By Julliane Nicole B. Labinghisa 

Due to several complaints that surfaced from the Far Eastern University (FEU) community regarding the recent security policy update of Canvas, the Education Technology (EdTech) Office implements a new policy to address concerns.

In the updated security policy implemented during the midyear term of S.Y. 2024–2025, students are required to sign in again to access the platform each time they open Canvas after being automatically logged out by the system.

Due to this, students raised concerns over the repetitive and inconvenient sign-in process.

In an online interview with FEU Advocate, fourth-year Bachelor of Secondary Education student Angelo Casero shared that he experienced similar concerns of being signed out whenever he opens the platform. 

“I thought it was just a bug that might have needed an update. But this scenario persists as often as I reopen the app at least three times per day,” Casero said. 

Due to this inconvenience, he mentioned that he has been missing course notifications since the update.

“It’s very frustrating to repetitively fill out my log-in details just to use the app. There were times that it made me agitated because I haven't received any immediate notifications from the app even on the same day I am using it only to find out that I am already logged out,” he stated. 

Similarly, fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Architecture student Marven Forbes shared worries about the increased risk of missing announcements and deadlines due to the new policy. 

“There is a possibility that I can miss announcements or maybe when the time comes that you need to submit an assignment ASAP [as soon as possible]. This could cause delays and a possibility of not being able to pass it on time,” Forbes said. 

Moreover, Casero called for a change to the security policies to address existing concerns and prevent the problem from persisting. 

“This can really have a broader impact on students’ productivity to study at their respective time and pace. After all, this is part of the tuition and other fees we are paying to the University every semester, so it is just quite right for them to do something about it,” he shared. 

In a separate interview, EdTech Office Director Catherine Catamora revealed that the new security policy of Canvas was implemented by the platform itself. 

“The policy [is from] Canvas mismo—the Instructure, the makers of Canvas, na i-refresh ‘yung access on a daily basis. Kaya us, even the faculty members, have experienced na kahit hindi sila nagla-logout sa student app, or sa teacher app, or sa web, kung naka-login na sila sa laptop, nala-logout sila,” she explained.

Catamora also highlighted that this feature is designed as an advanced security feature universal for Canvas and Instructure as it is the initiative of the latter. 

“Parang blanket siya for every user across the globe na there will be a resetting of your access… For example, you went to a cafée or a computer shop, naiwan mo 'yung account mo do'n. It will automatically be logged off within 24 hours once you left the device open with your account,” the EdTech Director elaborated. 

Prior to Instructure’s policy update, the University has been implementing a single sign-in policy under Microsoft since 2018. 

In light of the reported inconveniences, the EdTech Director mentioned that their office worked to address the concerns raised by the students and professors. 

“What we did was to elevate the request to Canvas, to Instructure, na once a month na lang siya gawin. So you will experience the log off now, once a month na lang, hindi na siya every day. Nakita namin 'yung nagiging problems nung students so we requested Instructure to set it differently for FEU—for the main campus,” Catamora shared.

Specifically, under the updated security policy following EdTech’s request to update the password reset frequency, Tamaraws are now required to sign in every 30 days instead of being automatically signed out every 24 hours under Canvas’s original policy. 

Canvas is the University’s main platform for facilitating learning where students can access their assignments and other learning materials. 

(Photo by James Neil Tamayo/FEU Advocate)