D2L Course Data Purge Process

As part of our ongoing stewardship and sustainability efforts for the university’s Learning Management System (D2L Brightspace), MSU IT will conduct annual system reviews that include a course data purge. This yearly purge process is designed to ensure the LMS’s efficiency, optimize storage capacity, and maintain data accuracy. This process involves the removal of outdated or unused courses and their content.

Why is the D2L Purge Process Necessary?

Over time, our D2L environment accumulates a significant amount of data, including courses, materials, and user accounts. Some of this data may become outdated or irrelevant due to curriculum changes, staff and student turnover, or courses and programs concluding. Additionally, inactive courses may clutter the system, making it difficult to manage and navigate.

By conducting an annual purge, we can:

1. Optimize System Performance: Removing outdated courses and content helps improve D2L's overall performance and responsiveness.
2. Enhance User Experience: A cleaner and more organized LMS makes it easier for users to find relevant materials and navigate the platform efficiently.
3. Ensure Data Accuracy: Regularly purging outdated data reduces the risk of users accessing inaccurate or obsolete information, helping to ensure the integrity of the content available within the system.

During the annual D2L purge process, the following actions will be taken:

Content Review: MSU IT will review all courses stored in D2L to identify outdated and dormant courses. Past semester courses and those that have have not been accessed or updated within a specified period will be removed from the system.

• For-credit semester courses will be kept for two (2) years after the course ends. After this period, they may be considered for removal.
• Development Courses will be retained for two (2) years after the user's last login. After this time, they may also be subject to removal.
• Non-credit courses (encompassing Community, Non-credit, and Professional Development spaces) that haven't been accessed in the last six (6) months may be subject to removal

Note: Administrators with courses scheduled for removal will receive advance notice via email from MSU IT Comms, providing them with an opportunity to review and save any important materials.

What You Can Do

Review Your Content: Take this opportunity to review the materials you have stored in D2L. If you have been notified that one or more of your courses are scheduled to be removed please consider exporting the course and backing up student data. We also recommend that instructors review the D2L Data Retention Policy for additional information.

Keep Your Course Active: To ensure that your Non-Credit courses are not flagged for removal in the first place, make sure to log in and interact with the course regularly. Courses that are regularly accessed and show active user participation will not be flagged for removal. 

Contact Support: If you have any questions or concerns about the D2L purge process, please do not hesitate to contact our support team for assistance. You can "Submit a Request" through the MSU IT Help portal with your questions and one of our team members will respond accordingly.