Blackboard Ultra at Syracuse University
Welcome!
Blackboard Learn Ultra is the supported Learning Management System (LMS) at Syracuse University. The Ultra course view layout utilizes contemporary web design practices that meet current accessibility guidelines and responsiveness across all device sizes. This creates a consistent and seamless experience for both faculty and learners when moving between a desktop, tablet and mobile device.
Transition to Blackboard Ultra - Summer/Fall 2024
Beginning with classes for Fall 2024, all new Blackboard courses are created in Ultra Course View (UCV) format. All current Answers pages listed in the index on the left are written for UCV.
Past courses created between 2003-2023 will be archived in their original course view format. For help with copying and updating original view Blackboard content into current Ultra courses, review the Online Learning Services training and support resources for Getting Up to Ultra Speed, or email help@syr.edu.
Blackboard is available to all SU faculty, students, and instructional staff. Users with an active SU NetID can Login to Blackboard using their NetID and password.
If you cannot find information related to your specific question in the Answers index, Contact the Help Desk or email help@syr.edu and include “Blackboard” in the subject line of your message.
Answers Guides for Instructors
Below are links to Blackboard Answers pages created for SU instructors by Online Learning Services, indexed by main topic areas. Frequently referenced Answers are highlighted for each index. A full page list for each index can be viewed in the page tree on the left.
Answers about Blackboard login access, setup, technical settings and requirements, and general FAQ's
Top Pages
Accessing Blackboard - how to login to Blackboard and locate your courses
Blackboard Support Contacts - contact information for the ITS service center and Blackboard support group, and for school/college IT offices
Locating Blackboard Courses - searching/filtering your course list
Full Page List
Answers about managing course availability and appearance, course enrollments and merges, announcements, calendar, email/messages, notification settings, etc.
Top Pages
Blackboard Start of Semester Frequently Asked Questions (SOS - FAQ) - common questions and request forms related to setting up new Blackboard courses
Course Availability - making your Blackboard course available to students
Merge Course Enrollments - combining 2 or more sections under a single "parent" course in Blackboard
Course Announcements - posting announcements and sending mass notifications to all users in a course
Course Messages - sending direct messages to selected users/groups in your course
Full Page List
Answers about building and publishing course content including documents, embedded files, links, streaming media, assignments, etc.
Top Pages
Create Content - adding new items to the course content area
Modules and Folders - organizing items in the course content area
Copying Content - transferring files and content from other Blackboard courses
Content Visibility and Release Conditions - managing student access to items in the course content area
Full Page List
Answers about using the Blackboard Ultra gradebook and course analytics tools
Top Pages
Gradebook - overview of the Gradebook interface
Grading Rubrics - creating and applying grading rubrics
Attendance - using the attendance tool and importing into the Gradebook
Full Page List
Answers about managing your course roster, including tools and settings for individual students and creating groups
Top Pages
Course Roster - using the course roster
Group Sets and Groups - creating new groups and enrolling students
Accommodations - changing course settings/permissions for individual students to reflect accommodations
Full Page List
Answers about supported tools for online learning including Zoom, Kaltura, PlayPosit, PointSolutions, Microsoft 365, and Google Suite, as well as information about the process for requesting to connect other third-party tools to SU Blackboard
Top Pages
Content Market Tools - accessing the full list of supported third-party tools that can be linked/embedded in Ultra courses
Kaltura Video - embedding videos from your Kaltura Media library into Blackboard content
Turnitin - creating a Turnitin assignment link in the course content area and linking to the Blackboard gradebook
Zoom - embedding a Zoom meeting link and/or recording in the Blackboard content area
Full Page List