Updated August 27, 2026

How do I differentiate between two Canvas courses using Course Nicknames?

Who this is for: Faculty members who have multiple Canvas courses with similar names on their Dashboard.

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What You'll Accomplish

If you have two courses that appear identical on your Canvas Dashboard, you can identify which course meets at which time by locating the course CRN, and then use Canvas's Nickname feature to give each course a unique name that makes them easier to recognize.

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Before You Begin

You will need:

  • Access to Canvas

  • Access to UIS through SignOn

  • Your course CRNs (Course Reference Numbers)

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What is a CRN?
A CRN (Course Reference Number) is a unique five-digit number assigned to each course section. On your Canvas Dashboard, it appears at the bottom of the course card and is followed by the term code. The CRN will typically start with a 1, 3, or 7, depending on the term in which the course will run.

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For example:

  • 12345.202610 = Spring 2026 course

  • 34567.202630 = Summer 2026 course

  • 71234.202670 = Fall 2026 course

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If you teach multiple sections of the same course, locating the CRN can help you match each Canvas course card with the correct section listed in your Faculty Schedule.

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Step 1: Identify Which CRN Belongs to Each Course

  1. Sign in to SignOn at https://signon.stjohns.edu.

  2. Select UIS.

  3. Locate the Faculty Resources card.

  4. Select Faculty Schedule.

  5. Review your course schedule and note which CRN corresponds to each course meeting time.

Note: Support staff may not have access to the Faculty Resources card if they are not currently teaching, so screenshots of this area may not be available.

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Step 2: Rename Your Courses Using Canvas Nicknames

Once you know which CRN belongs to each section, you can create custom nicknames for the courses on your Dashboard.

  1. Open your Canvas Dashboard.

  2. Hover over the course card you want to rename.

  3. Select the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner of the card. (A in screenshot below)

  4. Enter a custom name in the Nickname field. (B in screenshot below)

    • For example:

      • "BIO 1000 - MR 9:05 - CRN 71234"

      • "BIO 1000 - TF 10:40 - CRN 75678"

  5. Select Apply. (C in screenshot below)

The new nickname will immediately appear on your Dashboard.

Important: Nicknames are only visible to you. They do not change the course name for students or other instructors.

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What You Should See

After applying a nickname:

  • The course card on your Dashboard will display your custom name.

  • Students will continue to see the official course name.

  • You can edit or remove the nickname at any time using the same three-dot menu.

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Additional Resource

For more information about Canvas Dashboard cards and nicknames, see the official Canvas guide:

How do I view my courses in the Card View Dashboard?
https://community.instructure.com/en/kb/articles/662815-how-do-i-view-my-courses-in-the-card-view-dashboard