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Course Removal Starts January 2026
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With the move to a SaaS model of Blackboard, the College gained more room to store Blackboard courses. However, this storage, while larger than before, isn't unlimited and in order to stay within our storage limits, we will need to resume the process of removing old courses from Blackboard.
Going forward, we will only be storing seven terms of courses and will be removing courses at the end of each term to stay within this limit (don't worry, we'll always let you know when this will be happening). We are currently planning to remove the following from Blackboard:
- All Blackboard course shells from FALL 21 to SPRING 23
- Old/Unused zDev shells
This cleanup will happen between terms the first week of January 2026. If you would like to see if you have any courses that will be removed, we have created a term in Blackboard called "To Be Removed." Sort your course list by this term. If you cannot see this term as an option, you have no courses slated for removal.
If you DO have courses that will be removed and would like to preserve them, you can export your course content.
Once exported, you can use this file to copy content into a new course or zdev shell or simply store it for your personal records.
If you have any questions or need assistance with this process, please let us know!
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Chart Your Course for Ultra
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Ahoy, COD faculty! The deadline for transitioning to Ultra is on the horizon and starting with the Spring 2026 term all courses at COD will be in Ultra (as you see your Spring courses being assigned in Blackboard, you will notice that they are now ALL in Ultra). With that date looming, the time is now to figure out how you’re going to get to Ultra.
The path won’t be the same for every course. Those who only use Blackboard to store a syllabus are going to have a very different transition from those who teach their entire course in Blackboard. But not to worry! We’re here to help you chart your course for the Ultra transition including figuring out how much time it will take, what training you should pursue, and the amount of support you may need from us.
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Fall 2025 Ultra Training Sessions
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The Fall 2025 Term is winding down. That means just a few more months before all courses will be in Ultra. To ensure you're "Ultra-ready" for spring, we recommend signing up for one of our Ultra trainings. There are only a few sessions left, so register ASAP to secure your spot.
Can't make it? We also have asynchronous training you can do on your own and support labs where we can answer all of your Ultra questions!
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Building Your Course in Blackboard Ultra
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Whether you are building a brand-new course or are looking to redesign an existing course, this session will include a guided walkthrough on how to build a course optimized for the Ultra Course View. Stick around after the session to ask more questions or get hands on help from Learning Technologies.
- Tuesday, October 28 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Zoom
- Wednesday, November 26 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in SRC 3013
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Blackboard Ultra Gradebook
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This session will cover an overview of the Ultra Gradebook and how to set up your Gradebook to ensure that you and your students have a successful course.
- Friday, November 7 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. in SRC 3013
- Wednesday, December 10 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Zoom
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Converting Your Course to Blackboard Ultra
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Our Converting your Course session will include a guided walkthrough on how to transition your content from Original Course View to Ultra Course view and how to add new content from other sources. You can then take what you have learned and begin transitioning your content into the Ultra Course view. Stick around after the session to ask more questions or get hands on help from Learning Technologies.
- Monday, November 17 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Zoom
- Tuesday, December 16 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Zoom
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Ultra Asynchronous Training
Want to learn about Ultra but can't make it to one of our trainings? You can now register for one of our asynchronous online courses! You can choose from a PDH option or one that offers the same information without the PDH component.
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Blackboard Ultra Open Lab
LT Open Labs are ready for all your Ultra questions this fall. From August 27 through December 19 find us in SRC 3013 on:
- Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Make an Appointment with an Instructional Designer
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Need a little extra help with structuring your courses or have specific questions about course design in Ultra? We've got Instructional Designers for that! We now have a request form that allows you to book a 30-minute session (either virtual via Teams or in-person) with one of our Instructional Designers.
Before booking a 30-minute appointment with an instructional designer, we strongly encourage you to complete Blackboard Ultra training (available in both ). These sessions will give you the foundation you need so our meeting time can focus on your specific questions and course needs.
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Professional Development Opportunities from Anthology
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Back by popular demand, the Exemplary Course Program (ECP) recognizes instructors and course designers whose courses demonstrate best practices in four major areas: course design, interaction and collaboration, assessment, and learner support.
The 2025 version of the ECP rubric is available now! You can use it to guide discussions around course design at your institution, and to evaluate which of your courses is ready for submission to the program.
You can fill out a form to express your interest in learning about and participating in this program.
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Digital Teaching Symposium
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Get ready for an inspiring day of learning, collaboration, and innovation at the Anthology Digital Teaching Symposium 2025. Join us virtually on November 13, 2025 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., for this free, one-day event that brings together higher education faculty and teaching professionals from around the world to explore the latest insights and strategies shaping the future of digital teaching and learning.
Now in its ninth year, the Digital Teaching Symposium (DTS) is designed to connect educators, spark ideas, and showcase innovative practices in today’s ever-evolving teaching environment. Through peer-led sessions, you’ll discover how colleagues across the globe are harnessing technology to create engaging, inclusive, and personalized learning experiences that meet the expectations of today’s students.
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New Posts on the LT Blog!
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Christine Monnier is back to blogging for the Fall Term! Check out her latest posts (most recent at the bottom, newest are bolded):
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Contact Learning Technologies
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