As you prepare for the coming Spring term, take note of our Spring support resources, tips for setting up your Canvas course, and some steps for success in your courses.
Key Dates for Upcoming Term(s)
- Spring Classes: Friday, January 16, 2026
- Last Day of Spring Classes: Monday, May 4, 2026
- Spring Canvas courses will be automatically published 3 business days before the start date.
- Review the Academic Calendar for all session dates.
Please note that online programs may follow different dates!
A Checklist for Setting Up Your Canvas Course
Whether you are teaching a course for the first time or are continuing to teach an existing course, our checklist will provide you with tips for success!
If you are teaching more than one section of a course and plan to cross-list them in Canvas, please remember to do so before adding any content to your courses. Cross-listing after content has been added can result in loss of materials and student data.When cross-listing courses, the course information section of the Montclair Syllabus will display the details from the master course, and this portion cannot be edited. If you need to include course information for additional sections, you can add a new component to provide those details. Visit Updating the Montclair Syllabus for Cross-Listed Courses for additional information.
Canvas Updates
- Canvas releases new updates about every three weeks, and ITDS will continue to share highlights with you. You can also stay up to date anytime by visiting our Canvas Updates page, where we post the latest changes and what they mean for teaching and learning.
- Canvas Integrations: For a comprehensive list of pre-installed Canvas integrations visit our Integrations page.
- For more recommendations, please visit our Designing Your Canvas Course page.
Faculty Development Opportunities
The Spring 2026 Teaching Symposium: Designing for Engagement & Excellence
When: Monday, January 12, 9:00am – 3:00pm
The Annual Spring Teaching Symposium is a virtual faculty development event that will look ahead toward the start of a promising new semester, while reflecting on lessons learned from the fall. It includes external speakers, faculty presentations, instructional technology workshops, and much more.
This year’s event will kick off with opening remarks by Dr. Jessica Murphy, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Success and Academic Innovation, followed by our keynote speaker Dr. Bonnie Stewart’s talk. Dr. Bonnie Stewart, Associate Professor of Online Pedagogy & Workplace Learning at the University of Windsor, is a longtime educator and digital researcher whose work in participatory learning has spanned all eras of the web!
EOTL101: Empowering Online Teaching and Learning: Foundations for Success
Cohort 1: Monday, February 2 – Sunday, March 1
Cohort 2: Monday, March 30 – Sunday, April 26
EOTL101 is designed to enhance online teaching competencies. This foundational course is intended to provide faculty with an overview of online teaching and learning, applicable to both online and hybrid courses. Participants will explore strategies for creating inclusive online learning environments, the qualities of successful online instructors, and considerations for conducting effective assessments online. Standards for evaluating online courses to align with best pedagogical practices will also be shared. The cohort experience allows for a rich exchange of ideas and practices between faculty and peers across the university. This course provides a critical foundation for first-time online instructors, or for instructors hoping to tune up their online teaching practice. Register for EOTL101!
One-on-One Consultations with ITDS
- Preparing for Spring 2026 Support: To prepare for the Spring 2026 term, the ITDS team will be available for teaching support starting Tuesday, January 13 through Friday, January 23 from 10am to 3pm, excluding weekends. Support will be offered both in-person and online. In-person support will be available as walk-in assistance on the 5th floor of University Hall, no appointment needed, just stop by with your questions. For online support, please schedule an appointment via https://itds.as.me/Spring2026.
- ITDS Walk-In Office Hours for Faculty: We’re excited to continue the addition of our Monday walk-in office hours designed to offer convenient, in-person support—no appointment needed!
When: Mondays, 2:00pm – 4:00pm (starting January 26)
Where: University Hall, 5th Floor
- ITDS Consultations: ITDS staff are made available year round to meet with you to discuss your course(s) and provide guidance on designing your course(s) across modalities, instructional strategies, syllabus design, teaching/learning activities, instructional technologies and more. You can set up an appointment with one of our ITDS staff via the ITDS Consultation Scheduler.
Technical Support
Make sure your devices are registered on the campus network (see the Connect to Wireless page). If you need technical support, please contact the IT Service Desk or your academic technology team. You may also review information on classroom technology on the Audio-Visual Services website, check NEST for modality, room, and other details.