FACULTY: Blackboard Course/Zoom Recording Retention Policy

Purpose

With the increasing use of Blackboard (LMS) and Zoom (web conferencing) to support online and face-to-face instruction at Bridgewater State University (BSU), it’s important to manage archived data, course sites, and recordings effectively.
Due to storage limitations on both platforms, BSU has implemented a policy to ensure continued access to recent materials while controlling storage costs.

This policy explains how BSU archives and removes Blackboard course sites and deletes Zoom recordings annually.

Key Definitions

• Archive: A complete offline copy of the course for student work retention.

• Course Site: A Blackboard space assigned to a specific course during a specific semester.

• Offline: Archived data that is stored securely but not accessible.

• Restoration: Reinstating offline data to the live Blackboard environment.

What Gets Archived or Deleted?

• Blackboard Course Sites:
  Remain accessible to students for 2 years after a course ends.
  After 2 years, sites are archived offline and removed from Blackboard.
  Archived sites can be restored within 3 years by contacting the Teaching & Technology Center (TTC) at ttc@bridgew.edu.

• Zoom Meeting Recordings:
  Automatically deleted after 6 months.
  BSU does not archive Zoom recordings.
  Faculty and students are responsible for downloading and saving any recordings they wish to keep.

How to Archive Your Own Materials

Blackboard Ultra Courses:

1. Go to your course site.

2. Click the "..." menu near the magnifying glass under the Content tab.

3. Select Export Course Package.

4. Choose whether to include student data.

5. Download the generated .zip file.

Blackboard Original Courses:

1. Go to your course site.

2. In the Control Panel, navigate to Packages and Utilities > Export/Archive Course.

3. Click Archive Course and submit.

4. Download the .zip file once the confirmation email arrives.

Zoom Recordings:

1. Log into your Zoom account and download your recordings.

2. Store them on your BSU OneDrive or preferred secure location.

Communication

Each May, faculty are notified via email about:

• Upcoming Blackboard course archiving (for courses over 2 years old)

• Zoom recording deletions (older than 6 months)

Support

For help with archiving or any related questions, please contact:
📧 Information Technology – itsupport@bridgew.edu
📧 Teaching & Technology Center (TTC) – ttc@bridgew.edu