In an effort to manage storage costs and address a large amount of content no longer being used, Lecture Recordings will now be available for a full year after the term has ended, then expire at the end of the following September.
For example: a Fall 2024 course site would be accessible through the end of the Fall 2025 term, then expire at the end of September 2026; a Spring 2025 Lecture Recording site would remain similarly available through the Spring 2026 term, then expire at the end of September 2025. This timing will allow instructional teams leading courses taught only during a specific term to review the previous session while teaching the course again, or to utilize that content as a means to keep the class going in case of unexpected emergencies.
This expiration policy was implemented in July 2024, and applies to all course sites. At this time it does not apply to Lecture Recording sites focused on non-class events, such as conferences and club or departmental meetings.
How will I know when my sites are going to expire?
When visiting your Lecture Recording My Sites page, the expiration date will be visible on the right side of the banner tile for each course.
The date will also be visible on the Site Info page of the individual site, and a notification banner will appear at the top of the page within the Lecture Recording site once the term has ended. This banner will turn yellow when the expiration date is within 90 days, and then red for the last 45 days prior to expiration.
Email reminders will also be sent to site owners in April (prior to the end of the winter term), and then at 45 and 10 days ahead of the expiration date.
Why was this policy implemented?
The Lecture Recording service has been in existence since 2006. An expiration policy was not considered at the time due to the then-low cost of storage with fewer than 150 classes and events sporadically using the system in a few dozen spaces. Today, more than 425 classrooms, auditoria, and other venues throughout the Ann Arbor campuses feature the CAEN Lecture Recording service with over 2,500 courses and events regularly using the system throughout the year.
A study of the system found that most recordings are never accessed again after the term has ended, with only a relative handful being reviewed around a year later as the course is about to be taught again. This means that content from 2006, which is most likely out of date or even irrelevant now, has been made available yet remained untouched for well over a decade. Due to the ever-increasing number of courses and events using the service, we can no longer offer a permanent storage option.
What if I want to keep my Lecture Recordings longer?
There are methods to acquire recordings you have made if you would like to keep them for yourself.
If you have any questions, please send a message to your college or school’s Lecture Recording support team. If you are unsure which group to contact, please contact the College of Engineering for direction and assistance.