Panopto Folder Structure Aligned with Canvas and Department Administration

Description 

Panopto has been configured to align with Ohio University’s Canvas course structure and to support department-level video content management. This configuration allows departments to centrally manage shared Panopto content while maintaining existing Canvas-based access for instructors and students. 

Environment 

Panopto in your web browser 

Summary of Changes

Changes 

  • Panopto folder structure will mirror Canvas’s course structure  

  • Content stored at the department level may be shared into Canvas courses 

  • Departments may assign Department Admin to manage content within their folder 

No Change 

  • Panopto course folders continue to be created automatically through Canvas 

  • Student access to Panopto content is unchanged 

  • Canvas enrollments continue to control access to course folders 

  • Instructors manage content within their own course folders as before 

 

Panopto Folder Structure in Canvas 

Canvas Course Folders 

When Panopto is accessed from a Canvas course, a corresponding Panopto course folder is automatically created. 

Canvas course folders: 

  • Are associated with designated departments, Canvas courses, and the corresponding academic term 

  • Inherit access permissions from Canvas enrollments 

  • Are student-facing 

  • Are intended for instructional content 

Example: 
Canvas Courses 
   └── Ohio University
            └── College of Business 
                     └── Marketing 
                              └── Spring 2025-26 (Marketing) 
                                       └── Spring 2025-26 – MKT 3020 100 Spr 26 

Department Admin Role 

Description 

A Department Admin is a Panopto user with elevated permissions within a specific department folder. 

Permissions 

Department Admins can: 

  • Upload, organize, and manage content within their department folder 

  • Share content into Canvas course folders 

  • Assign creator or viewer access within their department folder 

Department Admins cannot: 

  • Access Panopto folders for other departments 

  • Modify Canvas enrollments or course permissions 

  • View student analytics unless content is shared into a Canvas course

Requesting Department Admin Access 

Who can authorize someone to have this role?  

Department Chairs may request that an individual be granted the Department Administrator role for their department.  Deans, Assistant Deans or Associate Deans may request that an individual be granted the Department Administrator role for their college.  

The authorized requestor (Department Chair, Dean, etc.) would submit a request to servicedesk@ohio.edu asking that the individual be granted Department Admin access to the department or college. 

What is the training requirement? 

  • They are required to complete a FERPA Compliance Statement and email the completed form to servicedesk@ohio.edu.   

  • Once this item is completed, an Ohio University Panopto administrator will contact the individual and schedule a training session, during which the individual will be granted their department administrator role.  

What is the audit process? 

Once a semester an Ohio University Panopto administrator will reach out to the authorized requestor to confirm that the individual should keep their role as a department administrator. 

 
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