Notices and Updates
Important Notice
March 19, 2024
URI is aware of intermittent issues connecting to Zoom meetings from the URI network. Off-campus users currently appear unaffected. The network team is working to address and correct the issue. Updates will be posted to the ITS webpage.
If you experience Zoom connection issues, you can use Google Meet, WebEx or Microsoft Teams for virtual meetings.
Please contact the ITS Service Desk at 401-874-4357 or helpdesk@uri.edu if you need assistance.
Updates
Brightspace
Brightspace Course Chat Removal:
January 20, 2024
With the January 2024 update, D2L will disable its course chat feature. Course chat is a lesser used feature, whose capabilities have been surpassed by third party communication tools, and rendered redundant by Brightspace’s own Instant Message and Discussion features.
Faculty and Instructors with concerns should contact the IT TLS team via the Service Desk for a consultation about alternative chat tools.
Brightspace
Brightspace Support Enhancement:
December 29, 2023
URI and D2L are excited to introduce an improved end user support experience through the introduction of the Brightspace Virtual Assistant. The Virtual Assistant will function alongside the existing 24/7 Chat support for the Spring 2024 semester, after which the 24/7 chat will be shut off.
Virtual Assistant will continue to provide the same 24/7 access to D2L support agents that we have today, but with the following added benefits:
1. Providing users with direct access to URI support resources via the Virtual Assistant.
2. Intelligent searching of support documentation will get needed resources to URI faculty and students faster.
3. No loss of 24/7, Live agent support
Stay tuned for more information about and documentation of this exciting enhancement!
Brightspace
Brightspace Enhancements:
December 29, 2023 – 5-7am
Course Announcements
– A global setting change will be made in Brightspace that adjusts course announcement deliveries – starting December 29 all course announcements will be sent automatically to the URI emails on the course class list.
Public Award Sharing
-A global setting change will be made that will allow users to publicly share Awards earned in Brightspace
Security Enhancements
-Access changes will be made to Guest Lecturer and Read only roles to protect student data
Role Promotions
-Access changes will be made to the Collaborator, TA Plus, and Section TA roles that enhance the instructors ability to control who has access to their Brightspace courses
TA Mapping
-Changes will be made to the mapping of TA roles between eCampus and Brightspace
Office Hours
TLS will be hosting open Zoom office hours at the following dates and times to discuss any of these changes:
December: 5th (9am), 21st (2pm)
January: 24th (9am)
February: 9th (noon)
Brightspace
Texting Error
Sep 2023: The error with texting in Top Hat was resolved.
Respondus
Respondus Lockdown Browser (LDB) installed in Quinn 215
Sep 2023 – IT is installing LDB on some campus computer labs so that faculty may check them out to secure and run in-person exams. Learn more at the Respondus service page.
Respondus
Respondus Monitor
Sep 2023 – IT is launching a small pilot to test Respondus Monitor for securing online remote exams. Learn more at the Respondus service page.
Respondus
Panopto Folder Error
July 2023 – The bug with adding Panopto folders to Brightspace courses was resolved.
Brightspace
New Quiz User Experience
June 2023: Reminder that the new end-user quiz experience is being made permanent in Brightspace in July, 2023. Read more here.