The Fall Semester is almost here! Below you will find a quick 5-step checklist to get your Sakai course sites ready. If you prefer in-person assistance, we are offering a 1-hour crash course on teaching in Sakai, which will be especially beneficial to new instructors. We’ll also have a Sakai drop-in help session the first week of classes to quickly assist you with any of your questions.
Sakai Help Sessions
Be sure to register for any help session you wish to attend! We also offer personal consultations 
if you prefer one-on-one help.
Intro to Teaching in Sakai
Thinking of teaching in Sakai for the first time or need a refresher? Join us at this 1-hour crash course to learn the basics of teaching in Sakai! This workshop will be offered 3 times. Please note that you must bring a laptop if you are attending either workshop on August 19 or 22.
- Thursday, August 15 | 11am-12pm | UL 034 Basement — computers available
- Monday, August 19 | 2-3pm | Wilson Library 304 — laptop required*
- Thursday, August 22 | 9:30-10:30am | Wilson Library 304 — laptop required*
Drop in for Sakai Help Session
Have quick, last-minute Sakai questions for the start of term? Drop in any time between 2:30pm and 4pm to get help from a Sakai expert!
- Wednesday, August 21 | 2:30-4pm | HSL 329 — computers available
Start of Semester Checklist
Here is the 5-step checklist to get your Sakai course sites ready!
1. Create Course Site
Instructors can select to reuse old course material in new sites during the course creation process (or after the site has been created). At the bottom of the Course Site Tools page, select “Yes, from these sites:” to Re-use Material from Other Sites You Own and select the courses from which you want to reuse material. Continue onto the next step to select which tools you want duplicated.
NOTE: This process creates only one site at a time. Checking multiple rosters will place all checked rosters on the course site you are currently creating. See Rosters FAQ .
2. Check Rosters
You can easily add/remove rosters in your course sites through Site Info > Edit Class Roster(s). Keep in mind that enrollments occur three times a day, which means that it may take up to 24 hours for enrollments to update in Sakai.
NOTE: If you accidentally attached an extra roster to the wrong course site, you must first remove the extra roster from the original site to create a new course site for that roster. Each roster can only be attached to one site at a time.
3. Upload Syllabus
You can upload your course syllabus in the Syllabus tool or in Resources . If using the Syllabus tool and you wish to upload your syllabus as an attachment, you must first add the Syllabus Item in order to see the Add Attachments link. Don’t forget that students won’t see the syllabus item unless it is published (light bulb is lit)!
4. Publish Site
To give students access, publish your site.
5. Give Your TAs Access
Do you have Teaching Assistants? Make sure they have the proper access! We recommend TAs be added to the official course roster through ConnectCarolina by your departmental scheduler, but you can also manually give them access. If they are manually added, they do not automatically inherit grading permissions. Instructors must give TAs grading permissions through the Section Info tool.
Please contact the ITS Service Desk at help.unc.edu if you have any questions. They are available 24/7. Since the first week of classes is always very busy, the quickest way to get help is most likely through their Live Chat option.
Good luck with start of Fall!