A series of improvements to Brightspace and Engage will be implemented AY 25/26, all aimed at creating a more modern, intuitive, and engaging digital learning environment. These updates are designed to enhance usability, streamline access to learning resources, and provide a contemporary experience for the URI Community.
This webpage serves as a centralized space for sharing information, updates, and progress on our ongoing initiatives. Click on any project tile to explore detailed summaries, current status, and available resources for each effort.
Click on the tile to jump to the section pertaining to each project.
Course Purges and Data Management
Purpose: URI Brightspace and Engage exceeds the storage on our contract with the vendor (D2L). To address these storage concerns and avoid increasing the financial burden, TLS has worked with stakeholders to develop a plan. Brightspace will continue to maintain four years worth of student work and course materials. After four years, courses will be purges.
Our data management strategy follows a two-phase approach. First, we will gradually remove data that is older than four years to ensure system efficiency and compliance. Second, we will implement an ongoing maintenance routine to purge data older than four years annually, supporting long-term sustainability and performance.
If you wish to back up your data before the purge, support and training resources are listed below.
Status: On Target
Timelines:
- May 2026: 2020 courses purged (not project sites).
- Dec 2026: 2021 courses purged (not project sites).
- Dec 2027: 2022 courses purged (not project sites).
Useful Resources:
- Sharepoint for further details.
- Walk-in computer stations and TLS team support: Library room 227, 8:30-4:30 M-F
- Find training under “Training by Topic”
- TLS Brightspace Change virtual drop-ins 2nd Monday and 3rd Thursday of every month
- How-to Article: Archive/Export Course Content (being created)
- How-to Article: Archive/Export Student Assignments
- Find training under specific archive “Training by Topic”
ADA Compliance
Purpose: At the University of Rhode Island, our commitment to accessibility goes beyond meeting legal requirements like ADA and Title II – it reflects our dedication to equity, inclusion, and academic excellence. By designing courses that align with accessibility standards such as WCAG 2.1AA, we’re working to ensure that every student has a meaningful opportunity to engage, learn, and thrive. These efforts are part of our broader mission to create a campus culture where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed.
As a public institution, the University of Rhode Island follows federal accessibility guidelines, including ADA and Title II. Our compliance deadline is April 2026. While We will not be checking courses for compliance, we are confident that the URI community will support student success by complying with these federal regulations
We have increased training and support for a year to accommodate the full range of courses taught spanning academic and calendar years. You can request group training as well. All these details can be found on the Ed Tech Professional Development site.
While platform vendors like Brightspace and Panopto are responsible for maintaining accessibility compliance within their systems, content creators – faculty, staff, and anyone uploading materials to the LMS – play a vital role in ensuring that individual content meets accessibility standards.
To support this effort, Teaching and Learning Services (TLS) offers monthly training sessions that provide practical guidance and tools, as listed below.
Status: Evaluating Current Status
Timeline: April 2026
Useful Resources:
- Walk-in computer stations and TLS team support: Library room 227, 8:30-4:30 M-F
- Find training either by “Training by Topic” or “Training by Month”
- TLS Brightspace Change virtual drop-ins 2nd Monday and 3rd Thursday of every month
- Request group training perhaps for departments and colleges
- US Government Federal Register – Full Law
- ADA.gov Fact Sheet
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA
- URI ADA Compliance in EdTech
- URI ADA Coordinator
New Content Experience
Purpose: D2L is implementing a New Content Experience in Brightspace. It is a change in your screen, where the content already developed takes a more intuitive and efficient process for delivering materials and improves the student digital learning experience. This will affect both Brightspace and Engage. At present, faculty may ‘opt in’ to try it out for yourself and your students. The change goes live end of August 2026.
Status: On time
Timeline: ‘opt in’ available now. Live for all classes end of August 2026
Useful Resources:
- How To Turn On/Off the New Content Experience URI online support document
- Youtube: Brightspace Video comparing Old and New Content.
- Add and organize learning materials in the New Content Experience Document
- Basic Brightspace Training: New Content Experience
- Walk-in computer stations and TLS team support: Library room 227, 8:30-4:30 M-F
- Find training under “Training by Topic”
- TLS Brightspace Change virtual drop-ins 2nd Monday and 3rd Thursday of every month
Brightspace Architecture and Setting Changes
Purpose: A major system architecture update that has been in development and approval for over 18 months. This project provides the backend structure and settings needed for increased performance and administration efficiency within Brightspace and enables the functionality needed for other improvements.
Status: On time
Timeline: Changes will occur in May 2026
Useful Resources:
- Sharepoint for further details.
- Walk-in computer stations and TLS team support: Library room 227, 8:30-4:30 M-F
- Find training under “Training by Topic”
- TLS Brightspace Change virtual drop-ins 2nd Monday and 3rd Thursday of every month