Canvas Updates and Opportunities - June 2026
- Jun 23
- 3 min read
Canvas is regularly updated with new features and improvements designed to enhance teaching and learning. Below are the most significant changes and upcoming opportunities for Rutgers University–Newark instructors.
What You Need to Know
New Quizzes: Easier Accommodation Management
Canvas has improved the accommodation workflow in New Quizzes. Instructors can now adjust quiz time accommodations and reopen quiz attempts from a single interface.
Benefits for instructors:
Simplified accommodation process
Clear view of total student testing time
Reduced risk of accommodation errors
Improved support for students with testing accommodations
Peer Review Activities Receive Major Upgrade
Canvas has significantly enhanced peer review assignments.
New capabilities include:
Independent peer review due dates
Separate point values for peer reviews
Improved automatic reviewer assignment
More flexible reviewer pairing options
Benefits for instructors:
Easier management of peer review activities
Better control over assessment design
Improved student experience during peer review exercises
Email Notifications for Profile Changes
Canvas now sends an email notification whenever a user adds, changes, or removes an email address from their Canvas profile.
Benefits for users:
Improved account security
Faster detection of unauthorized account changes
Additional Updates
Canvas Native ePortfolios
The retirement date for Canvas's native ePortfolio tool has been extended to December 30, 2026.
Faculty currently using the native ePortfolio tool should begin planning for alternative solutions.
Cookie Consent Notifications
Canvas has introduced cookie consent notifications for users accessing Canvas in regions where privacy regulations require consent for analytics and tracking technologies.
This change will have minimal impact on most Rutgers University–Newark users.
Training and Professional Development Opportunities
Respondus LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor
Learn how to secure online exams using Respondus LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor within Canvas.
Upcoming Sessions
WeVideo Migration from PlayPosit
Rutgers has successfully migrated from PlayPosit to WeVideo.
What You Need to Know
Existing PlayPosit content has been automatically transferred to WeVideo.
Existing Canvas assignments continue to function without modification.
No relinking of assignments is required.
Interactive video activities remain available.
Faculty now have access to expanded video creation and editing capabilities.
Why the Change?
The migration provides a modern platform that combines interactive video learning with a comprehensive multimedia creation suite.
Benefits include:
Improved performance and reliability
Enhanced video creation capabilities
Continued innovation and feature development
Improved security and platform stability
Upcoming WeVideo Training
DesignPLUS Summer School for Educators
Join the CidiLabs team for DesignPLUS Summer School and learn how to create more engaging, accessible, and visually consistent Canvas courses.
DesignPLUS helps instructors:
Build engaging course content faster
Improve accessibility while designing
Create consistent learning experiences
Reuse templates and content across courses
Five-Day Learning Series
June 22, 2026 Getting Started with DesignPLUS
Quick Start Wizard
DesignPLUS Sidebar
Themes and Content Blocks
June 23, 2026 Elevating Canvas Content
Improve existing Canvas content
Accessibility tools and checkers
June 24, 2026 Adding Interactivity
Interactive content and exercises
Student engagement tools
June 25, 2026 Course Building with Templates
Templates and reusable content
Multi-Tool course development
June 26, 2026 Course-Level Customizations
Custom content blocks
Quick styles and snippets
Themes and branding
Need Assistance?
Academic Technology Services (ATS)
Academic Technology Services provides support for:
Canvas
Respondus LockDown Browser
WeVideo
DesignPLUS
Course design and development
Teaching with technology
Need assistance implementing any of these tools in your course? Contact ATS to schedule a consultation or training session.