Montana University System Selects Canvas LMS to Modernize Learning Experience Across the State

The Montana University System (MUS), which comprises 11 public colleges and universities across the state, has selected Instructure's Canvas as its single-vendor LMS across all its institutions. MUS also selected Instructure's Impact data analytics tool to help faculty and administrators gauge the usage and efficacy of ed tech resources available to them.

The move to Canvas will "help lower ongoing licensing costs; provide smaller institutions access to new tools, including 24/7 support, and will provide students with an improved and more consistent experience," MUS said.

MUS said it conducted an extensive review of available systems, and chose the Canvas LMS for its intuitive design, ease of use, mobility, faculty accessibility, effortless sharing with Canvas Commons, and flexibility with other tools.

Canvas implementation will be available to all MUS students statewide by fall 2025, the university said. Visit the Canvas LMS page to learn more about how it works.

"We chose Instructure to provide our higher education institutions in Montana the tools to work together more effectively," said Joseph Thiel, interim deputy commissioner of academic, research and student affairs. "Our vision is to provide Montana students a seamless learning experience of the highest quality, no matter where they reside or which of our institutions they attend."

Instructure's Impact tool will provide real-time insights about the system's ed tech usage, to help faculty and administrators choose the best approaches for student needs and success. More information about Impact is available here.

"Increasing accessibility to education is a pressing need in the United States and throughout the world, and MUS is an excellent example of a coordinated statewide effort to reach students traditionally left behind," said Melissa Loble, Instructure's chief academic officer. "By implementing these solutions at scale, the state is making the transition to higher education smoother for students and providing opportunities for learning, regardless of geographic limitations. The potential impact of providing consistent access to high-quality education is limitless."

About the Author

Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.

Featured

  • businessman holding tablet with holographic AI icons

    Google Moves AI Agents into the Mainstream

    At its recent I/O developer conference, Google presented artificial intelligence agents not as a distant research project, but as a product strategy spanning Search, personal assistants, productivity software, developer tools, and smart glasses.

  • Glowing digital padlock breaking into tiny cubic fragments over complex circuit board background

    Report: Basic Security Failures Continue to Fuel Enterprise Breaches

    Despite years of investment in cybersecurity technologies, many enterprise breaches still begin with familiar weaknesses, according to a new report from SonicWall.

  • Abstract neural network 3D illustration

    Intel® AI EmpowerED: The AI-Ready Campus, Delivered

    Artificial intelligence is transforming higher education, prompting institutions to rethink how they manage infrastructure, security, governance, and workforce readiness. Successful adoption requires a strategic, institution-wide approach that aligns AI initiatives with educational goals, faculty enablement, and scalable operational frameworks.

  • digital data protection and cyber security

    White House Launches New AI Security Framework

    President Donald Trump has issued a new executive order aimed at maintaining United States AI leadership while addressing the security risks posed by increasingly powerful AI systems.