Issue:

An Instructor or Department wants to request a Canvas feature or integration.

Requests:

Existing Integrations in Canvas

Instructors and departments are advised to review the list of existing Canvas integrations to determine if a suitable or equivalent solution is already available in Canvas.

A list of Canvas integrations can be found here.

Requesting a New Integration for Canvas

Instructors and departments can submit their integration request to its.essd@wsu.edu.

Requesting a New Feature in Canvas

Integration Request Considerations:

Timing of Integration Requests

Integration requests are processed expediently, however, the timing of the request is an important consideration. 

Integrations requests which are submitted close to the beginning of a term may be subject to a delay in processing. There is a general moratorium in place on implementing system changes in the week leading up to the beginning of a semester, and in the two weeks following. This pause is in consideration of and to prioritize the increased load of registration and financial aid activities. 

Estimated Timeline for a Canvas Integration

The estimated timeline to introduce a new integration in Canvas is approximately 20 days, but is subject to the processes of each participant in the process.

  1. Vendor Information Coordination. Approximately 3 days.
    1. Documentation on the Integration is requested
      1. Security Documentation
      2. Integration Installation Documentation
      3. Integration Use Documentation, including scope of use

  2. Security Team Review of Integration Data. Approximately 10 days.
    1. Our security team will review the aforementioned documentation in step 1.a.1. 
      Depending on specifics of the integration, further documentation may be requested.
      In some cases, a contract may be requested of the vendor that includes WSU Data Security and Privacy language.
    2. Once a security review has been completed, a risk rating (typically Moderate or Low) is assigned to the integration. 
      The requesting instructor and their department's head or chair will need to acknowledge they have reviewed the Knowledge Base document Moderate Risk and Canvas Integrations. 

  3. The Canvas team will set up the integration in our test environment. Approximately 7 business days. 
    1. Testing is conducted concurrent to the security review in Step 2 to help expedite the process.
    2. This step is necessary to confirm expected functionality of the integration and assure that there are no conflicts with our systems.
      The Canvas Test environment resets on the third Saturday of the month.
      Requests received in the week leading up that date might not be tested until after the third Saturday reset, as it will allow our team time to fully test the integration without interruption.

  4. Concurrent with testing the integration, a suitability assessment may be conducted by Academic Outreach and Innovation (AOI) to ensure the integration aligns with the pedagogical objectives of the university. Should it be determined that the integration is not suitable for use in Canvas or otherwise conflicts with an existing integration, a representative from the AOI team will reach out to explore alternatives. 

  5. Change Control Board (CCB) Review and Approval. Approximately 7 days.
    1. Integration requests are submitted to CCB after the following steps have been completed:
      1. Security review
      2. Risk acknowledgement/acceptance. 
      3. Integration Testing.
    2. CCB meets on Tuesday afternoons.
      1. Change requests must be complete and submitted by noon on the prior day.

  6. Integration into Canvas. Approximately 1-3 days.
    1. Many integrations can be added to Canvas the day after CCB approval.
    2. Some integrations require the exchange of security key values with the integration publisher, which can occasionally span 1-2 business days.

Vendor Coordination Timeline for New Integrations

Request more information on Canvas Integrations

For more information on Canvas Integrations or to address a specific concern, please reach out to its.essd@wsu.edu.