Cross-listing allows instructors to combine enrolments from multiple Quercus (Canvas) course sections into a single course. This can be useful when teaching multiple sections of the same course, such as lecture, tutorial, practicum, or laboratory sections, and managing shared course content, activities, and grades in one place.
Cross-listing moves section enrolments into a designated course while preserving their original section identities. It does not combine course content from different course shells.
Before You Begin
Important: Cross-listing should be completed before courses are published and before students begin submitting coursework. Existing assignment submissions and grades remain associated with the original course and do not transfer with cross-listed sections.
Before cross-listing:
- Identify the destination course: Decide which course will contain the combined sections and shared course materials.
- Check course content: Cross-listing does not copy content between courses. Any materials needed from the original course must be copied separately.
- Confirm enrolments: The section being moved must contain at least one enrolment.
- Review course access: You must be enrolled in both courses to cross-list a section. If you may need to reverse the cross-listing, ensure you retain appropriate access to the original course.
- Consider section differences: Determine whether sections need different assignment due dates, learning activities, or access restrictions.
If you need assistance, contact your divisional Quercus support team before proceeding.
Cross-Listing Course Sections
To cross-list sections, follow these steps:
- Open the Quercus course that will contain the combined sections. Note its course name and course ID, which appears in the browser address after
/courses/. - Open the course containing the section you want to move.
- Select Settings from the course navigation menu.
- Open the Sections tab.
- Select the section you want to move.
- Select Cross-List this Section.
- Search for the destination course by name or enter its course ID.
- Confirm that the correct destination course is selected.
- Select Cross-List This Section to complete the process.
The section will now appear in the destination course. Repeat these steps for any additional sections you want to combine.
Important: Confirm the destination course before completing the process. Cross-listing moves the section enrolments, but the original course shell and its content remain separate.
For detailed instructions and screenshots, consult Canvas’s How do I cross-list a section in a course as an instructor?
Managing Cross-Listed Sections
After cross-listing, instructors can manage multiple sections within one Quercus course.
Depending on the activity and course settings, instructors can:
- View and filter students by their original sections.
- Set different assignment due dates or availability for particular sections.
- Assign certain course activities to specific sections.
- Manage section-specific communication and interactions.
Cross-listing does not automatically restrict students from interacting with students in other sections. If section separation is required, review the relevant course and enrolment settings.
For information about roles and permissions, consult Quercus Course Roles and Permissions.
Reversing Cross-Listing
Cross-listed sections can be returned to their original courses through a process called de-cross-listing.
However, reversing cross-listing can affect access to course materials, assignment submissions, and grades. If grades have been recorded, additional steps may be required to preserve or transfer them.
Contact your divisional Quercus support team for assistance before de-cross-listing a section. Do not attempt to reverse cross-listing after students have begun submitting coursework without first reviewing the implications.