June9,2015
DearTexasTechUniversityFaculty,
OnbehalfoftheInformationTechnologyDivision,theTeaching,Learning,andProfessional
DevelopmentCenter(TLPDC),andTTUWorldwideeLearning,Iwouldliketomakeyouawareof
afewupcomingchanges.
First,asofJune30,2015,IwouldliketoletyouknowthatBlackboardwillretireBlackboard
version8.0,andwillnolongerprovidesupportforthisversion.Therefore,TexasTechwillbe
retiringoursystemaswell,aswehavecommunicatedtoBlackboardfacultypreviously.Note
thatBlackboard8hasnotbeenusedatTTUsince2013sothisshouldnotimpactanycourse
offeredwithinthelasttwoyears.
Second,inordertomaintainourrobustandhighqualityhostedBlackboardLearn9
environment,theBlackboardManagementTeammustcarefullymanagethestorageresources
wepurchase.TheteamcreatedaBlackboardArchivingpolicythathasbeenreviewedand
approvedbyAcademicCouncilandtheeLearningCouncil;thepolicycomplieswiththeTTU
IntellectualPropertyPolicyGuidelines(OP74.04).
StartingthissummerTTUwillimplementthefollowingarchiveschedule:
• OnJuly1,2015,wewillarchivecoursesofferedinSpring,2014orbefore.
• AttheendoftheFall,2015semesterwewillarchivecoursesofferedinFallandSummer
2014orbefore.
Pleasenotethat,ifnecessary,archivedcoursescanberestoredviaarequestsentbyyour
college’sdesignee(identifiedbelow)totheBlackboardmanagementteam
(blackboard.mgt@ttu.edu).ArchivedcoursescanberestoredtoyourBlackboardaccountwithin
5businessdays.Inotherwords,archivingisnotequivalenttodeletingacourse.
Finally,aftervisitingwithLynnWhitfield,TexasTechUniversityArchivist,andinaneffortto
complywithStateofTexasrecordsretentionpolicies,theuniversitywillimplementaprocessto
deletecoursesthatare4ormoreacademicyearsold,andhavenotbeenusedinthelasttwo
calendaryears.BeginningJuly1,2015,theuniversitywillremoveversionsofcoursesthathave
notbeenutilizedsince2010orbefore,includingallcoursecontent.
Facultymemberswhowishtorequestanexceptionmayworkwiththeircollege’sdesigneeto
contacttheBlackboardManagementTeam(blackboard.mgt@ttu.edu).
CollegeDesigneeservingasBlackboardArchivalContacts
HumanSciences–LynnHuffman
Engineering-AudraMorse
Media&Communication-ToddChambers
Education-RobinLock
VPA-KeithDye
CASNR–CindyAkers
Architecture–CliftonEllis
A&S-RandyMcBee
BA–DebbieLaverie
Honors–AlizaWong
Law–StephenBlack
GradSchool-CliffordFedler
Library–DeniseCaspell
UniversityStudies–MarcusTanner
Ifyouhaveanyquestions,pleasefeelfreetoworkwithyourcollegedesigneetocontactthe
BlackboardManagementTeam(blackboard.mgt@ttu.edu)oryoumayemailmeat
justin.louder@ttu.edu.
Sincerely,
JustinRLouder,Ed.D.
AssistantViceProvost
TTUWorldwideeLearning
Box45095|Lubbock,Texas79409-5095|T806.742.7227|F806.742.7277|www.elearning.ttu.edu
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