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

  • ADA Compliance for LMS Courses
  • Deadline: April 2026 for Rhode Island public institutions.
  • Requirements: alt text, captions, transcripts, proper heading structures.
  • Monthly training sessions starting November 10, 2025.
  • One-on-one support available through TLS.

  • Brightspace Purge Plan
  • May 2026: All 2020 courses removed from system (no recovery option).
  • December 2026: 2021 courses purged.
  • Faculty should archive important materials now.
  • Training available to export and save course content.

  • Brightspace Change Plan (November 2025)
  • New file size upload limitations; use YouTube or Panopto for videos.
  • Project sites restricted to design courses and master course shells only.
  • Faculty will NOT be able to enroll students in project sites after May.

  • Brightspace Admin Interface Updates
  • Enhanced gear icon menu with search and pinning capabilities.
  • Implementation: December 2025 after end of classes.

  • Engage
  • Accessibility requirements apply to Engage courses (April 2026 deadline).
  • Monthly end-user meetings available for faculty feedback.

  • Discovering AI at URI Event
  • Date: December 10, 2025.
  • Location: Fascitelli Engineering Building.
  • Showcasing AI usage across campus with panels and presentations.

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 || October 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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IT Teaching & Learning Services (TLS)

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