D2L Brightspace – Student Information

Overview

D2L Brightspace is Southwest Minnesota State University’s (SMSU) online learning portal. It allows students to stay connected with their courses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

D2L Brightspace is used by:

  • Undergraduate students
  • Graduate students
  • Online students

For both online and face‑to‑face courses, D2L Brightspace may be used to deliver course content and supplemental materials.

Common tools in D2L Brightspace include:

  • Course content and readings
  • Announcements
  • Discussions
  • Assignments
  • Quizzes and exams
  • Grades

How to Log In

To access D2L Brightspace:

  1. Go to the D2L Brightspace login page.
  2. Sign in using your StarID and StarID password.

Forgot Your Password?

  • Select Forgot Your Password on the D2L Brightspace login page.
  • You will be directed to the StarID Self‑Service page to retrieve or reset your username or password.

Note: You cannot change your password directly inside D2L Brightspace.

If You Do Not See Your Class

If you are registered for a class but it does not appear in D2L Brightspace:

  1. Contact your instructor first and ask them to confirm that:
    • You are listed on their D2L Brightspace class list.
  2. If your instructor confirms everything is correct and you still cannot access the course:
    • Contact the TRC Helpdesk for assistance.

Course Availability in D2L

  • Once you are accepted to SMSU and registered for classes, your D2L Brightspace account is created automatically.
  • You are enrolled in your courses in D2L Brightspace without any additional action.
  • Not all courses use D2L Brightspace.
    • Some courses may appear in D2L with little or no content posted.
    • Always follow your instructor’s guidance for course materials and communication.

Student Training and Support

SMSU provides a free D2L Brightspace training course for all students. This course helps you learn how to use D2L Brightspace efficiently and confidently.

For additional help with D2L Brightspace:

  • Contact the TRC Helpdesk for technical support and troubleshooting.

D2L Brightspace Pulse (Mobile App)

D2L Brightspace Pulse helps you stay connected and organized using your mobile device.

Learning app screens showing assignments, schedule, grades, and courses.

What Brightspace Pulse Provides

The app offers a quick, at‑a‑glance view of your academic activity across all courses, including:

  • Course calendars
  • Readings
  • Assignments
  • Evaluations
  • Grades
  • Announcements

You can easily see what is due today, this week, and later in the term.

Download Brightspace Pulse

Brightspace Pulse is available from:

  • The Google Play Store™
  • The Apple App Store®

How to Log In to Brightspace Pulse

  1. Open the Brightspace Pulse app on your device.
  2. Review the introduction screens by swiping left or right, or select Next.
  3. Select Pick Your School.
  4. (Optional) Enable your device’s location services to help find SMSU more quickly.
  5. Enter your Brightspace Learning Environment credentials.
  6. Select Log In.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why can't I log in to my D2L Brightspace account?

Make sure that your starid password has not expired. Resetting your Star ID password will fix most log in issues.

How do I sign up for notifications in D2L Brightspace?

It is recommended that you sign up for notifications so you can always be organized and up to dates on classes, assignments, quizzes etc.

What devices can I use to access D2L Brightspace?

To access D2L Brightspace you can use almost any type of device.
 

I am unable to see my enrolled semester courses in D2L Brightspace.

Firstly, assure you are officially registered. Note: it takes up to about 15 minutes for courses to appear in your account after you are officially registered. A quick guide on how to pin your semester courses. If you still can locate some of your course/s, log into your E-Services account and make sure that you are still enrolled in the class/es. If you are still enrolled in the class/es, then call or e-mail the Technology Resource Center Helpdesk.

Why can't I upload an Assignments file to D2L Brightspace?

First, check the Assignments Start and End date, if you are trying to submit a file outside of these dates you need to contact your instructor.

The other most common issue with file upload errors is the file name or extension. Assure your file name avoids special characters. Assure your file extension is displayed, for example:
• filename.pdf
• filename.docx

Special characters to avoid in file titles:
• Slashes ("/")
• Ampersands ("&")
• Colons (":")
• Question marks ("?")
• Quotation marks ("''")
• Pound signs or hashtags ("#")
• Asterisks ("*")

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