Canvas allows you to create nicknames for your courses. These nicknames are names that only you can see within your Canvas account. Nicknames do not overwrite the official course name brought in from CCS’ Student Information System (SIS), Colleague. In addition, your students will not see the nicknames you use for your course(s). Students can also give the courses they are enrolled in nicknames. Instructors and other students will not be able to see the nickname a student has given a course in his/her account.
- A course nickname does not affect the course code, which always displays on the course card for course reference.
- A course nickname does not affect the course name at the account or course level; it only changes the name of the course for the individual user who created the nickname.
- Course nicknames appear in the Dashboard, Course Navigation Menu, course breadcrumbs, and notification emails. Nicknames do not display in the global Grades page and Dashboard sidebar elements such as the To Do list.
- Course nicknames are limited to 59 characters.
Click on each tab to learn more about nicknames.
This is a Course Card. Course Cards are found on your Canvas Dashboard. In this example, the instructor would like to shorten the course name FALL 2024 CREATIVE VISUALIZATION (DMA-120-D) to Creative Visualization (DMA-120-D).
Click on the Options (three-dot kebab) icon at the top right corner of a Course Card. In the Nickname textbox, enter in a custom nickname for your course. In this example, the instructor gives the course a nickname of Creative Visualization (DMA-120-D).
If the instructor wants to remove the nickname later on, she can return to this Course Card to remove the nickname. The original course name will appear.
After the nickname as been created, the instructor will see the name change in several areas of Canvas. Click through the next few tabs to see examples.
The nickname is displayed within the Courses global navigation fly-out menu. It is also displayed on the Course Card.
The instructor checks her Courses >> All Courses screen. The original course name is listed under the Course column, and her new nickname is listed under the Nickname column.
If the instructor wanted to import (copy) course content from one course to another, the nickname of the course would be listed in the Search for a course drop-down menu.
The custom nickname will display at the top left-hand corner of the Canvas course in the breadcrumb trail.
Additional Resources
- How do I view my courses in the Card View Dashboard?
- See the section on Create Nickname.