The Canvas Inbox (located in the upper-right hand corner of your screen) is not intended to replace UTHealth email, but it does function like email. Messages in your inbox are referred to as 'conversations'.

Why Use Inbox When I Already Have Email?

For the purposes of course facilitation and delivery, the messaging system in Canvas makes it easy to manage conversations by course, by section, by group and/or by student without having to know a student's email address or the distribution list.

Reasons to consider using the Inbox for course-related correspondence:

You can send messages to an entire course, just a section, or a student without knowing their email addresses.
When a student emails you, you'll know exactly which course he/she is enrolled in. No more replying "Who is this?" or "Which course are you emailing about?"
Conversations are threaded and kept organized by student name. So if Cindy sent 7 separate messages last week, you will only see her name in your inbox once -- all correspondence will remain together.
You can see the profile pictures of students (assuming they have added one) when reading student messages.
Your messages can be written in text or be recorded as a video or audio directly from the new message interface.
All messages sent via the Gradebook will be archived in your Inbox.
All comments made on assignments through the Speedgrader will be archived in your Inbox.
All discussion replies made in your course or group discussions will show up in your Inbox.

Guide Icon 35px.png View Canvas Guides for Conversations