Canvas integrations refer to tools that you can access directly within the Canvas LMS. These tools can be used for teaching and learning, though their use is not required.

Approved Canvas Integrations

Approved LTI Integrations with UIS Staff Support

The following Canvas integrations comply with privacy and digital accessibility requirements and are supported by UIS staff. Faculty can reach out to COLRS for assistance using these tools. Students should contact the ITS Help Desk if they run into issues.

Approved LTI Integrations with No UIS Staff Support

The following Canvas integrations comply with privacy and digital accessibility requirements, but are NOT supported by UIS staff. Faculty and students must reach out to the help desk for each product for assistance using these tools, as UIS staff do not have access to the tools to provide support.

Course Software Purchased through Bookstore

Software that students are required to purchase through the Bookstore for use during a course must be accessible and should be vetted for security and privacy risk. Many of these tools can be approved when the vendor signs a FERPA agreement with the university. 

The UIS Bookstore and Follett do not vet the accessibility of textbook platforms or eBooks. Their LTI platforms must be approved through the Canvas integrations approval process below before being installed on Canvas for student and faculty use.

Canvas integrations approval process

All tools installed on the learning management system must be reviewed for accessibility and risk. The State of Illinois now requires us to more properly vet third party service providers before allowing them access to restricted university data, such as student education records. For this reason all third-party contracts, even for no-cost products, receive a more extensive review.

The Purchase Process for Software and Canvas LTIs

1. Contact COLRS to see if the LTI has already been reviewed or installed. If the LTI has not been reviewed, proceed to Step 2.
2. Concurrently, initiate these three steps:
   • Request a Lightweight Risk Assessment
     When is a risk assessment required? Look at the p-card software purchase form. If you answer yes to the first 3 questions, vendor risk assessment will be needed.
     If the risk cannot be mitigated and fails the review, the software cannot be purchased.
   • Request an Accessibility Review
     For any integrations in Canvas or used in computer labs, testing in a sandbox environment should be completed. For software installed locally or not supported by the university, ODA will review VPATs and HECVATs.
     If the accessibility review fails, you may request an accessibility exception. 
   • Initiate Contract in Contracts Plus
     It is good to start this process early, as a vendor may need to be added to the system, which can take some time. The contract must be initiated in order for purchasing to sign any NDAs required for the risk assessment to be completed.
3. Review complete:
   • If the LTI passes all three areas, the contract is executed and LTI is installed. 
   • If the LTI does not pass security review, no exceptions will be considered. If the LTI does not pass the accessibility review, a review by the Digital Accessibility Review Committee may be requested by emailing the Office of Digital Accessibility.

Additional instructional technologies

The following instructional technologies are supported by UIS ITS and are available to students, faculty, and staff. Though they are not directly integrated into Canvas, instructors and students may make use of them in their courses and can receive assistance from the ITS Help Desk.