Faculty Senate received programming on the use of Canvas for the upcoming semester at Tuesday’s meeting.
The senate learned about the details surrounding the switch from Blackboard Learn to Canvas. It was announced this past year that the learning management system, Blackboard Learn, would be swapped out for the new site. The change was decided after years of inefficiency using Blackboard Learn for students and faculty.
Sean Quallen, an instructional designer at the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, said faculty members needed to begin preparing for the transition. After March 1, 2021, faculty will no longer have access to Blackboard Learn. Before adding courses to Canvas, Quallen reminded faculty to have students download past work that could be lost and any accreditation artifacts.
Faculty Senate also received a presentation on the University of Idaho budget status. Brian Foisy and Linda Campos, president and vice president for finance at UI, discussed the past five fiscal years and how retention at UI has contribute to the growing economic success.
Foisy said that first-time freshmen enrollment is up 16%, along with transfer student enrollment up 12%. UI is experiencing its largest incoming class since 2016.
“Every number that you see on this page is a double-digit number, which is great, and we’re talking about enrollment trends and financial analysis because increases in enrollment drive increases in revenue,” Foisy said.
Provost and Vice President Torrey Lawrence updated faculty that UI won’t be moving ahead with the federal vaccine mandate.
“We learned late this morning, early afternoon in the state of Georgia the injunction was granted,” Lawrence said.
Since Idaho was a part of the suit, the injunction applies to universities in Idaho. Lawrence said employees won’t be required to receive the vaccination, presently.
COVID-19 cases remain low on campus, although the community has seen a slight increase in cases. Vaccine clinics are over for the semester but will return spring 2022.
Sierra Pesnell can be reached at [email protected]