Decision on future of SmartSite getting closer

The campus will announce a decision on the future of SmartSite this fall.

SmartSite has been UC Davis' main learning management system (LMS) since 2007. Technology has evolved significantly since then, so in 2014, following discussions about what the campus wants the next version of the LMS to offer, UC Davis invited proposals from vendors. Three finalists emerged:

  • Brightspace, by D2L
  • Canvas, by Instructure
  • The next version of Sakai, hosted by SmartSite vendor Scriba (formerly Asahi Net International)

Each has been evaluated via pilot courses taught in fall 2014, reviews, focus groups, consultations with faculty, and other analysis.

Chief Information Officer Viji Murali will announce the final choice once the process is complete. Information and Educational Technology, which manages the LMS for UC Davis, will provide information about the next steps after the decision is announced.

SmartSite has a major presence at UC Davis. About 50,000 faculty, students and staff used it over the past year, and about 20,000 use it on a typical day. Concurrent use averages 8,000 to 11,000 sessions, peaking at 15,000 during finals and the start of each term.

SmartSite has about 36,000 course sites and 9,000 project sites. Approximately 6,000 course sites and 4,000 project sites are active in any given academic year.