Dear Campus Colleagues,
The University of North Carolina System Board of Governors unanimously approved a resolution on Thursday, July 24, 2025, to standardize the use of a single, unified Learning Management System (LMS), Canvas by Instructure, across all constituent institutions in the UNC System.
Statewide alignment
Currently, the UNC System operates three different LMS platforms. While 13 institutions use Canvas under separate contracts, Appalachian State University, along with two other schools, currently utilize Moodle (AsULearn at App State), and one campus uses Blackboard.
This decision aligns with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI), which standardized Canvas for K–12 schools in 2014, and the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS), which is also moving to Canvas by Dec. 31, 2027.
As shared by the Board of Governors, this strategic decision is designed to:
- Increase collaboration: A unified LMS will foster greater classroom collaboration across the entire UNC System, promoting innovative instructional practices.
- Enhance student success: Students transferring between System schools will experience a smoother transition, and first-time students will have one less technical barrier.
- Realize cost savings: By consolidating contracts, the UNC System expects to achieve significant annual savings by leveraging collective buying power.
Next steps
We are actively coordinating with all units in the Division of Academic Affairs and Information Technology Services’ Academic Technologies to establish a comprehensive plan, including training and resources to support our university through this transition.
Academic Technologies completed a pilot of Canvas in spring 2025 and is well-positioned with this foundational experience to support our faculty.
We know you will have many questions, especially regarding specific timelines, content migration and data retention. Please be assured that we will:
- Create detailed implementation plans developed with your feedback.
- Provide consistent, transparent updates throughout this process as more details surface.
- Establish clear channels for your questions and feedback to ensure your concerns are heard and addressed.
We are committed to providing a robust, reliable and innovative digital learning environment for our students. Thank you for your continued dedication to their success.
Sincerely,
Neva J. Specht
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost
Keith Werner
Chief Information Officer