The IT Governance review board for instructional technologies.
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.
Upcoming Topics
The following Brightspace integrations will be reviewed by the council:
Major Meeting Updates / Outcomes
Update posted: March 4, 2025
Brightspace New Content Experience (NCE)
- Enhanced user experience for Brightspace platform.
- Planned opt-in launch for Fall 2025; goal to become URI’s standard experience by Fall 2026.
- Faculty are invited to test the new experience.
- Vendor documentation is shifting toward this “New Content Centric” approach.
- Transition may also include adoption of the New Learner Experience.
LTI Updates
- Top Hat and McGraw Hill
- LTI 1.3 integrations are live.
- LTI 1.1 integrations will be disabled in May 2025.
- ALEKS360 and Connect4Education
- Approved by ETAC in Fall 2024 but required additional documentation.
- TLS team is working with requestors to gather documentation and advance the integrations.
- Summer 2025 Plan
- Targeting additional LTI 1.1 to 1.3 upgrades.
Course Merchant Update
- Launched on February 27, 2025.
- Currently in limited use with more content being added.
Esports Update
- New PCs ordered to replace initial donated equipment.
- Expected delivery in Spring 2025.
Brightspace Hot Fixes
- D2L has been deploying bug fixes with little or no notice.
- A recent hot fix was applied at midnight.
- TLS team is working with D2L to improve communication and advance notice.
Long-Term Strategy: AI at URI
- Encouraging internal collaboration across university departments and vendors.
- Relevant links:
- Spring 2025 Events
- AI/Big Data Forum.
- AI in Industry Presentation.
Upcoming ATL Conference
Campus AI Coordination
- Provost initiating conversations to improve campus-wide AI coordination.
Council Administration
ETAC Members
ETAC Chair (23-25): Jim McGwin, Business, Adjunct Professor
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Members
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[Italicized are non-voting members]
Coyne, Robert, Physics, Associate Teaching Professor
Eaton, Nancy, Mathematics, 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
McGough, Ellen, Physical Therapy, Professor
Palm, Janie, IT TLS, Manager, Instructional Technology
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