Relevant to: Faculty and Staff.
Introduction
The following guide is to assist Faculty and Staff with the Brightspace sandbox, navigation bar, and course syllabus framework.
Brightspace and Course Syllabus Resources
A Guide for 1Stop Student Services and Other Offices Supporting Students
Table of Contents
Brightspace
· Brightspace (https://brightspace.sunyempire.edu./)
· Official SUNY Empire DLE Website (includes Student Information)
Accessing Your Sandbox Course
SUNY Empire faculty and staff have a sandbox for Brightspace to check out the links and layout. You can login in with the same SUNY Empire login you use for Outlook and MS Teams. Then, you can search for your course from the home page by clicking on the “waffle” (the highlighted boxes - image below). If you search your name, you’ll see your course. A link to the course is also available in “My Courses” on the Brightspace home page. The image below also shows the course home page.
The following instructions were provided by the Training and Support and Technical subcommittees:
To access your account:
· Go to the website: https://brightspace.sunyempire.edu. A link will be added to MySUNYEmpire during Summer 2022.
· Enter your SUNY Empire single sign on and password information.
· Please Note:
· users must use a Brightspace supported browser (follow this link to view) for the best experience, and/or clear the browser cache to complete sign on. If users see a login page indicating “Network login,” they can use this page to log back into Brightspace if you have logged out of Brightspace or your account has timed out (e.g. been inactive for an extended period).
To access your sandbox:
· Navigate to the “My Courses” widget on the Brightspace homepage — their version of a Moodle block.
· Click the “Sandbox for [Name of Employee].”
Brightspace’s Navigation Bars (aka NavBar)
Includes helpful, easily accessible links that are often the topics of conversations with students, such as MySUNYEmpire, Policies, Student Support, and Help (which has a direct link to the 1 Stop Student Services website).
There are two navigation bars:
Brightspace Home Page’s Navigation Bar (visible/available after you login)
Course Home Page’s Navigation Bar (visible/available while in the course)
Course Syllabus
The new Course Syllabus Framework includes a list of university resources and policies and is being implemented in online master courses (which are mostly undergraduate online courses). Some students may not be enrolled in a course with this syllabus content (non-master courses); also links/content may be updated term to term. So, some courses may have different, yet similar variations of this syllabus content. Regardless, when working with students, you may find it helpful to have students also check their syllabus when they are looking for course-related information and university services and policies.
Syllabus Framework Background
This message was emailed to the university community: “The Digital Learning Environment’s Steering Committee in consultation with Office of Academic Affairs and Information Technology Services is pleased to announce a consistent syllabus framework for online master courses. The framework will also be made available to instructors teaching non-master courses….
All courses with an online master will include the syllabus framework. An editable HTML page will be made available on Brightspace for instructors teaching a non-master course (e.g. Study Group, Independent Study, Virtual Study Group, Residency, COIL) to utilize. Instructors will still be able to edit and update their learning contracts to reflect the specific details of their course (e.g. grading schemes and course outlines). The Learning Contract will remain the document of record.”
Sample Course Syllabus
To find the sample of the Course Syllabus, go to your Sandbox course, click on the “Course Information” module, and then click on the Course Syllabus Framework page.
“This syllabus framework encompasses the most relevant university resources to students, such as Accessibility Services and Technical Support, along with links to relevant university policies, including student conduct and academic honesty. The resource statements were drafted and approved by the directors responsible for the offices providing these resources.” - The Digital Learning Environment’s Steering Committee in consultation with Office of Academic Affairs and Information Technology Services
A List of the University Resources in the Course Syllabus Framework
University Resources
Academic Support
Academic Support provides a variety of free services and resources to help you succeed in your courses, including several tutoring options, workshops and self-paced, interactive tools. To find a tutor or learn more about available resources, visit Academic Support. If you have questions, email academic.support@sunyempire.edu.
Accessibility Services and Accommodation
If you have a diagnosed disability or medical condition (including temporary injury), you may be eligible for accommodations in this course. To request accommodations, please contact the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services. Staff will inform your instructor(s) of your need for accommodations once your request has been processed and approved. For more information, please visit the Office's website.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that promotes gender equity and prohibits sexual harassment, sexual violence and discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities. New York State Education Law Article 129-B, the NYS “Enough is Enough” law, requires all SUNY schools to adopt policies and practices to combat sex discrimination. For more information, please visit Empire State’s Sexual Violence and Title IX webpage. If you feel that you have experienced sexual harassment, sexual violence and/or discrimination on the basis of sex at SUNY Empire State, then we can assist. Please contact the University’s Title IX Coordinator at TitleIX@sunyempire.edu or 1-(800)-847-3000 x 1009.
Personal Student Support
SUNY Empire State recognizes students may experience times of food insecurity, housing issues, homelessness, mental health challenges, or accessing state/federal services. Please visit Personal Student Support for more information on available supports and contacts.
Technical Support
A PC or Mac computer with ample hard disk space and processing speed, a reliable Internet connection and an up-to-date browser is recommended for successful participation in all courses. Review the Minimum Hardware and OS Software Recommendations page for information about operating system, browser compatibility and to test your computer for the necessary requirements. The SUNY Empire IT Service Desk is available six days a week during normal business day, evening, and weekend hours to answer questions or to report a problem you may have. They can be reached by phone at (800)-847-3000, extension 2420 or (888)-HELP-009 and online at www.sunyempire.edu/service-desk.
Additional Resources
For additional resources, visit Frequent Empire State Contacts.
Empire State Policies
Student Conduct
Empire State Student Conduct Policy and Procedures.
Academic Honesty
Empire State Academic Honesty Policy and Procedures.
Grading and Evaluation Policy
Empire State Grading and Evaluation Policies:
· Grading and Evaluation Policy for Undergraduate Programs
· Graduate Evaluation and Grading Policy and Procedures
Copyright Policy
Empire State Copyright Policy
Withdrawal Policy
Empire State Academic Withdrawal Policy.