Overview
This article explains when courses appear in D2L Brightspace and under what conditions instructors gain access to them. It is intended for faculty and staff who are teaching courses and want to understand the process and timeline of course creation and instructor access in D2L.
Courses in D2L are created and updated automatically based on course scheduling and instructor assignments in the university’s registration system.
Course Creation and Instructor Access in D2L
When Courses Are Created
Courses are automatically created in D2L approximately four months before their start date. These courses continue to update based on changes in:
- Course schedule (added, canceled, or modified courses)
- Instructor assignments (new or updated assignments)
Instructors do not need to request course shells; creation is handled automatically through university systems.
Instructors will not receive an email notification when a course is created or modified in D2L.
When Instructors Gain Access
Instructors will only see their D2L course after all the following conditions are met:
- They have a StarID.
- The date is on or after their official hire date.
- Their employee record has been fully processed in Workday.
- How to tell? The employee can log in to Workday and view all features and tasks associated with their role.
- They are assigned as the Instructor of Record in Faculty Workload Management (FWM) for their course(s).
- This is usually done by department Administrative Assistants.
- After a course is entered into FWM it will populate in D2L usually with 2-4 hours (may take longer during busy periods).
Troubleshooting: Coursing Not Populating in D2L
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Step 1: Check Instructor of Record Status
- Log into eServices
- Search for your course to see if you are listed as the Instructor of Record
- If listed: Your course should appear in D2L within 2–4 hours (may take longer during busy periods).
- If not listed: Proceed to Step 2
Step 2: Contact Your Department
- Reach out to the administrative assistant or designated staff in your area
- Ask them to confirm you have been entered as the Instructor of Record in FWM.
FAQ
Can users access a course if they are not the Instructor of Record?
The Instructor of Record of that course must submit a request to enroll Co-Instructors, Teacher's Assistants, and others not listed as the Instructor of Record. To request manual enrollment: Navigate to our Add a TA or Co-Instructor Enrollment Form. (Note: You may be prompted to sign in with your StarID credentials first.)
Still Need Help?
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