With students’ ease-of-use top-of-mind, Concordia University Wisconsin has adopted a new learning management system, called Canvas. The system will go into full effect May 1, 2025.
When Sansara Deshpande first began to look at which university she should attend to earn her Doctor of Pharmacy degree, her list of priorities included things like reputation of the program, class sizes, faculty-to-student ratio, and culture.
One thing that wasn’t necessarily on her list? The learning management system (LMS) the institution used. As it turns out, maybe it should have been included.
Deshpande, an Ann Arbor native, completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan, which uses an LMS called Canvas. But when she began Concordia’s PharmD program last fall, she transitioned to CUW’s historically used LMS, Blackboard, and found the switch cumbersome.
“Canvas is so much better than Blackboard,” Deshpande says. “I didn’t realize I’d care so much about the technology platform where my grades and assignments would be posted, but now that I’ve experienced something other than Canvas, I’d hate to go back to anything else.”
This semester, with students’ ease-of-use as its primary goal, Concordia has begun the migration process from Blackboard to Canvas. Deshpande is part of a pilot group of Concordia students who transitioned to the system early to help the university meet its migration deadline of May 1.
A growing LMS preference amid the higher ed landscape
Over 7,000 K-12 and higher education institutions worldwide use Canvas to organize and manage online courses, facilitate communication between student and teacher, and deliver education content to students. The LMS is renowned for its easy-to-use interface, seamless mobile integration, and powerful collaboration tools that enhance the educational experience for students.
Yet, less than 30% of higher education institutions nationwide currently utilize the platform, and most of the schools that have adopted it are Big 10 institutions or Ivy League schools. But soon, Concordia will also be among the schools that utilize the famously user-friendly software. The system will touch every single class and student at Concordia, integrating key tools such as the gradebook, syllabus, discussion boards, quizzes, syllabi, assignments, and video lectures.
‘Easy to use’ prioritized
Concordia’s Information Technology Department began December 2023 to explore LMS options, with AVP of Information Technology Mark Newhouse giving just one directive to the team that would ultimately select a system: “Make sure it’s easy to use.”
In anticipation of the switch to Canvas, Assistant Director of Learning Management Systems Tyler Shadick said Concordia piloted the system in January 2025 with a group of 16 pastors who were enrolled in a Continuing Education course.
“It was a demographic with a wide variance of technology literacy, but we received no support tickets,” Shadick says. “Everyone was able to figure it out seamlessly.”
Even if they hadn’t, help isn’t far away. Another unique feature of Canvas compared to others is the virtual tech support team they employ. In addition to Shadick, CUW students and faculty will have access to 24/7 online support staffed by Canvas.
Concordia currently has 400 students—including undergraduates and graduate students, online and in-person learners—already onboarded to Canvas to ease into the May 1 switchover.
“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Shadick. “Our decision to move to Canvas was made with students in mind. With this transition, we’re reaffirming our commitment to providing an accessible, user-friendly, and innovative digital learning environment that supports all learners.”
Want in?
Canvas is just one of the many reasons to give Concordia a look! We’re also known for our location with its breathtaking view of Lake Michigan, small class sizes, professors who care, and commitment to the holistic, Christ-centered growth of our students.