Academic Technology Updates: Fall 2026

Academic Technology (AT) welcomes you to Fall 2026! As you prepare to start a new semester, please note the following announcements and updates from AT:

Artificial Intelligence @ SFSU

Student AI Literacy Essentials

Student AI Literacy Essentials is a free, asynchronous, self-paced Canvas course built at SFSU for all CSU students, created by SFSU faculty, developed by the Academic Technology unit at SFSU, and informed by CSU students. The course is offered systemwide through the CSU Office of the Chancellor. Learn more about the course on the campus AI website, or get started today.

AI Student Commons 

The SFSU Student AI Commons is a student-centered community for exploring, learning about, and engaging with artificial intelligence through workshops, events, projects, and peer collaboration. It brings together students, student organizations, and campus partners to build AI literacy, experiment with emerging technologies, and connect AI learning to academic, creative, and professional interests.

This fall, the AI Studio launches within the Digital Media Studio and MakerSpace (in LIB 260) which will serve the Student AI Commons serving as a hub of creative student interaction, project work, and student connection.  It will also host a student Hack-a-thon this fall in collaboration with SF Hacks and the Google Developer Group student groups featuring an AI Student Panel webinar for the campus community broadcast live from the event. Look for our 2nd Annual SFSU Student AI Awards in spring.

Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI) - Canvas course remediation

Academic Technology began scanning and remediating Canvas course materials for accessibility in Spring 2026 as part of a campus-wide effort to bring instructional materials into compliance with new ADA Title II requirements. Faculty are encouraged to import courses from the Spring 2026 semester if they are teaching the same course in the Fall 2026 semester so the accessibility remediation work will move forward with the course. AT will continue remediation work through the Fall semester. Faculty who wish to do their own remediation work or scan their own courses using UDOIT and fix common issues using UFIXIT.
 

AT will schedule training on use of accessibility tools in Canvas in the Fall semester. Visit https://canvas.sfsu.edu for more information.

New Zoom capabilities for faculty

Zoom has enabled new features for faculty and staff this summer. All faculty and staff now have a webinar license allowing for presentation-only sessions supporting a large number of participants. In addition, regular zoom meetings hosted by faculty and staff can now support up to 1000 participants. Another new feature available to faculty and staff is access to Zoom Scheduler, a built-in appointment scheduling platform that allows users to book appointments with faculty and staff on a set availability schedule.
 

To ensure access to the latest features and support the smoothest Zoom experience it is highly recommended to keep your Zoom software up to date. You can download the latest Zoom software from the Zoom website.

Canvas

Support and Training Opportunities

Faculty seeking Canvas support materials can visit the Academic Technology help center at https://athelp.sfsu.edu. AT has published several recordings of workshops from the past year, available via our YouTube channel.
Upcoming workshops and learning opportunities are available on https://canvas.sfsu.edu. 
Want to suggest a workshop topic? Check out the community forum and suggest or vote on workshop topics.
 

New: DesignPLUS in Canvas

SFSU has expanded Canvas LMS capabilities with a new learning design toolkit from Cidi Labs called DesignPLUS. DesignPLUS empowers instructors to create student-centered, interactive and accessible learning experiences in their courses that enhance engagement and learning outcomes without needing any sophisticated design skills. With this toolkit, instructors can go beyond standard Canvas capabilities to quickly build and style courses to support their pedagogy and promote student success.
 

AT's Instructional Designers have scheduled onboarding sessions throughout Fall 2026 to get you started with DesignPLUS in Canvas. To learn more about how your faculty peers at SFSU have started using DesignPLUS to enhance their courses, visit the DesignPLUS informational page on the AT site (https://at.sfsu.edu/designplus-canvas).
 

Other Projects and Initiatives

Digital Media Studio and MakerSpace

The Digital Media Studio and MakerSpace supports digital media projects for SFSU students, faculty and staff. Equipped with 3D printers, virtual reality headsets, high-end computers and specialized software like Adobe Creative Suite, FinalCut Pro and Pro Tools. Image scanners, high-speed document scanner, printing and more is also available. Digital media equipment checkout is also located here. Visit us in LIB 260 to learn more and access resources.

Fall 2026 hours: The Digital Media Studio and MakerSpace has doubled the amount of open hours for the upcoming semester. Fall hours are as follows: Monday - Thursday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

New for fall 2026:

• MakerSpace Classroom: This new classroom annex located within the DMS provides a 50-seat space to accommodate visiting classes, special workshops and events, and expanded space for student project work.  
• AI Studio: The AI Studio will serve the SFSU Student AI Commons and help focus student innovation and creativity using AI. 
• Student Technology Professional Certificates: A program will launch this fall for students to earn a wide array of professional technology certificates from Google, AWS, and more, supporting co-curricular skill building and expand their resumes. 
• Services and tools: New equipment and resources are regularly added - recent additions include Cricut Decal and Label Maker, Laser Cutter, and Sewing Room.

Learn more and view the calendar of events on the AT website (at.sfsu.edu/events).

Departments and Faculty: come talk to us about resources that support your instruction and student creative activities. We are available in LIB 260 to discuss learning opportunities and technology and innovation resources.

Student Laptop Checkout

Student laptop checkout has moved to LIB 80
Academic Technology offers a laptop checkout service for both short- and long-term student use. Whether it’s a semester-long recurring checkout, or you need a laptop in an emergency, contact us to get the equipment you need for learning. 
Learn more: https://at.sfsu.edu/laptop-checkout.

FogCam

Did you know AT maintains the world’s longest operating webcam? Read more about FogCam from local press coverage, and visit the website for a "live" (images captured every 20 seconds) view of the campus quad.