Starting fall 2026, D2L Dropboxes will be renamed to Assignments. The change is expected to happen between the end of the summer session and start of the fall semester.

Why the change?

There are several reasons for this change:

1. Dropbox is a “legacy” term that D2L moved away from in favor of Assignments in 2019, which is the default in new D2L instances
2. Many tutorials from both D2L and third parties (such as Panopto) use the term Assignments instead of Dropboxes. This can make it confusing when using tutorials from vendors outside of Canisius University
3. Assignments better encompasses what the tool represents/can do (i.e., it is not just for uploading documents and other files, but also can be used as a placeholder for in-person activities and assignments– with options specific to in-person assignments– for the D2L gradebook)

Will there be any changes to the functionality of the Dropbox/Assignment tool?

No, there will be no changes to the function of the Assignment tool due to the name change. However, instead of referring to the “dropbox” or “dropboxes” in syllabi and assignment instructions, we can use assignment folder/assignment folders (or just assignment(s)) instead. Instructors will also not need to rename folders– the tool name is changing, but the tool’s functionality will remain unchanged and names for assignments should carry over when copied or imported. However, as always with this type of change and whenever copying or importing content, we recommend making sure that there were no issues during these processes.

Additionally, we recommend adding the link to the Assignment folder to the Content area, which will make it easier for students to locate the particular folder that they need to upload their assignment to for that module. This can be done two different ways (these steps can also be used for D2L Quizzes and Discussion boards):

1. Using the New button to create a brand new Assignment Folder
   1. Click on the New button
   2. Select New Assignment (or New Dropbox if following the steps currently)
   3. Fill in the Assignment information
   4. Click on Save and Close
      • Note: if we are not ready for students to view the Assignment yet, make sure to toggle the Visibility button appropriately
   5. We will be taken to the Assignment screen in D2L
   6. Clicking on the Module title in the breadcrumbs list (or clicking on Content) we will see our newly created assignment at the button

For a more detailed tutorial, check out the D2L: Add a New D2L Activity to the Content Area Wiki page.

1. Use the Add Existing Activities button to add Assignment Folders that were created previously
   1. Click on the Add Existing Activities button
   2. Find and click on in the menu that appears
   3. Select the appropriate Assignment Folder (or click on Create New Assignment)
   4. The Assignment Folder will be added to the bottom of the module
2. Tip: Click and hold on the squares to the left and drag the Assignment Folder to where we want the folder to be in the list

A more detailed tutorial is available on the D2L: Add an Existing D2L Activity to the Content Area Wiki page.

What Will the Name Change Look Like?

While the images below are meant to help, they do not show the full extent of changes on all pages and instances where Dropbox has been updated to Assignment. This is meant to give a quick overview. If there are any questions or concerns, please contact ITS Helpdesk at helpdesk@canisius.edu.

*Click on an image to enlarge it

The screens above will also be similar for students. The following shows student-specific windows using the new tool name.

Will Students Be Notified?

Students will be notified via the News tool available on the D2L homepage:

However, at least for the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 semesters, it may be a good idea to let your students know either in the syllabi or the course News tool.

COLI’s Request

The Center for Online Learning and Innovation has a few requests:

1. This is a period of transition. While we will spot-check the various screens, COLI may not catch where “Dropbox” was left behind in D2L (excluding syllabi and assignment instructions). As such, if there are any instances of Dropbox in D2L or other issues or concerns, please email the ITS Helpdesk at helpdesk@canisius.edu.
   • Screenshots are very useful!
2. Please be patient with us as we transition our tutorials.
   • Tutorials will be updated on an “as-needed” basis and will be unable to replace all of them before Fall 2026.
     • This is because, while the name of the tool is changing, the functionality and workflows will remain the same.
3. Want to help or have you created training materials for your courses that you think will be helpful? Get in touch with Tyler Kron-Piatek (kronpiat@canisius.edu) to discuss further.

If there are any questions or concerns, please contact the ITS Helpdesk at helpdesk@canisius.edu.

As a reminder, emails in our Outlook Inbox folders and sub-folders of the Inbox have a 180 day (6 month) lifespan. After this timeframe, emails are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.

To save emails indefinitely, create folders outside of the Inbox. See the the Wiki page on saving emails here. A video tutorial is also available if preferred.

Tips for Folders in Outlook:

• Create a generic folder and more specific sub-folders within
• Follow a consistent naming convention for folders
• Follow a consistent folder hierarchy/folder layout
• Review and delete unneeded emails
• Set up folder rules to help keep inboxes organized and move important emails to their appropriate folders automatically

Additional tutorials can be found on the Microsoft Office Support: Outlook Tutorials Wiki page.

Need further help? Contact ITS Helpdesk at helpdesk@canisius.edu.