The IT Governance review board for instructional technologies.

Supporting Innovation

About ETAC

The Educational Technology Advisory Council (ETAC) is the advisory body to IT Directors on educational technology system recommendations and changes, unless said changes are determined to be critical decisions that require review by the IT Gov Committee and CIO. For critical votes, a quorum of ETAC members must be present. All other votes will be taken by members who are present.

Approved brightspace integrations Ed Tech updates IT Gov IT TLS

Upcoming Topics

Brightspace integrations will be reviewed by the council and topics will be added. See you in September.

Major Meeting Updates / Outcomes

  • First Meeting of Academic Year 25/26
    • Primarily a planning meeting.
  • New Member Recruitment
    • Members to confirm continuation, representation changes, or stepping back.
  • Brightspace Change Plan
    • Series of enhancements starting this Fall.
    • Contracted D2L consultant assistance.
    • Course data archiving: 2020 data in December 2025, 2021 data in May 2026.
    • Faculty will receive information in upcoming months.
  • TLS Office Workstations
    • 4 new faculty workstations in TLS office (Library, Room 227).
    • High-power recording PC available for scheduling.
  • New Content Experience
    • Enhanced Brightspace user experience.
    • Pilot group feedback positive; opt-in available from August.
    • Default for all courses from May; no switching back.
    • No major issues reported.
  • Engage and Course Merchant
    • Tools available for faculty to sell courses to the public.
  • LTI’s and Integrations
    • No new requests.
    • Rhody Connect app integration nearing completion.
    • Follett integration from summer; no major issues.
    • Planned upgrades for Panopto, Zoom, and IDEA integrations in Fall.

Council Administration

Meeting Notes

October 23 ETAC Notes || December 23 ETAC Notes. || February 24 ETAC Notes || March 24 ETAC Notes
April 24 ETAC Notes || September 24 ETAC Notes || October 24 ETAC Notes || November 24 ETAC Notes
February 25 ETAC Notes || March 25 ETAC Notes || April 25 ETAC Notes || September 25 ETAC Notes

ETAC Chair (25-27): Vacant

Members (Italicized are non-voting members)

  • Abbot, Sophia, ATL, Faculty Development Specialist
  • Coyne, Robert, Physics, Associate Teaching Professor
  • Fariello, Gabriele, IT, CIO
  • Gray, Kevin, IT TLS, Project Leader & Brightspace System Administrator
  • Harper, Allison, Kinesiology, Teaching Professor
  • Hervé, Jean-Yves, Computer Science, Associate Professor
  • Kogut, Stephen, Pharmacy, Professor
  • Larson, Sarah, Nutrition & Food Sciences, Associate Teaching Professor
  • Lavan, Christopher, ATL, Associate Vice Provost
  • Lester, Ian, Pharmacy, Manager of Technology Services
  • McGwin, Jim, Business, Adjunct Professor
  • McGough, Ellen, Physical Therapy, Professor
  • Peno, Kathy, Education, Professor
  • Portman-Daley, Joannah, ATL, Associate Director of Online Education and Instructional Technology
  • Rogers, Michelle, IT TLS, Director of IT Teaching and Learning Services
  • Ramsdell, Paige, Disability Services, Assistant Dean
  • Sharpes-Smith, Heather, Executive Director, URI Online
  • Vaandering, Alicia, Library, Assistant Professor
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