Laredo College Canvas & PASPort: Your Digital Learning Hub Access

Laredo College uses Canvas as its primary learning management system, a robust digital portal that delivers course content for various formats, including face-to-face, hybrid, and fully online classes. This platform serves as your central hub for assignments, grades, announcements, and all course-related materials. To access Canvas, students utilize the PASPort Student Portal, which acts as a secure gateway to their entire academic online account management. This comprehensive digital learning environment is designed to support your educational journey by providing tools and resources for effective study and communication. Understanding how to navigate and interact with Canvas through PASPort is key to a successful experience at Laredo College. From managing your personal data to engaging with course content, the PASPort portal and Canvas are integral components of your student experience.

What You Need to Connect to Your Online Classroom

• A stable, high-speed internet connection for optimal performance when accessing Canvas.
• An up-to-date web browser. Laredo College highly recommends using Firefox, Google Chrome, or Safari. Ensure your browser's flash plug-ins are updated to their latest versions to prevent technical interruptions.
• A personal email address on file with Laredo College to receive your account claim code for initial setup.
• For online testing, familiarity with or the ability to download Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor may be required. Assistance for these tools is available through the eLearning & Instructional Innovation Center.

Accessing Your Courses: The PASPort Gateway

1. Open your preferred web browser (e.g., Google Chrome, Firefox, or Safari).
2. Navigate to the official Laredo College login page at https://login.laredo.edu.
3. If you are a new user, locate and click the "Claim My Account" button to initiate the account setup process.
4. For new account claims, select either "Student Claim Policy" or "Staff Claim Policy" based on your role, then click "Next".
5. Enter the claim code that was sent to your personal email address, along with any other requested information, and proceed by clicking "Next".
6. Create a strong password that meets the specified complexity requirements displayed on the page. Re-enter it for confirmation and click "Next".
7. Choose and answer at least three of the five security questions, ensuring your answers meet the minimum length requirements. Click "Next".
8. Once your account is set up, you can close the browser window and return to the main login page. Enter your new login credentials to access the PASPort portal, which then provides direct access to Canvas.
9. Click on the Canvas Link within your PASPort dashboard to enter your courses.

Navigating Your Learning Environment in Canvas

• Centralized Course Access: All your enrolled courses, whether face-to-face, hybrid, or online, are accessible from a single dashboard within Canvas.
• Course Content Delivery: Access syllabi, lecture notes, multimedia resources, and assignments provided by your instructors.
• Assignment Submission: Submit homework, projects, and participate in discussions directly through the platform.
• Grade Tracking: Monitor your academic progress and view grades for all your submissions.
• Communication Tools: Engage with instructors and classmates through announcements, messages, and discussion forums.
• Virtual Backpack Orientation: A free, self-paced online orientation course that helps you understand how to log in, navigate courses, personalize settings, and submit work in Canvas.
• Integrated Student Services: Through PASPort, access vital student information including your student email, personal data, and financial aid details.
• Online Testing Environment: Support for online exams often includes integration with tools like Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor to ensure academic integrity.

Solutions for Digital Learning Access Challenges

Maintaining Security for Your Academic Information

• 🔒 Always create strong, unique passwords for your PASPort and Canvas accounts. Combine uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
• 🔒 Never share your login credentials with anyone. Your PASPort account provides access to sensitive personal information like addresses, phone numbers, and grades, so safeguarding your digital portal is essential.
• 🔒 Be aware of phishing attempts. Always check the URL to ensure you are on the official laredo.edu domain before entering your login details.
• 🔒 Log out of your accounts when you are finished, especially if you are using a shared or public computer.
• 🔒 Regularly update your web browser and operating system to benefit from the latest security patches.

Quick Answers for Online Course Participants