Course Duration

Course Creation

Syracuse Blackboard courses are populated automatically based on data that comes from MySlice, where official registrar data is held. Each course receives a default duration that can be edited by instructors. The course duration determine where under which term label a course appears.

• Courses are created in Blackboard 6-8 weeks before the start of each semester for all courses that appear in MySlice with an instructor of record. 

• Courses receive automatic start and end dates:

  • The start date is set to four weeks before the start of main campus classes. For example, Fall 2021 classes began on 8/30/2021 so the duration start was set to 8/2/2021.

  • The end date is set to the end of the month that follows the semester. For example, the Fall 2021 semester ended 12/17/2021 so the duration end was set to 1/31/2022. 

  • The "Current Courses" area includes all courses that are set to "continuous" by the instructor or where the current date is within the duration of the course.

  • The start and end date of a course can be changed by the instructor in Original Courses by going in the course to Customization>Properties.

  • Students can only enter courses listed in the "Current Courses" area, if they are set to available.

    • Instructors can adjust the course duration to move a course to the "Current Courses" area so that all students in the course can enter it.

    • ITS can extend access to a course for an individual student upon request. We require instructor permission be sent to help@syr.edu. 

Courses have a limited duration to assist instructors in complying with fair use guidance around teaching that copy righted materials only be made available during the period they are in use for a course. 

Course Enrollments

Enrollments in Blackboard are populated automatically based on registrar data from MySlice.

• Instructors and TAs listed in MySlice are automatically populated in their respective roles in the course

• Student rosters populate in Blackboard 4 weeks before the start of each semester.

• Instructors can add other instructors and teaching assistants to their own courses. To remove or change a users, or to add a student that will not be enrolled by the registrar, please email help@syr.edu.

• Instructor can request that courses have their enrollments merged into a single course.