For nearly 15 hours, Emory University students could not access the schoolwide Canvas platform after a widespread Amazon Web Services (AWS) server error disrupted many apps and internet platforms on Oct. 20. The outage began around 3:00 a.m. and lasted until around 6:00 p.m., temporarily blocking students from accessing assignments and class materials. Many students expressed frustration about not having access to Canvas.
Anahata McCallum-Moore (27Ox) highlighted how the outage affected her headspace and ability to manage assignments.
“I have assignments due tomorrow that I had planned out time in my schedule to do today, but because they’re on Canvas and Canvas isn’t working, I can’t do them,” McCallum-Moore said. “I’m feeling stressed about not being able to do my work.”
According to Amazon Web Services, the outage originated from AWS’s northern Virginia servers, known as US-EAST-1. Many apps and technological resources, including those that support Canvas, rely on AWS’s cloud infrastructure.
Emerie Muhtar (27Ox) noted that she did not fully understand the important role that AWS plays in keeping websites and apps running until the outage.
“I wasn’t aware that the Amazon server was such a big thing, that hundreds of websites would be shut down,” Muhtar said.
Genevieve Frucht (28C) emphasized that the Canvas shutdown impacted her ability to study for her assessments this week.
“I have a quiz tomorrow in my multivariable calculus class,” Frucht said. “I’m not able to get onto Canvas to access the provided practice problems from my professor, so I’m not able to thoroughly complete my studying.”
Muhtar also stressed that she relied on Canvas to complete her class assignments.
“I can’t read my 50-page history reading that is due at 2:30, so I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Muhtar said.
Cameron Boros (27Ox) shared that he was “mildly irritated” about the shutdown and worried about how it would impact his work during the upcoming week.
“I check Canvas just to see what assignments I have due and what the details are of them so I can mentally plan what I need done,” Boros said. “Now I can’t see that, so it’s harder for me to plan stuff out and be more prepared.”
McCallum-Moore emphasized the long-lasting impacts the Canvas outage would have on her workload.
“Because Canvas is shut down, all of the assignments will just be postponed, but still kept within this week,” McCallum-Moore said. “The work will build up, and then I’ll have too much to do in one time later in the week.”
