By Phil Byrd, Staff Writer
After years of using Moodle as their Learning Management System, Ouachita has finally decided to switch systems to the more popular Canvas.
A Learning Management System is an online program that allows faculty to seamlessly and quickly communicate grades and important information to students and whoever else may need them. For years, Ouachita used Moodle, while most other universities in the region used Canvas, a similar but differently organized and more expensive system. For the 2025-2026 school year, Ouachita has changed their tune and has begun a transition to Canvas.
Dr. Justin Hardin, Ouachita’s Vice President for Academic Affairs, said the transition has been years in the making. “A couple of years ago we started talking about Canvas, knowing that it is a popular LMS platform in education, and several current faculty were familiar with it and were very interested in our moving to Canvas,” Hardin said. “After evaluating it in detail, we decided that it could give us an edge in serving students and supporting faculty in teaching and learning, both for on-campus courses and online courses in our graduate programs.”
One main difference that drew Ouachita to the new system was its accessibility across all platforms. “Canvas has a mobile app and gradebook, which makes it easier for faculty and students to navigate and use,” Hardin said. We hope it will provide a better experience to support student success.”
While the admin has deemed Canvas the appropriate system for Ouachita, many students are still adjusting to the transition. “I like the new gradebook,” said senior Sara Jayne Burroughs. “It can predict my grade, which lets me get a better grasp on what I have to do for a class.”
Others commented on the organization of the home screen. “I really like the to-do list,” said sophomore Gavin Anders. “It tells me what I need to do quickly and efficiently, without having to scour the site.”
Not everything about the new system satisfied student concerns, however. Burroughs commented on the lack of a connection between Google and Canvas, which was a key component of Moodle’s advantages. “I don’t like that I have to upload files,” she said.
Meanwhile, some students commented on the slowness of the program on separate platforms. “It doesn’t load very well on my Macbook,” sophomore Ethan Shadwick said. “Other than that, the platform works well. I just can’t view my grades half the time.”
Dr. Hardin recognized the difficulties the transition can have. “It’s always a learning curve to implement a new system,” Hardin said. “So, we have invested time and energy to make sure it goes as smoothly as possible. The IT Services team led by Kevin Herrington has done a wonderful job behind the scenes in preparing us for the move.”
