As of July 15, 2017, the Canvas homepage defaults to the Modules layout in new sites that do not contain copied content. If you have not added any modules to a Canvas site, then you will see the follow message when you attempt to publish your site:
“Before publishing your course, you must either publish a module in the Modules page, or choose a different home page.”
If you do not want to use modules for your Canvas site’s homepage, you can change your homepage layout by following these instructions:
How do I change the Course Home Page?
To learn more about the different homepage-layout options, please consult the following information:
What layout options are available in the Course Home Page as an instructor?
If you decide not to use modules for your Canvas site’s homepage, and you want students to be able to access your course’s syllabus from the homepage, you can add the document file containing your syllabus to the “Syllabus” area of you Canvas site, set the “Syllabus” area as your site’s homepage, and then publish the site by following these instructions:
1. If you have not already done so, upload the syllabus to the “Files” area of the course site by following these directions:
How do I upload a file to a course?
2. Click on Syllabus. Then, click Edit. Next, follow these steps to add the syllabus file:
How do I create hyperlinks to course or group content in the Rich Content Editor as an instructor?
3. Change your Canvas site’s homepage layout to “Syllabus” by following these instructions:
How do I change the Course Home Page?
4. After you have changed your site’s homepage to “Syllabus,” you can publish the site by following these instructions:
Please email canvas@pobox.upenn.edu if you have any questions.
Last Updated: 23 Sep 2022