Greetings,
On behalf of the Division of Extended Studies, we are seeking your expertise on a new and upcoming project. North Carolina Central University is reviewing our current LMS, Blackboard, and comparing other LMS platforms. On average, universities evaluate their LMSs approximately every five years. An LMS Review Committee has been created to assess our learning management needs and evaluate potential alternatives. The Committee is chaired by your fellow faculty member Siobahn Day Grady, Ph.D. The committee has recommended that we review the possibilities of utilizing Canvas in response to the growth of hybrid and online course offerings and programs.
As online and face-to-face learning continues to advance, so do our technological needs; therefore, we are reaching out to you in hopes that you will consider participating in a pilot group to use the Canvas Learning Platform here at North Carolina Central University. This pilot group will be the first round of NCCU faculty to use Canvas and will target courses offered in the second eight weeks of the Spring 2022 semester. This pilot aims to provide faculty and students with an LMS that can meet the needs of our growing campus. The Canvas team will provide training towards the latter part of this month that will help you prepare for your courses. In addition, the Office of e-Learning will be on standby to assist. We will also conduct a pre-survey and post-survey survey to understand faculty and student needs better. The data collected will aid in determining if the University should stay with Blackboard or switch to the Canvas system. We are still in the beginning stages of fleshing out the final details, but we hope you will consider serving your university in this capacity.
If you agree to participate in this pilot, you will be committing to offering your second eight-week course utilizing the Canvas LMS starting on March 14, 2022. We will agree to provide all the technical training and support you may need to get started. Please note that you are not required to switch to Canvas; however, if you are willing and capable of working within this timeline, your work will be recognized by listing you as a member of the LMS Review Committee. We realize this request is a big ask, but we want this to be an inclusive and collaborative experience. Having input from faculty like you will be invaluable for full implementation and campus rollout. For priority consideration, please respond to this email by noon on February 17, 2022, with your agreement to participate in this pilot project. Responses received after this deadline will be considered as space permits. Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us.
We look forward to working with you!
Sincerely,
Siobahn Day Grady, Ph.D.
LMS Review Committee Chair