Jan 7, 2025 – Content Migration Options

Posted by rrebello on
Dear Faculty,
Happy New Year!  I write to provide updates on the Canvas migration.
Content Migration to Canvas
Instructional Development is working with K16 Solutions, a content migration company, to migrate courses from Maymester 2024 through of Spring 2025. All courses taught during these semesters (Maymester 2024, Summer 2024, Fall 2024, Winter 2025, and Spring 2025) will be migrated to Canvas as part of this process.  Faculty will have three options for content creation in their new Canvas course sites.
For courses taught before Maymester 2024, faculty should export/archive these courses for their records and future use.  Exporting courses can be done now or any time through May 31, 2025. As of June 1, 2025, faculty will no longer have access to Blackboard due to the university’s transition to Canvas. Faculty will have access to Canvas playground sites in February.  Courses that have been exported from Blackboard can be imported into Canvas at any time after this.
Best Practices: Export/Archive Courses
Please remember that as a best practice, faculty are responsible for retaining copies of course material and student grades from the learning management system. This includes creating a backup copy of all courses and keeping a copy of the course grade center. The grade center feature of an LMS is intended for the publication of grades for students during the semester and should not be used as a repository of grade records.
Faculty are responsible for:
  • creating a backup copy of their course(s).
  • downloading a copy of their course site grade book(s).
  • downloading any other student work (e.g., assignments, discussions, etc.), if you wish to retain copies for your records and future course development purposes.
  • exporting/archiving Blackboard content that you wish to retain and reuse outside of the start of Maymester 2024 through the end of Spring 2025 semesters.
Winter’25
  • A few courses from various departments will use Canvas.
  • Most courses will still use Blackboard.
Spring’25
  • Additional pilot courses will be added to Canvas.
  • Most courses will still use Blackboard.
  • All faculty will have the option to access Canvas in February.
Summer’25
  • All courses will use Canvas.
Fall’25
  • All courses will use Canvas.
Spring 2025 Canvas Access
By the end of February, all faculty will have access to Canvas. This will not be a pilot program, but an opportunity to get a head start on the Growing with Canvas course and Vendor-led Vault site. Faculty will then be able to view and explore the new UMassD course design template and the Canvas orientation and training course for students called Passport to Canvas.
All faculty will receive a one-time generated “sandbox site.” Additional development sites may be requested via the Canvas Inquiry Form after February.
I hope that you can find moments to recharge, whether through collaboration with colleagues at the 2025 New Approaches to Teaching and Learning Conference or reflection on the semester’s accomplishments.

Thank you,

Ramprasad Balasubramanian, PhD
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs