Update on decision-making process and upcoming actions pertaining to Learning Management System (LMS)

Dear members of the university community,

Today I’m sharing an update regarding the decision-making process and upcoming actions pertaining to our Learning Management System (LMS).

Our current LMS – Blackboard Learn Original – is a shared, system-wide contract to which UAA is one party. It unfortunately is out of date, and many faculty and students would like to move to an improved LMS experience. In time, our current version of Blackboard will no longer be supported by Blackboard. Our contract with Blackboard and our usage of Blackboard Learn Original runs through the end of June 2023. As a company, Blackboard is shifting to a substantially updated LMS known as Blackboard Ultra Navigation. As they shift in that direction, you will begin to notice some changes in the landing page portion of our interface with the platform. Effective August 12, all campuses in the UA system will see a new login page for Blackboard known as Blackboard Ultra Navigation.

What does this mean for classes in Blackboard?

As previously communicated by IT, the August 12 Blackboard Ultra Navigation update will change the landing page inside Blackboard and how you find your courses. The courses and course tools will be the same as last semester.

Does this mean that Blackboard Ultra is our new LMS?

The faculty, staff, and students who served on the Digital Technologies Learning Committee during the past academic year did an excellent job of exploring the options that were set before them: Blackboard Ultra and Canvas. When the committee received its charge, these were the only two options we thought would be available for their consideration. Their recommendation was for us to seek an agreement with Canvas. An attempt was made, but those negotiations were not successful; the cost for Canvas is well above what we can afford. In addition, we would have to continue to fund our current Blackboard contract for an extended period of time, so we would end up paying for two LMSs at the same time. Consequently, a decision has been made to pause a wholesale move to either platform for at least the next two years.

How does this fit with the committee recommendation announced this spring?

The Digital Learning Technologies Committee’s process improved our negotiating position with the vendors, resulting in substantial fiscal savings for our next systemwide Blackboard contract. It also concluded that moving to either LMS would be an improvement over our current Blackboard experience. Based on that recommendation, this fall a working group will map out a reasonable transition plan that supports both faculty and students.

Does this mean we’re staying in our current Blackboard (Blackboard Learn Original) indefinitely?

No. In time, Blackboard will no longer support our current platform. In addition, the diligent work of the faculty, staff, and students on the Digital Learning Technologies Committee illustrated that an improved LMS experience would be beneficial for all. Our existing licensing agreement includes the option for Blackboard Ultra. However, no decisions have been made yet regarding how we may leverage the Ultra platform at the course level. We will be working on this question and process this fall. If you are interested in serving on this working group, please email me at uaa_provost@alaska.edu.

I want to acknowledge the extensive work of the Digital Learning Technologies Committee, and thank both its members and the many other faculty, students, and staff who participated in some aspect of its work. While I know this may be disappointing to many people, the cost to transition to the desired LMS proved far too high at this time. Nevertheless, both UAA and the UA System gained valuable information, as well as a stronger negotiating position with our current systemwide vendor that results in savings for all three universities over the next two to three years. Additionally, the DLTC work highlighted the vital role of the university’s LMS in achieving our core educational mission. I look forward to working collaboratively with the working group and core staff members in both IT Services and in Academic Affairs to develop and implement a transition plan and longer-term strategy.

Best regards,
Denise Runge
UAA Provost

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