I see something strange. How do I report it?
If you see something out of the ordinary, unexpected, or receive suspicious communication, do not act, report it to CASL.
Always keep the below strategies in mind, more so now that we’re still recovering from the security incident.
Do not click on any unusual links or perform unexpected tasks that are requested through a message or email. If you receive suspicious communication, do not take action, report it.
Check your courses to ensure things are the way you remember them. If you have concerns about data, report it. Please review the last two weeks for any anomalies. Re-shape your class schedule so more impactful things happen next week. Clearly communicate any schedule changes you are imposing for continuity of instruction.
Back up course data. During the outage, instructors came forward with concerns they could not access their gradebooks. This event serves as a reminder to all of us who teach to keep copies of information.
Keep UWM data such as assignments and grades in your UWM OneDrive account.
Extend deadlines for quizzes, assignments, and activities, so students have the opportunity to complete their work.
- Like instructors, students didn’t have access to Canvas files and notes. Further, students may have been trying to submit their assignments when Canvas access was disrupted.
For students, please download any materials you may need for studying, completing assignments or tasks, or other things that are important for teaching and learning.
- Contact the UWM Help Desk immediately if there are concerns about grades, assignments, or tasks.
Be vigilant. A data breach such as the Canvas one, can expose sensitive information such as names, email addresses, course enrollments, and institutional affiliations. Cybercriminals can use this information to craft highly convincing phishing emails that appear to come from legitimate sources like instructors, classmates, or the institution itself. These targeted attacks—often called “spear phishing”—may reference specific courses, assignments, or deadlines to trick recipients into clicking malicious links, downloading harmful attachments, or sharing login credentials. As a result, both instructors and students should exercise increased vigilance after any reported breach.
Key precautions include:
- Verify email authenticity: Double-check the sender’s address and be cautious of messages urging urgent action or requesting sensitive information.
- Avoid suspicious links and attachments: Access Canvas and related services directly through official websites instead of clicking embedded links.
- Use strong, unique passwords: Update passwords regularly and avoid reusing them across platforms.
Will the Course Evaluation Deadline be Extended? (NEW)
Course evaluations submitted through the “Course Evaluations” link in Canvas can now be submitted through May 20, 2026.
Was Zoom or Kaltura, or lecture recordings impacted?
The Canvas outage does not impact Zoom (for virtual lectures) and Kaltura Classroom (for in-person lectures). When necessary, Zoom classroom recordings can be added to your dashboard at wisconsin-edu.zoom.us; and Kaltura videos are available via mediaspace.wisconsin.edu. With the return of Canvas, that information should be available as it previously was.
Is my Canvas gradebook safe?
There is no indication of data loss. Canvas systems are designed with robust recovery, and backups and data can be rebuilt from multiple backup sources if needed.
What tools can I use instead of Canvas?
- Email (Outlook / PAWS)
- OneDrive / SharePoint for file sharing
- Zoom for live sessions
- Microsoft Forms (for light, low-stakes activities only)
How do I email my students outside of Canvas?
How to email your students:
How can I share files outside of Canvas?
How to share files from OneDrive or SharePoint
How do I schedule a meeting in Zoom?
How to schedule a meeting in Zoom
How do I create a quiz in Microsoft Forms?
Create a quiz with Microsoft Forms. Don’t use Microsoft Forms for full quizzes. Use this as a self-paced activity for your students instead.
How do I access my course videos?
MediaSpace is a different website which uses the same video library as My Media in Canvas. Use My Media whenever possible. This information is provided as a backup.
- Kaltura – Mediaspace service overview – How to log into MediaSpace
- To share a video, click your name in the menu bar, then click My Media. Click the name of the video, then below the video, click the Share tab and copy the link.
Where can I learn more about the Instructure Security Incident? (Updated May 14, 2026)
Instructure has published a Security Incident FAQ which answers questions from Instructure’s customers, captures their public messages, and provides links to additional resources.