Within Canvas @ Yale, you can modify your notification preferences to determine how frequently you receive email notifications from actions in courses. You can set your notification preferences at the account level, which will be applied to all courses, or at the individual course level.
Account-level notification settings are overridden by course-level notification preferences.
Changing notification settings, even for course-level notifications, only applies to you. Instructors cannot change / override student notification selections.
Notifications received from Canvas to your email address will come from "[Course Name] <[email protected]>"
Table of Contents
This article will address the following information:
Changing Account-Level (Default) Notification Preferences
In the Global Navigation menu, click on "Account."
From the side menu that appears, click "Notifications."
Next to each notification item in the list, click the icon in the "Email" column to select the notification frequency.
Changing Course-Level Notification Preferences
- In the course site where you want to update your notification settings, navigate to the "Home" page.
- Click the "View Course Notifications" button in the right-hand column of options.
- Next to each notification item in the list, click the icon in the "Email" column to select the notification frequency.
Enable / Disable Notifications For an Entire Course
You can choose to enable / disable notifications for an entire course you are enrolled in by toggling the "Enable Notifications" setting at the top of the "Course Notification Settings" page for the course.
- If the toggle button is On (green with a check mark), you have enabled notifications for the course.
- If the toggle button is Off (gray with an x), you have disabled notifications for the course.
Notification Frequency Icons
- Notify Immediately (solid bell): Receive notification email right away.
- Notifications will be sent within one-hour to capture any changes, which prevents multiple notifications at the same time.
- Daily summary (calendar with number): Daily notification via email.
- Daily notifications will be delivered around 6pm.
- Weekly summary (calendar with date boxes): Weekly notification via email.
- Weekly notifications will be delivered Saturday between 4pm and 6pm.
- Notifications off (clear bell with slash): No notification email for that item.
Description of Notification Types
| Notification Type | What functionality is covered |
| Course Activities | |
| Due Date | Assignment due date change |
| Grading Policies | Course grading policy change |
| Course Content | Change to course content: Pages, Quiz Content, Assignment Content |
| Files | New files added to your course |
| Announcement | New announcements in your course |
| Announcement Created By You | New announcements created by you, and replies to announcements you've created |
| Grading | Includes: Assignment/submission grade entered/changed; Grade weight changed |
| Invitation | Invitation for: Web conference; Group; Collaboration; Course Enrollment Invite; Peer Review reminder |
| All Submissions* | Assignment submission/resubmission |
| Late Grading* | Late assignment submission |
| Submission Comment | Assignment submission comment |
| Blueprint Sync* | Content was synced from a blueprint course to associated courses |
| Discussions | |
| New Topic | New discussion topic in your course |
| New Reply | New reply on a topic you're subscribed to |
| New Mention | New mention in a discussion |
| Conversations (Inbox) Account-Level Setting ONLY | |
| Added to Conversation | You are added to a conversation |
| Conversation Message | New Inbox messages |
| Conversations Created by Me | You created a conversation |
| Scheduling | |
| Student Appointment Signups* | Student appointment sign-up |
| Appointment Signups | New appointment on your calendar |
| Appointment Cancellations | Appointment cancellation |
| Appointment Availability | New appointment time slots are available for signup |
| Calendar | New and changed items on your course calendar |
| Groups Account-Level Setting ONLY | |
| Membership Updates* | Pending enrollment activated; group enrollment accepted/rejected |
| Conferences | |
| Recording Ready | A conference recording is ready |
| Alerts Account-Level Setting ONLY | |
| Administrative Notifications* | Course enrollment, report generated, content export, migration report, new account user, new student group |
| Content Link Error* | Location and content of a failed link that a student has interacted with |
| Global Announcements | Institution-wide announcements (also displayed on Dashboard pages) |
*Instructor / Admin notification only
Notification Setting Recommendations
Student Notification Recommendations
| Notification Type | What functionality is covered | Recommended Notification |
|---|---|---|
| Course Activities | ||
| Announcement | New announcements in your course | Notify Immediately |
| Submission Comment | Assignment submission comment | Notify Immediately |
| Conversations (Inbox) Account-Level Setting ONLY | ||
| Added to Conversation | You are added to a conversation | Notify Immediately |
| Conversation Message | New Inbox messages | Notify Immediately |
| Conversations Created by Me | You created a conversation (sent message) | Notify Immediately |
| Scheduling | ||
| Appointment Cancellations | Appointment cancellation | Notify Immediately |
| Appointment Availability | New appointment time slots are available for signup | Notify Immediately |
| Calendar | New and changed items on your course calendar | Notify Immediately |
Instructor Notification Recommendations
| Notification Type | What functionality is covered | Recommended Notification |
|---|---|---|
| Course Activities | ||
| Announcement Created by You | Announcements created by you, and replies to announcements you've created | Notify Immediately |
| Submission Comment | Assignment submission comment | Notify Immediately |
| Conversations (Inbox) Account-Level Setting ONLY | ||
| Added to Conversation | You are added to a conversation | Notify Immediately |
| Conversation Message | New Inbox messages | Notify Immediately |
| Conversations Created by Me | You created a conversation (sent message) | Notify Immediately |
| Scheduling | ||
| Student Appointment Signups | Student appointment sign-up | Notify Immediately |
| Appointment Signups | New appointment on your calendar | Notify Immediately |
| Appointment Cancellations | Appointment cancellation | Notify Immediately |
| Calendar | New and changed items on your course calendar | Notify Immediately |
For more technical details about each notification setting, please refer to the vendor's Canvas Notifications documentation, which provides a detailed explanation of the notification settings and behaviors.
Frequently Asked Question: I just posted an Announcement or Inbox message. Why didn't I get a copy in my Yale email account?
For additional questions or issues with your notifications, please contact [email protected].