Canvas LMS Implementation (Fall 2026)

Countdown to Canvas

North Carolina A&T State University will be transitioning from Blackboard to Canvas as the learning management system (LMS) beginning Fall 2026. This shift aligns with a recent decision by the UNC Board of Governors to standardize on a single LMS across all UNC institutions. Canvas is widely adopted, integrates with many tools, and supports modern pedagogical features, offering a flexible and user-friendly environment for teaching and learning.

This site provides updates, timelines, resources, and training information to help the campus prepare for a smooth transition.

Project Timeline

Canvas implementation timeline

September 2025

Agreement signed between UNC System and Instructure

October 2025

Initial Campus Communication
Implementation Planning

October-December 2025

System Setup and Testing

November-December 2025

Campus Information Sessions
Access to Sandbox (by request)

January 2026

Final Testing
Training Begins
Fall 2025 Course Shells Loaded to Canvas

February 2026

Instructor Access to Canvas (Production)
Fall 2026 Course Shells Loaded to Canvas

February-August 2026

Fall 2026 Course Preparation
Student Access to Canvas (Production)
Training
Prior Terms Loaded to Canvas: Summer I and II 2025, Spring 2025

August 2026

Go Live with Canvas
Course Delivery in Blackboard Ends

September 2026

Spring 2026 Course Shells Loaded to Canvas
Prior Terms Loaded to Canvas: Summer I and II 2026

September 2026-June 2027

Instructor Data Retrieval
Instructor Course Exports (Terms Prior to Spring 2025)

 

Training and Support

Instructional Technology Training and Development (ITTD) will offer multiple training options to help students, faculty, and staff learn Canvas – from self-paced tutorials to live workshops. Information sessions for faculty will be held November-December 2025 followed by training in February 2026.

Course Preparation Assistance

Instructional Designers will play a vital role in guiding and supporting faculty throughout the transition to Canvas. Each college will be assigned a dedicated Instructional Designer who will collaborate closely with faculty to prepare for the Fall 2026 launch. They will provide guidance, hands-on assistance, training, and coordination to ensure a smooth and successful implementation across colleges and departments.

  • Serve as the primary point of contact for Canvas implementation within each college.
  • Provide instructional design support for course development and migration.
  • Deliver training sessions and workshops to build faculty confidence with Canvas.
  • Collaborate with Champions and Coaches to align support and share best practices.

Canvas Champions are faculty, staff, and students who volunteered to serve as advocates, assist with testing during implementation, assist with basic Canvas setup and usage, and communicate feedback between the university community and the implementation team.

  • Participate in early training and testing.
  • Demonstrate Canvas features during meetings or peer workshops.
  • Provided one-on-one and small group guidance.
  • Serve as a point of contact.
  • Provide feedback on training materials, templates, and tools.

Canvas Coaches are experienced teachers who will work directly with faculty during Summer 2026 to help prepare courses for Canvas. These specialists will bring their teaching experience and Canvas expertise to ensure courses are ready for the Fall 2026 launch.

  • Rebuild courses in Canvas.
  • Meet with faculty to understand course needs.
  • Provide one-on-one or small group support for course design.
  • Review migrated content for quality, organization, and accessibility.
  • Offer guidance on using Canvas tools effectively.

General-Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The UNC System Board of Governors voted to standardize all UNC institutions on a single Learning Management System (LMS) — Canvas — to promote consistency, collaboration, and cost-efficiency across the system. Canvas also offers a modern, user-friendly platform that supports innovative teaching and learning.

North Carolina A&T will begin using Canvas as the official LMS starting Fall 2026. Blackboard will remain active during the transition period to ensure a smooth migration of content and minimize disruption.

The transition is being led by the Instructional Technology Training and Development (ITTD) unit within the Division of Information Technology Services, in collaboration with Academic Affairs, faculty representatives, and the Canvas implementation team.

Course delivery in Blackboard will conclude with the Summer II 2025 term. However, Blackboard will be available to instructors, staff, and administrators until June 30, 2027. During this time, data and course packages may be downloaded and stored as needed.

Faculty FAQs

Fall 2026 course shells will be loaded to Canvas February 2026. Faculty may begin preparing courses for the fall semester during this time. Fall 2025 course shells, which can be used for copying, exporting, and course preparation, will also be added to Canvas February 2026 (or before). Access to sandbox courses will be provided (by request) to review Canvas while the implementation team prepares the production environment for use February 2026.

The following terms will be migrated to Canvas:  Spring 2025, Summer I 2025, Summer II 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026, Summer I 2026, and Summer II 2026.

Faculty will be responsible for reviewing and adjusting migrated materials to ensure accuracy and alignment with the Canvas layout and features. Detailed migration guidelines and support will be provided.

Yes! Multiple training options will be available—including workshops and self-paced modules—starting in January 2026. Information sessions will begin November 2025. These sessions will provide an overview of the transition, what to expect, tips on how to prepare, and highlights of Canvas features.

  • Instructional Designer assigned to your college
  • Canvas Champions and Canvas Coaches
  • Hands-on assistance
  • One-on-one instructional design consultations
  • Dedicated technical support through ITTD and ITS
  • ITTD will offer several options for Canvas templates

Yes. Many tools currently integrated with Blackboard will also integrate with Canvas. A full list of supported integrations will be shared as part of the implementation phase.

Faculty will have access to download and store course backups before Blackboard is decommissioned on June 30, 2027. Instructions and deadlines for this process will be clearly communicated.

Student FAQs

Students will begin using Canvas in Fall 2026. Access to sandbox courses will be provided (by request) to review Canvas while the implementation team prepares the production environment for use February 2026.

Students will have access to tutorials, information sessions, training and short videos showing how to navigate Canvas, submit assignments, and communicate with instructors. Training materials will be available on the Canvas Implementation site.

Your final grades will continue to be stored in the university’s official records system (Aggie Access Online). Previous Blackboard course access will remain closed to students.

Each instructor has flexibility in course design, but the university will promote consistent navigation and organization to ensure students have a familiar experience across courses.

Canvas works with most modern browsers and has a robust mobile app (for iOS and Android) that allows students to view courses, submit assignments, and receive notifications on the go.

Staff and Administrator FAQs

After the transition, staff will access Canvas using OneID credentials. Staff with manually created “org_” accounts will be contacted once any Blackboard organizations and/or courses have been migrated to your Canvas account.

No. The course migration process does not include user activity and data. Departments should plan to export or archive any necessary data before Blackboard is fully retired on June 30, 2027.

Some processes, integrations and reporting tools may change. The implementation team will communicate any related updates.

Getting Involved and Staying Informed

Regular updates will be posted on the Canvas Implementation website, shared through campus emails, campus communications, and information sessions. We encourage everyone to stay engaged and informed.

You can contact the Canvas Implementation Team at ittddept@ncat.edu or visit the Canvas Implementation website for updates, resources, and FAQs.