Semester Prep

New for Fall 2021

Blackboard Collaborate Recordings Expiration

Beginning September 15th, 2021, Blackboard Collaborate recordings will now expire after 120 days.  Recordings older than 120 days will automatically be removed from Collaborate storage and will no longer be available. Current Collaborate recordings older than 120 days will be removed starting September 15th, 2021.

Any recordings you wish to keep for later use should be downloaded and migrated to the Mediasite streaming platform. Mediasite is accessible directly from your Blackboard course sites. For more information on Mediasite, please visit: Mediasite Overview and First Steps.

If you need assistance or have questions about moving Blackboard Collaborate recordings to Mediasite, please submit a Mojo ticket.

Campus Duplication Services Changes

Campuses will cease providing duplication services for instructors and staff. Additionally, Campus Management staff will no longer provide typing, collating, or stapling services. Read about additional changes.

Class for Zoom Training Now Available

Class (Class for Zoom) will be available this fall to all faculty. To get ready, the Office of Distance & Alternative Education, in partnership with Class Technologies, is offering training. Class provides faculty with the tools to track student engagement, facilitate group discussion, monitor participation, and more in synchronous online courses. To sign up for the training go to the Faculty Events Calendar and click on the #zoom tag to filter choices and sign up.

Classic Google Sites Transition

Starting September 1, 2021, classic sites will no longer be viewable by anyone. If you want your websites to continue to be viewable, you must convert and publish them to new Google Sites before September 1, 2021. Learn more.

Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) System Implementation

The College will be implementing a new enterprise resources planning (ERP) system called Workday on October 16, 2021. Learn More.

Faculty Use of ACC Testing Centers Guidelines

The guidelines for the faculty use of ACC Testing Centers have been updated. Read them here.

Library Services

ACC Campus Libraries are open and in-person teaching is available by request.

Master Syllabus Template Updated

From Ron Johns, Associate Dean, Assessment & Evaluation: As we return to a broader variety of in-person services and instruction on campus this fall, the master syllabus template has needed modification. The health and safety protocols, as well as a number of other sections, have been revised to reflect the situation as it is expected to be this fall semester. The updated template is available on the master syllabus website. Obviously, conditions may change, so please emphasize to your students that they should check the relevant websites for the most current information.

If you have any questions, please email Ron Johns, rjohns@austincc.edu.

Online Tutoring Tool Upswing to Replace Brainfuse

Austin Community College (ACC) will transition to Upswing starting September 6, 2021. Online Tutoring Services is in the process of updating all digital formats so that faculty, staff, and students are aware of the change.

There will be NO interruption of online tutoring services to students. They are still able to sign up for online tutoring in the same manner as before. The only difference is that Google Meet will be used until the activation of Upswing on the aforementioned date. This change will NOT affect the quality of service to our students nor the online learning lab resources available to the students.

Upon activation of Upswing, a link will be placed in Blackboard so individuals are able to access the platform via one click. It’s also worth noting that tutoring, in most subjects, is available FREE to all ACC students. Contact Monique Johnson-Jones (monique.johnson-jones@austincc.edu) for any questions.

Removal of Course Sites from ACC Blackboard

On Friday, October 15, 2021 LMS Services will begin to remove course sites from ACC Blackboard. Course sites from all semesters prior to Fall 2019 are scheduled for deletion. Most of these course materials have already been copied into current course sites.

If you want to keep a copy of these course materials, export them to your desktop computer. You can then reuse the course materials by importing this file into future Blackboard course sites.

Directions for exporting: 1) To export a course site, go to Control Panel > Packages and Utilities > Export/Archive Course 2) Select all checkboxes, and then click Submit.

You will receive an email when your course export is ready for download. To download the export file, return to Control Panel > Packages and Utilities > Export/Archive Course, and you will see the export file linked for download.

If you have questions about this process, please contact a Faculty Instructional Support Specialist on your campus or submit a consultation or support request.

Request the Respondus 4.0 Software

Please submit the Respondus 4.0 Request Form to obtain the latest PC version of the Respondus 4.0 authoring software. A link to download the Respondus 4.0 installation file, and additional information will be sent. MAC users can access Respondus on the Virtual Desktop.

Share the Student Support & Services Page

ACC students have access to free support and services – from tutors and academic coaches, to advisors and career and transfer specialists. Please share the Student Support page with your students.