NORTHCENTRAL AND D2L PARTNER TO SUPPORT A QUALITY LEARNING EXPERIENCE

(MENAFN- GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) Kitchener, Waterloo, July 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global learning technology leader D2L and Northcentral University (NCU) have been proud to work together to provide a quality learning experience to NCU students.

Since its founding in 1996, NCU has focused on developing a strong infrastructure to provide the most engaging learning experience possible. D2L's Brightspace platform lets the university maximize benefits for learners and staff while improving student retention. NCU is home to 11,000 students and over 500 faculty, and is a nonprofit affiliate of the private, nonprofit National University System.

'Online learning is about more than Zoom calls,' said Chelsea Young, vice president for academic engagement at NCU. 'We've known that for years, which is why a strong learning management system is vital to our leadership in online learning.'

As online learning has become commonplace because of COVID-19, NCU has a clear message for other educators: to deliver an engaging, online learning experience, a solid infrastructure is essential. And that's why they selected Brightspace.

'We call our approach Teaching through Engagement. Brightspace helps us build that engagement by offering opportunities to personalize learning for each student, while also being very user friendly for faculty,' Young said.

Here's what NCU faculty are saying about Brightspace:

• 'I've taught online at three different universities, and D2L's intuitive platform is clearly the superior product. I particularly appreciate the space for creativity relative to student engagement and feedback. Being able to provide feedback via screen/audio recordings will not only dramatically enrich the student experience, but also make the evaluation process more efficient!'
  
• 'It's user-friendly for faculty and students. My favorite part is the integrated Kaltura option to help talk through some feedback for students.'
  
• 'I have used this LMS previously at another institution and it is nice to be using it again! This is such an intuitive tool, and I have found that both students and instructors really enjoy this type of learning platform.'

Puneet Arora, chief revenue officer of D2L, said that partnering with NCU is a natural fit given the organizations share a commitment to engagement in online education. 'Like NCU, D2L has been a leader in online learning for over twenty years,' said Arora. 'We're excited to see what the future holds as we continue this exciting and rewarding collaboration.'

ABOUT BRIGHTSPACE
Brightspace is a cloud-based learning platform built by educators, for educators that works on any device. It is a secure, reliable platform that lets you create engaging courses using your technology to fit your needs. With Brightspace, you can easily set up individualized learning paths for your learners, keep them on track with automated nudges, give them personalized feedback and engage them through gamification, social tools, video and other powerful features.

Brightspace is the only learning platform chosen as a partner of the National Federation of the Blind's Centre of Excellence in Nonvisual Access. Brightspace was also named the Best K-12 Learning Management System and Best Professional Learning Solution for Faculty and Administrative Staff at the SIIA CODiE Awards. To learn more, visit the Higher Education and K-12 pages on our website.

ABOUT D2L

D2L believes learning is the foundation upon which all progress and achievement rests. Working closely with organizations globally, D2L has transformed the way millions of people learn online and in the classroom. Learn more about D2L for schools, higher education and businesses at [To enable links contact MENAFN]

ABOUT NORTHCENTRAL UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1996, Northcentral University is a regionally accredited, non-profit, online and graduate-focused university serving professionals globally. NCU offers doctoral and master's degree programs in business, education health sciences, social work, psychology, marriage and family sciences and technology, as well as bachelor's degrees in business and psychology. NCU is an affiliate of the private, non-profit National University System. It is regionally accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501, 510.748.9001, wscuc.org. For more information, visit [To enable links contact MENAFN] call 866.776.0331.

NCU MEDIA CONTACT: Molly Gutterud, Vice-President, Communications, NCU -- 480-540-0939

D2L MEDIA CONTACT: Dana Dean, Director of Awareness, D2L Corporation,
Twitter: @D2L

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