early.

If the semester has started and the course is still missing, it may not be published yet. Instructors must manually publish courses for students to access them. Contact your instructor to confirm.

Step 3: Look for the Course in Canvas

If a course doesn’t show on your Dashboard, it may still appear in the All Courses list.

To check:

Log in to Cardinal Apps
Open Canvas LMS
Select Courses in the left menu
Click All Courses

If the Course Is Listed

Published: No - The course exists but isn’t available yet. Contact the instructor.
Published: Yes - If it’s under Past or Future Enrollments, access may be restricted by date. Contact the instructor for access details.

All Courses list showing course visibility

If the Course Is Not Listed

If you recently registered, allow 2–3 hours for the Banner-to-Canvas sync. Still missing?

If the course is not in Banner, you’re not enrolled and must register first.

Key Takeaways

You must be enrolled in Banner for a course to appear in Canvas.
If you are a first-time enrollment at UIW, access to Canvas via Cardinal Apps may not happen until 60 days before the start of the term.
Courses stay hidden until instructors publish them and semester access begins.
Contact your instructor if you're unsure whether the course is open or published.

How to Contact Your Instructor

BannerWeb Self-Service

Your registration listing may include instructor info. If no email is listed, search their name on uiw.edu.

Outlook Directory

Log in to Cardinal Apps
Open Outlook
Click New Mail
In the “To” field, type the name and select Search Directory

Help Desk Support

If you’re enrolled but still can’t find the instructor’s info, email helpdesk@uiwtx.edu. Mention your course and the steps you’ve already taken.