LMS Transition from Blackboard to Canvas

After a year-long pilot, UMass Lowell (UML) has selected Canvas by Instructure as our new Learning Management System (LMS). We will transition to Canvas in four phases by college, as shown below. Colleges will continue to use Blackboard until they are transitioned to Canvas. This transition is scheduled to start in the fall of 2024 and complete in the fall of 2026.

Phase / CollegeDevelopment / WorkshopsTeaching in Canvas
I. Manning School of Business (MSB) / Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences (ZCHS)Fall 2024Spring 2025
II. Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (FAHSS) / HonorsSpring 2025Fall 2025
III. Kennedy College of Sciences (KCS)Fall 2025Spring 2026
IV. Francis College of Engineering (FCE)Spring 2026Fall 2026 (summer 2026 FCE courses will use Canvas)

By Fall 2026 all courses will be taught in Canvas.

Canvas Workshops for Faculty and Teaching Assistants (TAs)

We are excited to offer a series of Canvas workshops for faculty and TAs, designed to help you smoothly transition to the new platform. Each workshop will be recorded if you have a conflict or if you would like to revisit the content at your convenience. Please note that workshops with the same name will cover the same materials. You need not register for all of them, as they will be identical.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Faculty can register now for Canvas workshops! Please note: these workshops are for faculty and TAs only.

After registering, you will receive a calendar invite with a Zoom link within 3 business days. While registration is not required, it will help us to determine if we need to create additional workshops. Registration is not required for the drop-ins.

Students who are in Canvas can go through the "Canvas Student Orientation" course. This is a free, optional course for all students to help you get to know Canvas.

Recordings are available on Canvas in a module in the "Self-Paced Canvas Faculty Training" course. 

Please Note: The Starting Smart with Canvas workshop offers a brief, surface-level overview of the platform. It highlights key features and shows you where to find essential tools, but does not include hands-on practice. For a more in-depth understanding of specific features, we recommend attending our topic-specific workshops as well.


DateTimeWorkshop / Drop-in Details and Zoom LinkAgenda
Friday, May 1, 202610:30-11:15 a.m.From Setup to Scoring: Managing Quizzes and Item BanksSetup to Scoring Agenda

More workshops coming in August, September, and October! Check your email or this page for more information over the summer. 

Faculty can register now for Canvas workshops!

Please see the Provost's Announcement about this transition:

How do I know which of my courses are using Canvas or Blackboard?

UMass Lowell is taking a phased approach to transitioning to Canvas. It is possible that some students will be using both Blackboard and Canvas in a given semester for a little while. Please see the timeline above for when courses will be transitioning to Canvas. You can also login at myUML and select the Academics tab to view your courses with links to Blackboard or Canvas or view the Find My Course page for information about where courses are located.

Does Canvas have an app?

Yes! Canvas has an app just for students. Download the Canvas app for your device.

When will I get access to Canvas and my Canvas courses?

For online and graduate courses, this is the first day of the semester. For on-campus undergraduate courses, this is 3 days before the start of the semester.

Where can I learn how to use Canvas?

Each UMass Lowell (UML) student will be given access to a self-paced, optional Canvas Orientation course that you will see when you first access the system. This is a great starting point. Another great resource for students is the Canvas Student Guides page.

Will my Blackboard courses be brought over to Canvas?

Yes! The Learning Management Systems (LMS) teams in Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) and Information Technology (IT) will be migrating Blackboard courses for each faculty member going 4 semesters back.

Can I request that an older course be migrated to Canvas?

Yes! If you need a course prior to 4 semesters back, then email: onlinelearning@uml.edu or email: Canhelp@uml.edu and we will be happy to migrate them to Canvas. We are also archiving past courses, so everything will be retained. A special migration request should not be used to archive all of your Blackboard courses, but only for courses that you actually need on Canvas for future teaching.

What will happen to all of my Blackboard courses?

The LMS teams keep archives of Blackboard courses, and this practice will continue in Canvas. If you need a Blackboard course that was not migrated already, email: onlinelearning@uml.edu or email: Canhelp@uml.edu and we can restore the archive for you on Canvas.

When will I have access to Canvas and be able to use it for my classes?

Faculty from Manning School of Business and Zuckerburg College of Health Sciences will gain access to the Canvas platform in early October 2024, in preparation for using Canvas for Spring 2025. Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (FAHSS) will gain access to Canvas in early April and begin using Canvas for Fall 2025 courses. Kennedy College of Sciences will be using Canvas in Spring 2026 and the Francis College of Engineering in Summer / Fall 2026. Please watch your email for correspondence from the Information Technology (IT) and Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) teams about when your college will gain access to Canvas.

How will faculty learn how to use Canvas?

Faculty can register for Canvas workshops (please see above on this page). Additionally, job aids, documentation, self-paced modules will all be available for faculty via Canvas. Check for a course called “Self-Paced Canvas Modules – Faculty” under your “Courses” tab in Canvas. The IT and GPS Blackboard support teams are here for you; they will be communicating opportunities to learn Canvas and will be happy to help or point you towards resources when you are ready.

Can I stay on Blackboard even though the rest of my College is going to Canvas?

No. UMass Lowell leadership decided on a phased approach, by College, for migration. All faculty are expected to move from Blackboard at their college's scheduled time.

Can I go to Canvas before the rest of my College goes to Canvas?

No. We sincerely appreciate your enthusiasm, but UMass Lowell leadership decided on a phased approach, by College, for migration. All faculty are expected to move to Canvas at their college's scheduled time.

Where can I learn more about Canvas?

Please visit the Canvas Higher Ed page as a starting point. Another great resource for faculty is the Canvas Instructor Guides page.

How long will I be able to access my courses on Blackboard?

Users will have access to Blackboard until approximately Summer 2026. After that, we will have course archives available upon request if needed on the Canvas system.

Does Canvas have an app?

Yes! Canvas has an app for Faculty. Download the Canvas Faculty app for your device.