As an online student, you have a variety of resources available to you through Canisius University. 

Schedule and Registration

As an online student, you will need to be self-directed in registering for classes.  Your department or program faculty can advise you concerning the courses to take, and timetable for completing your degree or certificate.  But you need to proactively communicate with them, and use the Canisius Student Profile toolset, located in the MyCanisius portal (righthand side), to ensure you are registered for the right classes.  

As always with the internet, technical problems are possible, so be certain the courses you are properly registered for through the Student Profile also appear as spaces in D2L.  If you are missing a course in D2L contact the Canisius University Help Desk right away, to be added to that course.  If you see a course in D2L you did not register for, also contact the Help Desk to have it removed from your D2L view, and to be certain you are not improperly registered for that course in your student record.

Griff Center for Student Success

The Griff Center provides various services for Canisius students, in support of academic and career development.  Online students can consult Griff Center staff via email or web conference, with support for internships, job search and application support, accessibility, and academic mentoring.  

Information Technology

Since online learning takes place through the internet, the Information Technology Services Department is obviously a major support service for online students. Training materials (including this guide), documentation, and support are provided by the Center for Online Learning & Innovation.  But here are some quick tips to get you started with the IT resources you need.

To use email, and participate in your online courses, you will need a Canisius username and password.  These are mailed to you once you are registered for a program or course, although you should change the password to personalize it, and make it more secure.

At any time, you can call or email the Canisius University helpdesk to get help with any problems, or answers to questions you may have concerning information technology in your online courses. 

Contact Us

716-888-8340
@email

Technology Guide

Before beginning your coursework, scan the Quick Guide to Technology Services for Students to get a sense of what information technologies and support are available to you at Canisius University. 

There's a few specific technologies you want to explore before the first week of your online class.

The Things You Bring

To be a student at Canisius University, you'll need to obtain some IT hardware, and possibly software.  These are just as important as textbooks but are typical of what professionals in many fields must have as well.  Before embarking on online or hybrid coursework, you should have:

• A laptop or desktop computer.  Obviously laptops provide more flexibility.  Mobile devices like phones or tablets can be helpful, but may not be sufficient to complete coursework.
• A reliable high-speed internet connection.
• The Chrome Browser.  Firefox is also good, too.  Both are free.
• A webcam.  Laptops typically include one, but you'll need to purchase one if you are using a desktop PC.  We recommend one like this.
• A USB headset. Here's a good example. This combines both speakers and a microphone in a package that blocks out a lot of surrounding noise.  But you can use any combination of speakers and microphone you'd like.  Be aware that laptop speakers and microphones can be good, but do not provide privacy, and pick up a lot of background noise.

Textbook Requirements

Online courses, like F2F classes, regularly require you to purchase textbooks and other learning materials.  At the Canisius University Bookstore Website, you can search for and order new, used, rental, and digital textbooks, along with other merchandise.