D2L Brightspace Policies & Procedures

D2L Brightspace Policies and Procedures Manual

Instructor Responsibility for Course Content Retention

Instructors at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are responsible for actively managing their D2L Brightspace course sites. This includes keeping content up to date, maintaining alignment with learning objectives, and ensuring that all materials comply with the university's accessibility, copyright, and student privacy guidelines. In accordance with SIU’s LMS Data Retention Policy, course shells generated through Banner are automatically inactivated three years after the term they were taught and permanently deleted after five years. Instructors who wish to retain instructional materials beyond this timeframe are advised to export their content using the Common Cartridge format and store it securely outside the LMS.

Important Note on Student Data

To maintain compliance with FERPA and university data governance policies, instructors must not download, store, or retain any student data—including grades, submissions, or personally identifiable information—beyond the course duration unless explicitly required for academic or administrative purposes. Any export or backup should exclude student information or use redaction to protect confidentiality and ensure regulatory compliance. SIU's OneDrive should be used to store these documents and data.

D2L Brightspace Deletion Schedule

The following table provides the inactivation and deletion schedule through summer 2026. Each semester, CTE will send reminders about this policy through multiple communication channels. We will include the semester and year of courses slated for inactivation and deletion. Instructors are encouraged to develop a habit of immediately exporting course packages and other items at the end of each term.

 Useful Guides

 How to Export Gradebook: How-to Guide

How to Export a Course Package: How-to Guide