Abstract: As key end-users of E-learning products, faculty should play a major role in evaluating how well these tools support their teaching efforts. After an IT-centric course management system (CMS) selection process fell short of meeting faculty needs, our university altered its approach, placing the onus for review on a formally constituted faculty users' group, supported by an IT liaison with E-learning experience. This group recently led a successful evaluation of open-source CMS products intended to replace the current commercial system. Sixteen faculty volunteers from across the university participated in a 20-week evaluation process using a set of consensus criteria. Based on analysis of the faculty's objective ratings and their qualitative feedback, a pilot project to test the selected CMS in a production environment was initiated. Whatever the results of the pilot testing, the integral involvement of faculty in this process has provided the needed legitimacy to ensure the acceptance of the next generation CMS by our broader university community.