CUNY initiates transition from Blackboard to Brightspace for their programs
By Gabriel Acevedo
Photo Credit: Sumaita Hasan of CUNYVerse
Photo Caption: Student on Hunter College skybridge using computer.
Starting in the Fall 2023 semester, returning and new CUNY students should be expecting a new change as they return to campus. CUNY schools will be initiating a shift away from Blackboard to a newer learning system called Brightspace.
Brightspace, owned and operated by the Canadian software company D2L, is a virtual learning environment that operates as a “software as a service”. Brightspace advertises itself as a software with “powerful tools, customizable content and best-in-class service and support.” Brightspace is used to not only further education digitally, but also benefit faculty and staff with professional development training. Notable New York schools that use the virtual learning environment include New York University, Binghamton University, and Pace University.
The first reported news about CUNY transferring from Blackboard to Brightspace was in the Baruch college undergraduate student government meeting on February 7, 2023. Jason Galak, the vice president of academic affairs for Baruch College, explained how the transition was brought up at the faculty senate, and hopes to get it fully implemented for 2024.
CUNY then went on to make an official statement regarding the software transition on May 4th through CUNYverse. The statement explains how they expect the transition to come through “phases” that go from 2023 to 2024. The goal being that all courses will be taught on Brightspace by the Fall 2025 semester.
As the news slowly spreads across CUNY campuses, some students are feeling concerned about this sudden shift away from Blackboard. Kingsborough Community College student Joshua Boyce is unsure about this change for students like himself already used to blackboard, and is a bit nervous about this adjustment.
“Having to deal with this for my last semester or two at Kingsborough is not optimal I think.” said Boyce, “especially since I have my doubts that the professors will be organized about who posts where.” Boyce has remarked that he has experience with blackboard thanks to his mother utilizing the software for her master’s degree in 2011 and expects that Brightspace will be just as easy for him in his courses. “Hopefully it’s just still easy to access all my coursework and info, and the setup is still organized.”
Professors and tech assistants at the College of Staten Island have marked that they attended training hosted by CUNY staff regarding the new software. While some had not much to say, a few had information for CSI students. Wilma Jones, director for the faculty center for professional development, remarks that the move is a central division, but “ that CSI will not be transitioning to Brightspace until next year.”
This transition will affect freshman and sophomore students, who will most likely be using Brightspace more than they have Blackboard in their college career. Jones urges any students who have questions about this topic to contact the provost’s office on CSI, as the office will be updating faculty and students as more information from central CUNY is revealed.
