Introduction
Brightspace is SUNY Empire’s Learning Management System. Instructors teaching EDPL, Independent Studies, Study Groups, Virtual Study Groups, Residency, School of Graduate Studies, School of Labor, and International Education courses need to submit requests to create their courses in Brightspace each term or non-term primaries (a template of a course that can be "poured" or copied from one Course into another).
Please review the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations before submitting your request. FERPA prohibits merging of Courses on Brightspace. Submitting a request that does not follow the regulations can delay the creation of your course(s).
This article addresses frequently asked questions regarding the Course Request system and its process.
If users are having difficulty navigating the Course Request system, contact the SUNY Empire IT Service Desk for assistance.
Do I need to make a course request?
You do not need to request a course each term if you are teaching a fully online course within the School of Undergraduate study or School of Allied Health and Nursing. Courses are automatically created and made available to instructors prior to the start of term for these course types. For information about key dates for a specific term, check Empire Online’s MySUNYEmpire page.
Instructors with Empire Online approved C-designated faculty pours will have the content copied from their primaries during this process and do not need to submit a request.
You need to request a course each term if you are teaching for the School of Graduate Studies, International Education, or one of the following course types within the School of Undergraduate Studies:
- EDPL
- Independent Study
- Study Group
- Virtual Study Group
- Residency
How long does it take to have a course created after I make a request?
Requests typically take 1-3 business days to process if the content requested is:
- blank
- from a primary you created
- from a previous section of the course you’ve taught
- from a guided template
If you do not see your course after this period, please contact the SUNY Empire IT Service Desk.
Note: Requests asking for content from another instructor can take additional time to obtain approval to use that content. Check the Request Overview for updates on your request’s status.
When can I submit a request for the new term?
Requests can be made for an upcoming term when registration opens. For specific dates, see the University Calendar.
What content is included in the copy from the Course Request form?
All content from your source will be copied, including:
- Announcements
- Assignments
- Discussions
- Intelligent Agents
Please check your courses after content is copied to update due dates and any personalized content (e.g., names, due dates, grade information).
Note: we cannot customize what content is copied.
What information do I need to submit a course request?
- The name and section information for the course you will be teaching (available in Self-Service Banner).
- Know what content you need copied into the course:
- blank
- from a guided template
- from a primary you created
- from a previous section of the course you’ve taught
- content from another instructor
*Note: if you need content from another instructor, you need to enter that person’s name and course information into the form’s search fields.
What do I do if I don’t see the course I want to request?
- Check that this course is one you need to request; not all course types require a request.
- Check that you’re assigned to teach the course as the primary instructor in Self-service Banner (SSB). Note: only the primary instructor of the course can submit a request.
- Contact the SUNY Empire IT Service Desk if you are the primary instructor of a Course in (SSB) and your course is not a fully online course in School of Undergraduate Studies or School of Nursing and Allied Health.
Why do I not see what I'm looking for in the Course Content options?
Past live term sections with adjunct ready content is not available for selection in the Course Request form. Instructors needing adjunct ready content need to request the Primary containing the content from their Academic Coordinator to ensure you have the most accurate/up-to-date content.
How do I make a request with the accurate content if I can’t find it in the list of source options?
You need to submit an incident ticket through the SUNY Empire IT Service Desk. In your ticket, you should include:
- Course name and number, section number, and CRN of the new course you’ll be teaching
- The content source that you need (e.g., a link to the course in Brightspace)
What do I do if I requested the wrong content?
You need to submit an incident ticket through the SUNY Empire IT Service Desk. In your ticket, you should include:
- Course name and number
- Section number
- CRN
- What should be the new accurate content added to the course
Can I get a course created if I’m developing content for a new course that will be taught in the future?
To request a new course for development, use the form “Create a Primary.” Primaries are not connected to a specific term or course; they can be used to develop content for a future course. When you are scheduled to teach a course, you’ll need to submit a separate request and you’ll be able to pick your primary in the content options.
Note: any updates or changes made to a primary will not impact any of the live courses you’re currently teaching.
How do I know if another instructor’s content that I requested was approved?
You’ll receive an email notification if a content request has been approved or denied. Be careful to check your Junk and/or Other folders in case the notification was sent there.
How do I respond if another instructor requested to use my content?
- Go to the Course Request Overview and scroll to the View Requests section to review what content is being requested and from whom.
- Click View Request next to the new request.
- Select Approve or Deny from the drop-down menu.
- Click the Submit button.
An email notification will then be sent to the requestor.
What do I need to do next if my request to use another instructor’s content was denied?
You need to submit a new request to have a course created with different content selected.
Can I merge sections that I’m assigned to teach in Brightspace?
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prohibits the merging of sections on Brightspace. Please read the FERPA regulations from the Office of the Registrar to determine whether sections can be merged. All requests for merged sections must first be sent to and approved by the Office of the Registrar. Submitting a request that does not follow the regulations can delay the creation of your course(s) on Brightspace.
Can I add a co-teacher to my courses?
Instructors wishing to co-teach a course need to submit a request and have it approved by the Office of the Registrar before any action can take place in Brightspace. If you have questions regarding the procedure, please consult the Office of the Registrar.
I am an Academic Coordinator (AC), how do I update my primaries?
You need to submit the “AC Request to Edit a Primaries” form to edit an Empire-online approved adjunct-ready course.
Can Academic Coordinators submit requests on behalf of instructors?
No, Academic Coordinators (ACs) cannot submit requests for courses or primaries on another’s behalf. Each course’s primary instructor must submit requests and note what content they need to be copied into the courses. ACs should provide content recommendations and guidance to instructors based on their knowledge of what is available.