Migration Plan
Project Phases
- Phase 1: Planning and Communication (Spring - Summer 2022) - Completed
- Phase 2: Community Feedback and Requirements Assessment (Summer - Fall 2022) - Completed
- Phase 3: LMS Selection (Request for Proposal) (Fall 2022 - Spring 2023) - Completed
- Phase 4: LMS Implementation and Training (Begins Spring 2023) - In Progress
- Phase 5: Course Migration, Training, and Support (Fall 2023 - End of 2024 (targeted)) - In Progress
Project Timeline
The timelines listed below are targets. The progress of complex implementation and migration work may impact these dates.
- May 2023
Brightspace is selected as Western's new Learning Management System. Phase 4: LMS Implementation and Training (for select groups) begins. - June - Fall 2023
Technical implementation, configuration, and migration testing is underway. LMS admins are receiving training. - October 2023
Initial configuration of OWL Brightspace completed and system ready for Early Adopter Program (EAP) instructor access. - October 2023 - December 2023
EAP training, course migration, and set up occurs. - January 2024
EAP begins. First student access into OWL Brightspace through EAP. - Mid-January 2024
Instructors and staff supporting a Spring/Summer 2024 academic course can opt-in to personal sandbox in OWL Brightspace - February/March 2024
Spring/Summer 2024 academic courses migrate to OWL Brightspace and are available for instructors to review, develop, and finalize. - March 2024
Fall 2024 instructors receive access to OWL Brightspace personal sandbox and request migration options. - May 2024
Spring/Summer 2024 academic courses run in OWL Brightspace. Migration of Fall/Winter in progress continuing throughout the spring and summer. - September 2024
Fall 2024 academic courses run in OWL Brightspace. Winter 2025 courses courses migrate and are available to instructors to review, develop, and finalize. - January 2025
Winter academic courses run in OWL Brightspace. - April 2025 (targeted)
Western Continuing Studies pilot begins. - June 2025 (targeted)
HR and other required training sites migrate. - September 2025 (targeted)
Western Continuing Studies courses run in OWL Brightspace. - December 2025
Non-required training sites migrate.
Eligible Sakai project sites migrate to OWL Brightspace by December 2025.
Non-eligible project sites must be moved to alternate solutions before this date.
Key Project Milestones
- August – October 2022: Community feedback and requirements gathering (surveys, listening sessions)
- November 17, 2022: RFP posted
- Mid-late January 2023: Evaluations and vendor shortlist
- February 2023: Vendor demos, sandboxes, and final evaluations
- February – April 2023: Final selection, negotiations, TRAC review
- May 2023: Decision on LMS and Announcement
- January 2024: Early Adopter Program Begins, Spring/Summer instructors choose course migration options and receive sandboxes
- February/March 2024: Spring/Summer 2024 courses migrate.
- April 2024: Fall/Winter migration options are selected.
- May 2024: Spring/Summer courses taught in OWL Brightspace.
- June 2024: Summer courses begin in OWL Brightspace. Fall migrations continue.
- July 2024: Investigation to begin on Western Continuing Studies configurations.
