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IMPORTANT NOTE:
SVSU services (mySVU, email, calendar, Canvas, and Microsoft 365 apps) can be accessed with your SVSU email address and password. You must update your password once a year. If you forget your password you can reset it on your own. You must register for Self Service Password Reset (SSPR) so that you can manage your account access and password. Explore our
Password Policy. Once your account is registered with SSPR, you can manage your account and your sign-in methods from svsu.edu click Quicklinks, then Change Password.
Overview
Registered students at Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) have access to various tools for productivity, collaboration, printing, video creation, and more to support their learning. In this article you will find an overview of our supported tools and tips.
Article Sections
Transition from Google Apps to Microsoft 365
At SVSU, we provide Microsoft 365 licensing for all employees and registered students, helping you build future-ready skills for productivity and collaboration. Review the list below:
Google Apps to Microsoft
- Classroom to Canvas (online course material)
- Gmail to Outlook (mail and calendar)
- Docs to Microsoft Word (productivity)
- Drive to OneDrive (store and share your files)
- Meet to Microsoft Teams (video conferencing)
- Sheets to Excel (spreadsheets)
- Slides to PowerPoint (presentations)
- YouTube to Microsoft Stream
IMPORTANT NOTE:
If you need help visit our
Tutoring Help Center for Students in the Zahnow Library. You can download some
Quick Reference Guides in the Attachments section of this this page (right side of the screen).
Microsoft 365 Office Suite
Registered students can access email, calendar, productivity apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc), online cloud storage via OneDrive. Students can access with their SVSU email address and password.
Access your email or OneDrive from www.svsu.edu, choose Quicklinks, then click Email or OneDrive. If you are already logged into your account, click the waffle-shaped icon (upper-left corner), you will see a list of Microsoft apps available to you as a student.
Microsoft 365 Quick Start Guides
Available Software for Personal Use
As a registered student at SVSU there are various software and tools available so you can be successful in your classes, bookmark: appsc.svsu.edu/elms/
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Email, calendar, and productivity
- Microsoft Azure
- Special Development tools (CSIS students)
- Maplesoft
- Symbolic and numeric computing environment
- Offers a free trial
- MatLab
- MiniTab
- SPSS
- and many more.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
As part of the SVSU licensing agreements, users agree that all installed copies of personal home use software provided by SVSU must be uninstalled when you are no longer an employee or registered student of SVSU. You also have access to software remotely on any device in our virtual computer labs.
SVSU Virtual Computer Labs
Our virtual labs can be accessed from any device with an Internet connection in your web browser. Virtual labs have two types of software available, there is a General Lab (common software found in a classroom or open lab) and Geography and Science, Engineering & Technology Lab needed for specific classes. Get Started and connect to our SVSU Virtual Computer Labs.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
SVSU Information Technology Services (ITS) provides access to home-use software on personally owned devices. Due to the complexities of personally-owned devices (their configurations, other software installed, and possible malware infections), ITS is not able to provide personal service for home devices. ITS will provide guidance and recommendations on how to troubleshoot personal computer issues. Most often, uninstalling previous versions of software and clearing temp files will mitigate many computer issues - including installing software.
Web Print - Printing from your Device
At SVSU registered students have the ability to print from their own device. Start by uploading a file(s) to a Kyocera printer using Web Print; available within your print account. Students are alloted a personal print balance each semester that they are enrolled. View more on our Print Policies and how to use Web Print.
Learning Canvas
Many professors use Canvas it is SVSU's Learning Management System (LMS). Students can access course files, submit Assignments in Canvas, take online Quizzes, interact in asynchronous Discussions, synchronous class meetings, watch lecture recordings, and more.
Tools Used in Canvas as a Student
IMPORTANT NOTE: SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS AND MEDIA FILES IN CANVAS
Canvas Uploads and File Storage: Assignment uploads cannot be larger than 5 GB. Your file storage cannot exceed 200 MB. SVSU ITS recommends to
upload your file to OneDrive and share the link to Canvas.
Media Submissions in Canvas: Students can create, upload media, and share to Canvas. We recommend to use Microsoft Stream, Windows 11 Snipping tool, Microsoft Teams, and Microsoft PowerPoint. Explore more in our article -
Submitting Video Assignments as a Student.
Supported Browsers
Access Canvas
- Access SVSU courses, hosted in Canvas, by logging in via the mySVSU portal or by visiting www.svsu.edu, selecting Quicklinks, then Canvas.
- Access your courses from within mySVSU
Learn Canvas
Canvas User Storage Quota Exceeded
- Exceeding your storage quota prevents you from uploading files to Discussions and My Files.
- To make room for more file uploads, delete files in My files and conversation attachments until the total file size is under 200 MB.
- My Files (personal files you have uploaded to Canvas).
- conversation attachments (files uploaded to Inbox in Canvas) once files are removed, they will no longer be part of that conversation message. Note: Removing “profile pictures” won’t help.
Canvas User Account Files quota - 200 MB
Students can upload or attach files for Course assignments or discussions.
- These files are automatically stored in students' own personal files (in the "unfiled" folder).
- Student-submitted files count toward the Course File quota, not toward the Personal File quota. Files that do count against personal storage limits are:
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Files uploaded directly into your personal file storage area
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Files uploaded to ungraded assignments
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Files uploaded to ungraded discussions
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Files attached to “Conversations” (Inbox/Email)
View User Files as a Student in Canvas, go to Account > Files.
- See your File size at the bottom, below all folders.
- If you find that your file storage has exceeded the allowed 200MB, you will need to remove files/folders you no longer need.
- Refresh your browser (F5) after deleting files to see the new File size.
Comparison table of how file storage is affected in My Files in Canvas
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Folders
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How are files added and where?
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Count in Quota
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Can I delete these files?
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conversation attachments
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Files you attach to a conversation. User's conversation attachments folder.
If you delete a file, it will no longer be associated with a conversation message.
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Yes
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Yes, it will be removed from the conversation message.
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profile pictures
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Pictures you uploaded to your profile
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No
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Yes
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Submissions / Graded Discussions
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Files uploaded and submitted as a graded assignment or discussion go into their Submissions folder.
Graded discussion attachments go into the unfiled folder.
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No
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No, system protected.
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unfiled/ungraded Discussions
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Files you upload to your personal Files area and Ungraded discussion attachments. User's unfiled folder. If you delete the file, it will no longer be associated with an ungraded discussion post.
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Yes
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Yes, will be removed from an ungraded discussion.
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Files submitted to previous courses (courses that have been concluded). They are not automatically deleted from the student’s personal file storage area.
Use OneDrive to upload content and share a file link to Canvas
Is your account file storage full? Use OneDrive. You can upload your file to OneDrive and share your file. You will need to login into OneDrive and authenticate your login credentials.
Upload files to OneDrive
Share files from OneDrive ITS TIP: Use the People in Saginaw Valley State University or the Specific People option.
New to OneDrive? Get started with
OneDrive Business FAQs.
Canvas Group Files quota - 50 MB
Students can upload files into Group Files for group collaboration; they DO NOT affect their personal files quota. Files that count against the course storage limits are as follows: Any files uploaded into the group by the group members and/or instructor.
- Group files are available to all students enrolled in the group, and the course teachers.
- All members have the same permissions to manage all the files.
Using ePortfolios in Canvas
ePortfolio is a Canvas tool available for showcasing your education, work accomplishments, learning experience, etc. ePortfolio's are not for specific courses they are tied to your Canvas user profile. An ePortfolio can consist of pages with text, images, and other media and links to resources and you can set your ePortfolio as public or private. View a list of Canvas student help guides on using e-Portfolios.
What are the differences between setting your ePortfolio to private or public?
- Private ePortfolio: Users will need the access to the specific link in order to view your portfolio.
- Public ePortfolio: Users will be able to view your public ePorfolio in any browser. You can change your ePorfolio back to private at any time.
Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor
Your professor may use Respondus LockDown Browser for quizzes in Canvas. You will need to install LockDown Browser on your computer (one-time installation) from inside Canvas.
Virtual Conferencing Tools
The tools below are commonly used by many professors for your classes and are accessed within Canvas.
- EchoVideo Lecture Capture (watch lectures, take notes, participate in Q&A, and more).
- A video hosting system where many instructors provide recordings of their lectures and presentations.
- Access EchoVideo, from within Canvas, based on your instructors preference, via the EchoVideo tab or within a Module.
- EchoVideo Student Guide
- Teams (join virtual meetings with your class and professor)
- Zoom
- BigBlueButton (access class recordings up to 7 days)
Creating Presentations, Videos, and Uploading Documents
We recommend several tools that we already have here at SVSU for recording audio or video projects instead of upload/media tool in Canvas it is limited to when it will function correctly.
SVSU Media Tools for recording Presentations (Recommended)
We encourage students to use tools available with their SVSU account. There are several apps that allow you to record presentations like Microsoft Stream, Windows 11 Snipping tool, Microsoft Teams, and Microsoft PowerPoint. Explore more in our article - Submitting Video Assignments as a Student and post it to Canvas.
Upload/media tool in Canvas (common issues)
While students can record themselves, upload existing media, or submit a media file as an Assignment submission. Here are some recurrent issues that can prevent the recording and uploading of media:
- The video file is too large, the video cannot be any larger than 500 MB.
- Uploads fail without notice to the user, uploads fail silently, and there is no error message that displays on your screen.
- The permissions in your browser are not enabled, such as using the microphone or camera.
- The browser being used is not supported, such as Safari which doesn't function well.
- The browser is outdated, supported browsers are Google Chrome and Firefox, which must be the latest two versions. Check your browser version to see if it's up-to-date.
- Ad Blockers and browser extensions could prevent the media from being uploaded.
- The file format of your video is not supported. View the supported file formats for media uploads.
- The user has poor or no Internet connection.
- A longer recording takes time to render be patient, also ensure you have a stable Internet connection.
Not Supported by SVSU
- Animato is an online video maker students can use see Animato for portfolios.
- YouTube - Students can also use YouTube to upload and share a video created on their computer, a Gmail address is required.
Upload Paper Documents in Canvas (scan with your mobile camera)
Some instructors may require you to show written work for assignments. Don't just take a picture with your mobile camera. Use one of the recommended apps below:
Microsoft 365/Lens or Adobe Scan: Convert images, documents, business cards to pdf's and more. Works with both Android and iOS: View app comparison and features here - Scan documents to PDF with your mobile camera.
Sharing/Posting Media Submissions in Canvas
There are various ways students can post/share media submissions when their File storage is full (200 MB), students can share a link to the media they want to share by:
Upload to OneDrive
Helpful tip: Make sure that only the people who need access to those files have them, such as your instructor or your classmates.
- Upload a PowerPoint, Office file (Word, Excel) or image file and store it in OneDrive, and share the link.
- Upload a Video to MS Stream (on Sharepoint). Upload video or audio files, record a presentation, and create Share links to your media.
If you are using the
Upload/media tool in Canvas know it has
common issues (as mentioned above) such as the file size limitation (500 MB), unable to upload due to a poor network connection, and uploads silently failing without any notification. If you experience difficulty uploading your file, we recommend uploading it to OneDrive.
Sharing a link to a file from OneDrive doesn't use Canvas storage (limited to 200 MB). Learn more about how submitted files in Canvas affect your user account.Tutoring Help for Students
Contact the Tutoring Center and schedule a session on the Second Floor of the Zahnow Library.
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