Overview
* This is a reference for students registering for Top Hat for the first time.
Top Hat is one of the main audience response systems in use on campus. This software allows faculty and staff members to facilitate live and asynchronous interactions with students through features like polling, discussion prompts, quiz questions and more.
There are two types of Top Hat access in use on campus- Pro (paid version) and Basic (free version). Associated licensing costs are paid per student and participating student cohorts are established by each college prior to the start of the academic year. For reference, a list of cohorts participating in Pro licensing can be viewed here.
Be advised that if you are part of a cohort with Pro licensing, login credentials are tied to the WesternU authentication system. If you are not part of a cohort with Pro licensing, login will not be a part of the WesternU authentication system- the email and password you choose to use will be unique to Top Hat.
- Directions for registration and use are linked below.
- The most common and efficient way students register for the service is via course invitation and/or code provided to them by a faculty or staff member
- If you are registering through alternate means and are prompted to select a school to move forward, your selection would be as follows:
- If you are part of a designated Pro license cohort
- If you are from the College of Optometry, select the school name, "Western University of Health Sciences (Canvas)"
- All other colleges should select the school name "Western University of Health Sciences"
- If you are not part of a designated Pro license cohort, select the school name "Western University of Health Sciences (Basic)"
- If prompted at any time to participate in a free trial for Top Hat Pro service, this should not be selected.
Student: Top Hat Overview & Getting Started Guide
FAQs
I am having technical or account-related issues with Top Hat- where do I contact for help?
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Because WesternU does not have administrative access to account information, please contact Top Hat support for issues. If further escalation is needed, WesternU staff can facilitate that process if a report is submitted here. If your questions/issues pertain to course material, please contact the presenting faculty or academic staff at your college.