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Accessing Canvas

When will I get access to my Canvas account?

There are several steps that need to be completed before gaining access to your Canvas account –

Submit your admissions application
Activate your PGCC single sign-on account
Register for a course that uses Canvas

Approximately 45 days before the semester start date, courses are created in Canvas. Once courses are created in Canvas, new students who have already registered for a Canvas course will immediately gain access to their Canvas account. Returning students (within the past two years) would already have access to Canvas.

New students who register within the 45 days prior to the semester start date can expect to gain access to their Canvas account within 1-2 hours of course registration.

While you may be able to access your Canvas account, please note that you may not see your courses on your Dashboard. Courses in Canvas become available to students four calendar days prior to the official start date of the course.

How do I log into my PGCC Canvas account?

There are two places where you can log into Canvas -

myPGCC Student Portal Option - Go to the myPGCC student portal and enter your PGCC username and password. After logging in, click the Canvas tile under the Student Portal header to access the Canvas learning management system. Doing so will automatically land you on your Canvas Dashboard.

PGCC Website Option - Go to the PGCC website and select Canvas at the top of the page. If you are not logged into your PGCC account, you will be prompted to log in with your PGCC username and password. Otherwise, you will automatically land on your Canvas Dashboard.

If you cannot log into your Canvas account, submit a Canvas Technical Support ticket via askPGCC, contact eLearning Services by phone at (301) 546-0463 or by email at eLearning@pgcc.edu.

I have never used Canvas before. How can I familiarize myself with the layout and features of Canvas before my next class begins?

Students seeking to learn more about Canvas are highly encouraged to participate in a Student Canvas Overview session, which includes information about basic features, course set-up, and how to access training and 24/7 support. Sessions are hosted a few days before the start of each term. Click here to find upcoming Student Canvas Overview session dates and materials.

For hands-on experience with Canvas, consider self-enrolling in the Student Passport to Canvas Course. To enroll in the course, click on Courses on the Global Navigation Menu (blue section on left side). Next, click on All Courses and then select Browse More Courses. On the Student Passport to Canvas course title, click Join this Course. You can now access the Student Passport to Canvas course on your Dashboard.

You can also access a wealth of information about various Canvas features within any of your courses. Simply access a course and navigate to Modules. In the Canvas Start Here module, click Canvas Resources for Students and then click the red Canvas Resources for Students button to be routed to a page of categories you can browse through.

Accessing Courses & Course Content

I have a Canvas account but where is my course?

Courses may take up to 24 hours from the time of registration before being reflected within Canvas. Also, if you did not register for any courses, no course will be displayed.

If you have registered for a course, note that it is the instructor’s responsibility to publish their course and course materials students four calendar days prior to the official start date of the course. For example, if your course starts on August 21st, your course should be published and listed on your Dashboard on August 17th. To confirm your course enrollment, follow the instructions on how to view all your courses in Canvas.

You may discover that your instructor has not yet published the course within the four day window. In that case, you are encouraged to reach out to your instructor. Though you may not have access to the instructor’s contact information in the course syllabus, you can obtain your instructor’s email address and phone number within Owl Link. Perform the following steps to retrieve this information:

Click on the Academics icon in the navigation menu of Owl Link, and then select Student Planning followed by Plan & Schedule.
Ensure that the semester listed to the top-left reflects your desired semester. If not, use the direction buttons to change the listed semester.
Click on the course code link of your registered course in the calendar to display the instructor’s contact information and additional course details.

How do I find out what textbooks I need for my unpublished courses?

You can click the Follett Discover icon in the Global Navigation Menu to be routed to the college bookstore database. There, you can look up the required textbooks for your enrolled courses. For additional questions regarding textbooks, contact the bookstore by phone at (301) 546-0912 or via their website at https://www.bkstr.com/princegeorgesccstore/home

I haven’t heard from my instructor. What do I do?

Depending on the course, you can expect to engage with your instructor via live Zoom sessions, discussion board posts, announcements, emails, and other methods to support your learning. If you have not heard from your instructor, please attempt to contact them via the methods listed on your course syllabus.

If you have attempted to reach your instructor and have not received a response, you may submit an academic complaint via the Student Complaint Form.

My Canvas course disappeared. What do I do?

There could be several reasons why your Course is no longer visible in Canvas –

You may have inadvertently altered your Dashboard view. Click here to learn how to change your Dashboard view in Canvas. If you need additional help, please click the question mark icon on the Global Navigation Menu to access 24/7 support.
Your instructor may have made the course unavailable. If you believe this is the case, please click the question mark icon on the Global Navigation Menu to access 24/7 support.
You may have been dropped from the course. If you believe this is the case, please log in to Owl Link, click on “Grades,” and click on the semester and find the grade for the course.

Where can I find my grades?

Your grades can be found in two places:

Dashboard Option

On the Global Navigation Menu (blue section on left-hand side), click Dashboard
Click the View Grades button in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen
The Courses I'm Taking heading displays the name of each course and a current overall grade, if available. If no grades have been assigned, the grade appears as “no grade.” To view grading details, click the name of the course.

NOTE: Your instructor may restrict students from viewing grade totals.

Course Navigation Menu Option

Navigate to the Course Navigation Menu for the desired course
Click Grades
You will see a list of your assignments, due dates, status (late, excused, missing), score assigned by your instructor, and total points possible

NOTE: Your instructor may not have enabled students to see Grades from the Course Navigation Menu. In this instance, use the Dashboard Option

Where can I find the Zoom link for my class? Where can I find class recordings?

Typically, you may find the Zoom link for an upcoming class by going to the course in Canvas and clicking Zoom in the Course Navigation Menu. If the Zoom link is not there, please contact your instructor to request it.

Typically, you may find class recordings for past sessions by going to the course in Canvas and clicking Panopto Videos in the Course Navigation Menu. If the recording is not there, please contact your instructor.

I can't submit my assignment. What do I do?

There could be several reasons why you cannot submit an assignment –

Ensure that you understand the way your instructor would like you to submit your assignment. Typically, these instructions will be shared in the assignment instructions in Canvas. If the submission instructions are not clear, please contact your instructor.
If you would like help with the attachment feature, upload feature, or other submission features, please contact your instructor.
If you are experiencing a technical difficulty when you attempt to submit an assignment, please contact 24/7 Canvas support by clicking on the Help icon (the question mark) on the Global Navigation Menu and selecting the email, call, or chat option.

I mistakenly opened an exam. Who do I contact if I need it to be reset?

If you mistakenly opened an exam and need it to be reset, please contact your instructor.

Who do I contact if I have difficulty with Respondus LockDown Browser?

First, ensure you have installed Respondus LockDown Browser. For installation instructions, please reference the How to Download and Install Respondus LockDown Browser article on the Knowledge Base.

If you continue to experience difficulty, submit a Canvas Technical Support ticket via askPGCC, contact eLearning Services by phone at (301) 546-0463 or by email at eLearning@pgcc.edu.

Who do I contact if I have difficulty with Respondus Monitor?

First, ensure you have installed Respondus LockDown Browser. To learn how Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor work together, please watch this brief video.

If you continue to experience difficulty, submit a Canvas Technical Support ticket via askPGCC, contact eLearning Services by phone at (301) 546-0463 or by email at eLearning@pgcc.edu.

Getting Technical Support

I cannot log into Canvas, the myPGCC student portal, or my student email account. What do I do?

If you cannot log into your Canvas account, submit a Canvas Technical Support ticket via askPGCC, contact eLearning Services by phone at (301) 546-0463 or by email at eLearning@pgcc.edu.

If you cannot log into the myPGCC student portal, submit a myPGCC Single Sign-on Issue ticket via askPGCC or contact the Technology Service Desk.

If you cannot log into your student email account, submit an Email Issue ticket via askPGCC or contact the Technology Service Desk.

What do I do if I am having difficulty with Office 365 software through my student email account?

First, ensure you have installed the software. For installation instructions, please reference the Tech Personal Use for Students: Office 365 Available for Download and Installation article on the Knowledge Base.

If you continue to experience difficulty, please submit an Email issue with Outlook Client, Office365, or Owl Mail ticket via askPGCC or contact the Technology Service Desk.

Where can I find help with using Office 365 software (Excel, PowerPoint, Windows, Word)?

Enrolled PGCC students have access to Brainfuse Online Tutoring services for up to 3 hours per semester. Brainfuse offers computer and technology tutoring. For help with learning how to use Office 365 software, please complete the following steps:

Log into Canvas
On the Global Navigation Menu (blue section on left-hand side), click on Courses
Select one of your courses
On the Course Navigation Menu, click on Brainfuse Online Tutoring
Click Launch Brainfuse
Once in your Brainfuse account, click Select Topic in the Live Help section. Then select Computer & Tech.
Select the desired subject – Excel, PowerPoint, Windows, or Word. Then click Connect to be connected to a live Brainfuse tutor.
If you do not want to connect with a live tutor but instead want to send a question, click Send a question and a Brainfuse tutor will review and respond within 24 hours.

You may also access Technology Tutorials online to learn how to use Office via a mix of text, videos, and practice challenges.