Brightspace Logo

Brightspace is URI’s learning management system (LMS). It is a web-based, mobile-friendly, hosted learning platform used for delivering course content and other online learning resources. Brightspace contains a flexible suite of tools for creating custom content for online delivery. Instructors can promote student engagement and successful learning outcomes through utilization of the many Brightspace tools and features.

Executive Lead

Michelle Rogers

Technical Lead

Kevin Gray
kevingray@uri.edu

Support Team

ITS Teaching and Learning

About the Service:

Access

Brightspace Pulse

A mobile app that helps students keep track of important updates. It brings news, deadlines, and grades together in one place so they can spend less time organizing and more time learning.

Learn How to Download and Use the Pulse App

Course Merging

Course shells are available in Brightspace 70 days prior to the start of a new term. Faculty wishing to design a course prior to shells being available can create a ‘development’ course in Brightspace.
Learn how to create a development course in Brightspace

Self-service Merges: faculty may choose to merge their sections of the same course. A merged course presents one set of content to all sections. Student rosters are also combined. The process may take 24 hours.

Complicated Merges : there are some cases in which the instructor cannot merge the necessary sections. In some cases it’s not possible – in other cases the TLS team can do it for you. Submit a service desk ticket to request a complicated merge.

See instructions for self service course merging for Brightspace courses
Attend training sessions to learn how to perform course merging
View YouTube tutorial to learn how to do self-service course merging
Read blog post on To Merge or Not to Merge Course Sections in Brightspace

Improvements AY25/26

  • 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.|
    Refer to Brightspace Improvements AY25/26 to learn details.
  • Change management is the process of reviewing, testing, documenting, and implementing system edits, enhancements, and changes. For Brightspace request changes, we are required to follow the IT Change Management Process – which includes (but isn’t limited to) 1) a formal request from a department, and 2) processing it through the testing and then ETAC approval steps.
    Refer to How to Guide on Requesting Brightspace System or Setting Change

Integrations

  • IT provides robust connections in Brightspace with third-party Learning Tools Interoperability (LTIs) so your online and hybrid course can provide novel and engaging learning experiences.
  • In order to protect students, faculty, URI, and ensure system integrity, IT performs a standard review of all third party tools prior to approval for integration. URI must comply with laws and policy pertaining to faculty intellectual property rights, The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), financial risks, legal requirements, contractual policy, security compliance, and system limitations.
  • These external applications are not part of the base Brightspace software and require review prior to integration. In 2023 LTIs are being updated from version 1.1 to 1.3 and new LTI integrations require 1.3. The requestor submits an application that’s queued for committee review 3x a year: January, May, and August. The time between application to finalized integration depends on factors such as (but not limited to) tool complexity, vendor time, department availability, and the queue. Approved tools are subject to prioritization by the CIO and can take anywhere from 2-weeks to 6-months.
  • Refer to Brightspace Integrations page for to learn details.

Training & Support

24/7 Support – Live Chat
Look for the LiveChat icon on the home page as well as a bunch of other locations in the product – if you need help at any point, just click on the icon and get connected directly to Brightspace staff, even when the URI Service Desk is closed.

ATL Pedagogical Support
Get pedagogical support from the Office of Advancement of Teaching & Learning
Tyler Hall, 9 Greenhouse Road, Kingston, RI 02881
Web: https://web.uri.edu/atl

IT Service Desk
Get support for all issues related to eCampus, email, internet connections, wireless, smartphones and tablets, laptops, desktops and more.
Submit Support Request to IT Service Portal: https://rhody.service-now.com/sp

Virtual Service Desk: Via Zoom Sessions

Web (Training & Office Hours): https://its.uri.edu

Walk-in Support: Kingston Library, Second Floor 227

Email: helpdesk@uri.edu

Phone: 401-874-HELP (4357)

Additional Information

Check out this page for latest announcement and additional information on course shell creation, course merging, Brightspace integration requests, Pulse app, and more topics.
Go to More Info About Brightspace

eCampus Maintenance and Outage

Planned eCampus Upgrade and Outage (Human Resources, Financials, and Student)

Please be advised that eCampus (Human Resources, Financials, and Student) will be unavailable for maintenance beginning Friday, March 13th at 12:00 p.m. for Financials and 5:00 p.m. for Student and Human Resources through Saturday, March 14th at 5:00 p.m.

The system will be inaccessible during this outage. Please plan accordingly. It is strongly recommended that all users clear their browser cache before logging back into the system through myapps.microsoft.com after the upgrade.

If you encounter the following error:

“Sorry, but we’re having trouble signing you in. Your administrator has configured the application eCampus to block users unless they are specifically granted (‘assigned’) access to the application. The signed in user is blocked because they are not a direct member of a group with access, nor had access directly assigned by an administrator.”

This message is expected due to the maintenance. Do not submit a service ticket. Please try accessing the system again after the maintenance period has ended.

For assistance, please contact the IT Service Desk at (401) 874-HELP (4357) or via email at helpdesk@uri.edu

ecampus with icon of university wearing a graduation cap

eCampus is the University of Rhode Island’s central online system for Student Administration, Financials, and Human Resources. Students, faculty, and staff use eCampus to manage class registration, timesheets, payroll, requisitions, and other administrative tasks.

Note: Access is integrated with URI’s Single Sign-On (SSO). If you experience login issues, visit myapps.microsoft.com directly – not using saved links or bookmarks.

Executive Lead

Scotia Roopnarine

Technical Lead

Jeroen Soeurt

Support Team

ITS Enterprise Applications
helpdesk@uri.edu

About the Service:

Features

Campus Solutions Tasks: Manage classes, financial aid, and employee timesheets

Financials Tasks: Submit requisitions, purchase orders, and travel authorization

Human Resources Tasks: Access the staff directory and view compensation history

Access

How to Log In:
Use your URI credentials to log in through the Microsoft MyApps Portal. Locate and select the eCampus tile once signed in.

First-Time Access:
New users must Register for eCampus. This includes students, faculty, and staff.

SSO Reminder:
eCampus is only accessible via URI’s Single Sign-On. Make sure you’re not using outdated bookmarks or links.

Browser Tips:
If you have trouble accessing the portal, clear your cache and cookies. See support instructions under the Support section.

myapps portal Register for eCampus

Troubleshooting

If you’re having trouble logging in:

Locked out of eCampus? Contact helpdesk@uri.edu.

ITS Service Desk
Walk-in support is available M-F 8-5 in the basement of the library
Wordpress Logo

WordPress is URI’s open-source content management system (CMS), enabling the efficient creation and maintenance of institutional websites.

Managed by External Relations and Communications, WordPress supports a unified and professional web presence for the university, guided by the URI Web Policy.

Get Help

For more information or to request a consultation about WordPress, contact the ITS Service Desk.

Additional Resources

Executive Lead

Brandon Fuller

Technical Lead

Brandon Fuller
bjcfuller@uri.edu

Support Team

Distributed IT
URI External Relations and Communications

The VPN service allows secure remote access to internal URI systems and resources. It is recommended for users working off-campus who need to access services not available over the open internet. Common uses include accessing eCampus while traveling or connecting to restricted internal resources from another location.

Executive Lead

Michael Khalfayan

Technical Lead

Michael Khalfayan
mkhalfayan@uri.edu

Support Team

ITS Information Security Office
security@uri.edu

About the Service:

Features

  • Secure Off-Campus Access: Connect to internal University systems while working remotely or traveling.
  • Data Protection: VPN encrypts your connection to safeguard sensitive data and maintain privacy.
  • Two-Factor Authentication (DUO): VPN requires Cisco DUO for secure login. The mobile app adds a second layer of identity verification.

When to Use VPN:

  • Access secure URI services not available over public networks.
  • Connect safely to URI systems while abroad. (See Travel Guidelines)

Access

Instructions on how to install the VPN client are provided in KB0010261.

Student Access
Students may request VPN access through the Student VPN Access Request Form (SSO Required).

Support and Training

Knowledge Base Articles

For further assistance, contact the ITS Service Desk.

 

URI Events Calendar with image of multiple devices displaying the calendar

The URI Event Calendar, powered by Localist, brings together hundreds of university events in one place, making it easy to stay informed and plan your schedule. With interactive features, social sharing, and responsive design, the calendar ensures you’re always connected to what’s happening on campus.

Go to http://events.uri.edu/ to access the calendar, create an account, and more!

Executive Lead

Brandon Fuller

Technical Lead

Catherine Scott

Support Team

Distributed IT
URI External Relations and Communications

URI Events Calendar Knowledge Base Articles

Unity is one of URI’s High-Performance Computing (HPC) resources, designed to support computational research, data analysis, and modeling. Managed by the ITS Research Computing team, Unity provides scalable computing power to facilitate advanced research initiatives.

The Unity platform is a collaborative, multi-institutional high-performance computing platform located at the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center (MGHPCC).

Executive Lead

Guarav Khanna

Technical Lead

Kevin Bryan
bryank@uri.edu

Support Team

ITS Research Computing
itrcs-group@uri.edu

About the Service:

Features

  • High-Performance Computing (HPC) – Designed for complex research workloads.
  • Scalable Compute Resources – Supports parallel processing for large datasets.
  • Data Storage & High-Speed Networking – Optimized for research computing workflows.

Access

Eligibility

  • Unity is available to URI faculty, researchers, and research groups.
  • Researchers with compute-intensive workloads can apply for access.

How to Request Unity Access

  • New users should contact ITS Research Computing to discuss their needs.
  • Users must follow URI research computing policies for data security and compliance.

Policies & Security

  • Access is restricted to approved researchers.
  • Users must comply with university data policies regarding storage and security.
  • Read the full security statement in the official documentation.

Support and Training

HPC Documentation & User Guides

Technical Support

The ITS Research Computing team provides HPC consultation, troubleshooting, and performance optimization. Use the email above for general questions.

For help with specific jobs on the cluster, see the guide on asking questions for how and where to ask.

Get Help

For assistance with Unity HPC resources, contact the ITS Research Computing Team.

qualtrics logo

Qualtrics is an online survey tool that enables URI faculty, staff, and students to collect and analyze data for research, customer feedback, employee evaluations, and more. With a variety of distribution methods and collaboration features, Qualtrics provides a powerful platform for conducting surveys, generating reports, and gaining insights from collected data.

Executive Lead

Guarav Khanna

Technical Lead

Christian Vye
christianvye@uri.edu

Support Team

ITS Research Computing
X-Team: Qualtrics

About the Service:

Features

  • Survey Creation – Design surveys with multiple question types and logic branching.
  • Data Collection – Gather responses through email, social media, embedded website links, and other channels.
  • Advanced Analysis – Generate detailed reports and visualizations for research and decision-making.
  • Collaboration Tools – Share surveys and results with colleagues, allowing for team-based research.
  • Omni-Channel Distribution – Send surveys across multiple platforms for broad audience reach.

Access

Log In to Qualtrics

Usage Limits

  • For larger distributions, users can contact Qualtrics Support to request an increase with approval from the brand administrator.
  • URI’s CoreXM Advanced license supports 200,000 responses per year for 16,500 users.
  • Individual accounts have a weekly email survey limit of 25,000 emails (including reminders).

Support and Training

Training & Guides

Support Resources

 

Get Help:

For additional assistance with Qualtrics, contact the ITS Service Desk or reach out to the Qualtrics X-Team.

Handshake is the University of Rhode Island’s centralized platform for managing career opportunities, including job postings, internships, and career events. Accessible to all students, alumni, and employers, Handshake facilitates seamless connections within the URI community, enhancing career development and employment prospects.

Executive Lead

James McNamara

Technical Lead

David Simeone
dsimeone@uri.edu

Support Team

ITS Enterprise Applications

About the Service:

Features

For Students and Alumni:

  • Access a wide range of job and internship opportunities.
  • Register for career events and workshops.
  • Apply for on-campus employment, including Federal Work-Study positions.
  • Receive personalized job recommendations based on your profile.

For Employers:

  • Communicate directly with potential candidates.
  • Post full-time, part-time, permanent, temporary, and internship positions.
  • Register for career events at URI.
  • Request on-campus interview spaces.

Access

Students and Alumni:

  • Log in to Handshake using your URI Single Sign-On credentials.
  • Complete your profile to receive tailored job recommendations.
  • Explore and apply for opportunities that align with your career goals.

Employers:

  • Create a Handshake account and select URI as a partner school.
  • Post job openings and manage applications through the platform.
  • Register for career fairs and events to connect with URI talent.
Handshake at uri

Support and Training

For assistance with Handshake or to request a consultation, contact the Center for Career and Experiential Education (CCEE) at ccee@etal.uri.edu.

Additional Resources

starfish logo

Starfish is URI’s student success platform designed to enhance communication and collaboration among students, faculty, and advisors. Integrated with Brightspace and Single Sign-On (SSO), Starfish offers a seamless way to schedule appointments, provide referrals, and access campus resources for student success.

Executive Lead

Linda Moffat

Technical Lead

Kathleen Randall
starfish@etal.uri.edu

Support Team

University College for Academic Success

About the Service:

Features

  • Appointment Scheduling: Students can book appointments with faculty, advisors, and campus staff.
  • Referrals and Recommendations: Faculty can easily refer students to resources and offer personalized support.
  • Integrated Tools: Works seamlessly with Brightspace to centralize academic and support functions.
  • Student Resources: Provides a single location for accessing help, advice, and other campus services.
Starfish for faculty Starfish for students

Access

Login Instructions:

  • Access Starfish via the University’s Single Sign-On (SSO) system.
  • Visit the Microsoft Apps Portal and click the Starfish tile.

Eligibility:

Available to URI students, faculty, and advisors with active SSO credentials.

Myapps Portal

Support & Training

Resources:

For immediate assistance with Starfish, contact the ITS Service Desk or email starfish@etal.uri.edu.