Information Technology Services

General

• What is an LMS, and why do we need one?

  • A Learning Management System (LMS) is a software platform for creating, delivering, managing and tracking educational courses, centralizing learning in one place and widely utilized in K-12 and higher education.

• Why is the UNC System moving to a single LMS?

  • The UNC System’s 17 institutions currently use three different learning management systems under separate contracts. Moving to one LMS will consolidate technology across campuses and offer several key benefits:

    • Cost efficiencies by reducing the cost-per-student across the UNC System

    • Greater familiarity for students, especially incoming first-year and transfer students who have already used Canvas in high school or community college

    • Improved collaboration and easier sharing of course materials across institutions

• Why was Canvas chosen?

  • Canvas is the largest LMS provider in higher education and has already been successfully adopted by the majority of UNC System institutions. Features and functions of Canvas include: 

    • Speedgrader 

    • Mastery Paths and Mastery Grading

    • Global Calendar

    • Mobile Apps 

    • An engaged user community

  • Learn more about the partnership between N.C. and Instructure at www.instructure.com/landing/partner-in-education/north-carolina. 

• What is the timeframe of the migration?

  • The first opt-in opportunity for faculty to teach in Canvas will be Summer 2026 sessions.

  • All faculty will have to be migrated to the platform by the start of Summer 2027.

  • View the full timeline

• Who is managing the transition?

  • The Academic and Emerging Technologies (AET) Division of Information Technology Services is leading the migration and support.