Status updates to course sites

As of February 21, 2024, students will have access to all past Brightspace course sites unless a site has been made inactive by its instructor.

Course sites were previously hidden from students based on the End Date found in Course Offering Information. This was drawn from the official timetable information. In response to instructor and student concerns regarding retaining access to past courses, as well as improved pedagogical practice, we are updating the student role to see all past courses.

Instructors retain ultimate control over student access and, as of February 21, 2024, manual deactivation of a course site by its instructor will be the only way to prevent continued student access. This action can be performed at the instructor’s discretion and is not required. A deactivated site can be easily reactivated. 

Changing a site’s status

All options for adjusting a site’s status are unchanged. Full details can be found in this article about site activation and closure through Course Offering Information.

Checking a site’s status

A site’s status will be indicated in the My Courses widget available on the Brightspace homepage.  

To further clarify these changes, course site homepages will now include a more detailed status message in the space previously occupied by the Activate button (which only appeared for new, inactive sites). 

A message will appear for instructors:

• Before the Start Date and while a site is Inactive with a button offering to activate the site immediately.

• Before the Start Date and when a site is Active with a button offering to activate the site immediately.

• A countdown status starting with 14 days until the End Date. 

• After the End Date but when a site is Active with a button offering to deactivate the site immediately.

• After the End Date and when a site is Inactive with a note about the LMS/Online Course Materials Retention Schedule. 

A message will appear for students:

• After the End Date but when a site is Active: “This course ended <End Date>. The instructor(s) may restrict your access at any point”.

Student assistance in locating course sites

Students may be confused by their now-large list of available course sites. They can can be directed to these instructions to aid them in locating their course sites.