Below are the latest news and announcements from LSC-Online, as seen in the D2L Announcements widget. This page will be regularly updated, with the newest information at the top.
LSC-Online also provides other outlets of helpful information, including an email newsletter, a video newsletter, and an event calendar.
December D2L Update
Posted in D2L on Dec 19, 2025 12:01 AM
The following D2L update is scheduled to go live on Thursday, December 25.
Discussions – Due Date
- Instructors can now specify a due date for a discussion topic.
- The due date appears in the calendar and supports automatic-zero grading.
- Previously, instructors could not set due dates for discussion posts, which made it difficult to assess timely engagement or enforce deadlines.
Quizzes – Zero Point Questions
- Instructors can now assign 0 (zero) points to a quiz question to collect non-graded information, for example, feedback or personal input.
- This feature eliminates the need for workarounds such as assigning 0.01 points or manually adjusting scores after submission.
If you have questions about these updates or would like support using the new features, please email VTAC Support.
RESOLVED: Course Materials link not working
Posted in D2L on Dec 8, 2025 5:39 PM (Edited)
Update: The 'Course Materials' link now is working for all students. The outage window was 4:00 pm - 7:20 pm CST.
Original message:
Course Materials link in your D2L course is currently not working.
We apologize for any inconvenience. We will continue to provide updates as we work with the vendors for an immediate fix. Should you experience any further issues, please do not hesitate to contact the support team.
December Trainings
Posted in D2L on Dec 4, 2025 12:01 AM
There is a variety of training sessions happening this month. Here are just a few:
- 12/10 at 12 PM - Optimizing Course Content in D2L
- 12/10 at 1 PM - LockDown Browser + Respondus Monitor
- 12/16 at 10 AM - Getting Started with Camtasia
- 12/18 at 10 AM - Getting Started with Snagit
Be sure to check out the VTAC Event Calendar for more, as there are too many to list here. It includes trainings by LSC faculty and staff, as well as the vendors themselves.
In Case You Missed It... Digital Digest Newsletter
Posted in D2L on Nov 28, 2025 7:00 AM
Our end-of-semester newsletter was recently sent out via email. If you haven't read it yet, here's another chance.
Topics included in this issue:
- About Online Services
- Shape Our Future LMS
- Semester Wrap-Up Links
- Simple Syllabus Update
- Instant Leader Access
- Easy Quiz Printing
- and more...
For previous issues, please visit the Newsletter Archive page in VTAC.
LMS Feedback Survey
Posted in D2L on Nov 19, 2025 12:02 AM
The Online Services team at Lone Star College would like to hear your feedback regarding D2L Brightspace. Please let us know what is working well and what areas could be improved.
We will soon be launching the Learning Management System (LMS) Review and Request for Proposal (RFP) process and your opinion will help guide our process. More information can be found in our recent email newsletter.
Retirement of Legacy ProctorU Extensions
Posted in D2L on Nov 4, 2025 7:30 AM
Meazure Learning is retiring the legacy ProctorU Chrome and Firefox extensions on November 6. Students using those legacy extensions for online proctoring will see an error message when attempting to connect and will not be able to proceed. Instead, students need to use the Guardian Browser or Guardian Extension.
Most students have already moved to the new Guardian platform. Either way, don't forget to delete any legacy ProctorU browser extensions from Chrome and/or Firefox.
November Trainings
Posted in D2L on Oct 31, 2025 12:01 AM
There is a variety of training sessions happening this month. Here are just a few:
- 11/3 at 1 PM - Using AI to Build (Not Bypass) Brainpower in H.E.
- 11/4 at 1 PM - StudyMate: Flashcards & Learning Games
- 11/10 & 12 at 5 PM - Quality Matters Rubric Workshop
- 11/14 at 11 AM - LockDown Browser + Respondus Monitor
- 11/18 at 10 AM - Getting Started with Camtasia
Be sure to check out the VTAC Event Calendar for more, as there are far too many to list here. It includes trainings by LSC faculty and staff, as well as the vendors themselves.
October D2L Update
Posted in D2L on Oct 27, 2025 12:01 AM
The following D2L update went live on Friday, October 24.
New Features
Quizzes – Hide Quiz Question Points
- Instructors can now hide the point value for quiz questions during a quiz, to ensure students focus on all questions equally.
- The new option is available in the Timing & Display section when creating or editing a quiz.
Updated Features
Quizzes – Improved Visibility for Insufficient Question Pools
- Instructors can now see a status indicator when a question pool has insufficient questions, allowing them to resolve the issue before learners begin a quiz attempt.
If you have questions about these updates or would like support using the new features, please email VTAC Support.
RESOLVED: Intermittent D2L Issues
Posted in D2L on Oct 20, 2025 12:18 PM (Edited)
UPDATE: Amazon Web Services (AWS) has returned to normal operations. D2L and other reliant technologies have been fully restored.
Original Message:
Dear Faculty and Students,
A global outage of Amazon Web Services (AWS) is impacting numerous online services, including D2L and some of its integrated technologies. Our team will continue to monitor the platform closely to ensure stability and performance. You may notice slowness and/or some services not functioning as expected.
This outage is also impacting Respondus, Turnitin, Meazure Learning, Pearson, McGraw Hill, among others.
We apologize for the inconvenience that this may have caused. Should you experience any further issues, please do not hesitate to contact the support team.
RESOLVED: Microsoft 365 Widget Sign-In Unavailable
Posted in D2L on Sep 30, 2025 11:12 AM (Edited)
UPDATE: The issue described below appears to now be resolved, as of 10:45 AM, 10/1/2025.
Original Message:
Dear Students and Faculty,
At this time we are aware of an issue with the Microsoft 365 Widget. At this time it is not possible to sign into the Widget.
We have reached out to D2L and OTS and the issue is being investigated.
If you need to sign into your Microsoft Outlook Email you can use this link: https://outlook.office.com/mail/
You can also navigate from within a course via Collaboration → Microsoft 365 Email, or access your email via myLoneStar.
Thank you for your patience.
October Training Sessions
Posted in D2L on Sep 4, 2025 12:01 AM
Simple Syllabus Training continues for two more weeks, with many virtual and in-person sessions. In addition to those, here are some other highlighted sessions happening in the next month:
- 10/1 at 10 AM - D2L Guided Training: Q&A with D2L
- 10/1 at 10 AM - TechSmith Unlocked (Camtasia & Snagit)
- 10/8 at 12 PM - LockDown Browser + Respondus Monitor
- 10/20 & 22 at 5 PM - Quality Matters Rubric Workshop
- 10/21 at 12 PM - Respondus 4 and the Test Bank Network
Be sure to check out the VTAC Event Calendar for more, as there are far too many to list here. It includes trainings by LSC faculty and staff, as well as the vendors themselves.
RESOLVED: Turnitin Originality Checker Availability
Posted in D2L on Sep 17, 2025 10:14 AM
UPDATE: The Turnitin Originality Checker has been restored.
Original Message:
The Turnitin Originality Checker is temporarily unavailable. We are currently working with our partners to restore access. We are working through some unexpected contractual processes. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
In the meantime, please plan your assignments and assessments with this in mind. We will notify you as soon as the tool is available again.
Thank you for your understanding and flexibility.
September Training Sessions
Posted in D2L on Sep 4, 2025 12:01 AM
Simple Syllabus Training continues through the month of September, with many virtual and in-person sessions. In addition to those, here are some other highlighted sessions happening in the next month:
- 9/9 at 2 PM - LockDown Browser & Respondus Monitor
- 9/16 at 11 AM - StudyMate: Flash Cards & Games
- 9/23 at 12 PM - Teaching Smarter: Building a Culture of Data and AI-Driven Instruction
- 9/25 at 10 AM - Getting Started with TechSmith Snagit
- 10/1 at 10 AM - D2L Guided Training: Q&A with D2L
Be sure to check out the VTAC Event Calendar for more, as there are far too many to list here. It includes trainings by LSC faculty and staff, as well as the vendors themselves.
RESOLVED: Turnitin - Outage
Posted in D2L on Sep 2, 2025 12:09 PM (Edited)
RESOLVED: This issue is resolved. Turnitin access has been restored.
Original Message:
At this time, Turnitin is not available due to an outage. We are working with Turnitin to resolve this issue.
We sincerely apologize for the impact this disruption may be causing. We will provide an update as soon as new information becomes available.
In Case You Missed It... Digital Digest Newsletter
Posted in D2L on Aug 30, 2025 12:01 AM
Our start-of-semester newsletter was recently sent out via email. If you haven't read it yet, here's another chance.
Topics included in this issue:
- Simple Syllabus
- Star Bundle
- Semester Start Reminders
- Quizzing Improvements
- Integration Requests
- D2L Fusion Recap
- And more!
Want to see some of these topics in action? Watch our video newsletter!
For previous issues, please visit the Newsletter Archive page in VTAC.
Star Bundle Questions? Adoption Questions?
Posted in D2L on Aug 28, 2025 3:28 PM
Dear Faculty and Students,
If you have questions about star bundle, materials or adoptions for your course please reach out to lsc-bookstore@lonestar.edu.
RESOLVED: Intermittent D2L Issues (Edited)
Emailed on Aug 25, 2025 11:00 AM and posted in D2L at 11:09 AM
Dear Faculty and Students,
We experienced disruption with D2L services between 10:45-11:15am. We have received confirmation from D2L that the recent access issues have been resolved. Our team will continue to monitor the platform closely to ensure stability and performance.
Preliminary information indicates that the outage may have been related to a disruption in AWS services, which impacted D2L’s availability.
We apologize for the inconvenience that this may have caused you this morning. Should you experience any further issues, please do not hesitate to contact the support team.
Original Message:
We are aware that some users are currently experiencing intermittent issues accessing D2L (Brightspace). Please know that we are actively working with D2L’s support team to identify and resolve the root cause as quickly as possible.
We understand how important reliable access is, especially at the start of the semester, and we appreciate your patience and understanding during this time. We will provide updates as soon as more information becomes available.
If you encounter any urgent issues or need assistance in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team.
Retirement of Pearson 1.1 and Hawkes Learning 1.1
Posted in D2L Aug 22, 2025 11:42 AM
As part of our semester transition tasks, the older integrations Pearson 1.1 and Hawkes Learning 1.1 have now been retired.
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Pearson 1.3 should be used via the STAR Bundle, depending on whether your course is participating in the program. See the following article for details: Add Pearson (LTI 1.3) MyLab and Mastering, or Revel to Your D2L Course
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Hawkes Learning is no longer in use at Lone Star College.
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Faculty should also remove any remaining Pearson 1.1 or Hawkes Learning 1.1 links from their course shells to avoid confusion for students.
If you have any questions regarding this change, please contact VTAC Support.
Extended Support Hours
Posted in D2L on Aug 21, 2025 1:00 PM
Reminder: Online Services is offering extended support hours on Saturday, Aug. 23rd from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. The team will be providing ticket support and a virtual open lab to assist faculty with D2L, supported technologies, and course design.
The virtual open lab can be accessed through this link.
Tickets for D2L related questions/issues can be submitted by emailing VTAC@LoneStar.edu.
OTS is available 6 a.m. to midnight for technology questions.
For other support opportunities, please refer to the VTAC Event Calendar.
Respondus Monitor Webinars for Faculty
Posted in D2L on Aug 19, 2025 11:35 AM
Respondus Monitor can now be used not only with exams in D2L Brightspace but also within several publisher systems.
Newly Added Support:
Also Supported:
Respondus will host webinars on this Thursday, August 21 covering how to use Monitor with each publisher system. Please register here.
For future reference, see the Respondus Monitor Approved Publishers article.
Video Newsletter - Fall 2025
Posted in D2L on Aug 19, 2025 12:01 AM
The Online Update is a video newsletter produced every major semester by Online Services.
Here are the topics in the Fall 2025 Episode:
- Simple Syllabus
- Star Bundle
- Quizzing Improvements
- McGraw Hill Consolidation
- Faculty Support Options
- And more...
For more information about these topics, search this VTAC knowledge base. You can also read our corresponding email newsletter for additional updates.
Fall 2025 Semester Start
Posted in D2L on Aug 18, 2025 12:01 AM
Welcome to the Fall 2025 Semester!
To get started in your D2L course, please explore the following resources:
D2L Semester Start Checklist:
This checklist will assist you in making a smooth start in your D2L courses and includes topics like copying content and merging course sections. You can find it at the following link: D2L Semester Start Instructor Checklist.
Visit the VTAC Knowledge Base:
This site contains guides to help you work with your new D2L course. Access VTAC using the VTAC Support link on the navbar above or by visiting vtac.lonestar.edu. If you are new to teaching online at Lone Star College, view our Welcome Video to get started.
Extended Support Hours:
Online Services is offering extended support hours on Saturday, Aug. 23rd from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. We will be providing ticket support and a virtual open lab to assist faculty with D2L, supported technologies, and course design. OTS is also available 6 a.m. to midnight for other technology questions.
For additional support opportunities, please refer to the VTAC Event Calendar.
D2L resources for students can be found at this link: Virtual Learning Assistance Center.
Star Bundle: Course Merge Alert
Posted in D2L on Aug 15, 2025 3:40 PM
The Star Bundle has launched in D2L for Students and Faculty! You can now access it by clicking [Course Materials] in the Navbar of all your D2L courses.
If you are merging courses, please make sure to choose the lecture course as primary section as the textbook adoptions are typically associated with Lecture section only.
If you have further questions, please reach out to LSC-Bookstore@lonestar.edu or help@vitalsource.com.
Star Bundle Now Available in D2L
Posted in D2L on Aug 6, 2025 4:47 PM
The Star Bundle has launched in D2L for Students and Faculty! You can now access it by clicking [Course Materials] in the Navbar of all your D2L courses.
For Faculty, if you are using one of several third-party integrations which are partnered with VitalSource, it will mean you need to change how you pair your course. At current, this list consists of Top Hat, Macmillan, and Pearson. Please contact your Third Party Representative for details.
For students, you can now opt-in or opt-out from star bundle program right from your D2L course. It is a hassle-free experience to use access-codes to publisher sites.
If you have further questions, please reach out to LSC-Bookstore@lonestar.edu or help@vitalsource.com.