The last day students can access Blackboard will be June 28, the University announced through a banner on students’ dashboards. Starting June 29, course content on Blackboard will no longer be accessible. Brightspace, the learning management system replacing Blackboard, is now available for all students to preview at brightspace.usc.edu.

The announcement comes some seven months after the University initially announced the switch to the D2L platform in August. The transition was earmarked for Summer 2024, but a specific date wasn’t set until now.

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After the University announced the official transition date, students shared mixed reactions. 

“I’m glad they’re switching, to be honest,” said Peter Palanjian, a junior majoring in computer science and business administration. 

Although Palanjian said he thought switching to Canvas would have been a better improvement than Brightspace, but he’s still optimistic that Brightspace will bring a positive change for students. 

Sophia Rae Epstein, a junior majoring in popular music performance, said she thought switching to a new platform was “probably a good idea.” 

“I find Blackboard not that user-friendly sometimes,” Epstein said. “Also, the mobile version is completely different than the desktop version. I don’t love Blackboard, so maybe [Brightspace] will be better.” 

In contrast to Palanjian and Epstein, some students said they weren’t for or against replacing Blackboard. Aemon Aldrich, a sophomore majoring in communication, said he was relatively indifferent to the University’s upcoming switch in learning management systems. 

“To be honest, I don’t have much of an opinion, and I think Blackboard was fine and I’m assuming Brightspace will be fine as well,” Aldrich said. “I don’t know if it’s going to make much of a change in my life.”

The Center for Excellence in Teaching, which supports the University in addressing “contemporary teaching challenges,” will continue to assist teachers throughout the transfer on June 28. The Committee on Information Services will also continue to accept and address feedback on Brightspace.