Summer 2019 and earlier UAF Blackboard course removal

UA Blackboard Learn is undergoing its periodic content storage management for all three universities. Academic courses from summer 2019 and earlier are slated for removal from UA Bb Learn on Oct. 28, 2022, and will no longer be accessible.

This is routine maintenance for UA Bb Learn and does not interfere with UAF’s switch to Canvas LMS by summer 2024.

What does this mean for the affected course?

All courses from Summer 2019 and earlier will be removed from the UA Blackboard Learn cloud. After the Oct. 28 deadline these courses, and their content, will no longer be available to instructors and students.

How can I retain copies of my course(s) and/or course materials?

Instructors are encouraged to migrate courses from UA Blackboard Learn  to Canvas - resources and information about migrating UAF courses to Canvas are detailed in this article.

Instructors who wish to retain offline copies of their soon-to-be archived courses can create offline course packages using Blackboard’s course export or course archive tools. To help decide which solution is the best fit for you, here’s a quick description of what each feature preserves:

• Course Exports preserve all content items for reuse, but does not preserve any student data (e.g. completed work, grades). This solution is ideal if you wish to retain copies of your content for future use and/or course building.

• Course Archives preserve all content items for reuse, and include all student data, including enrollment records and grades. This solution is ideal if you wish to retain copies of an entire course for the purpose of external accreditation or review. As archives contain student data, they must be secured in accordance with FERPA guidelines. If you require more information about FERPA, please contact the UAF Registrar’s Office.

What if I need help?

If you require assistance in creating an Export or Archive, please feel free to contact the OIT Service Desk for support.

What happens if I forget to export my course before the deadline?

Once removed on Oct. 28, 2022, summer 2019 and earlier courses will no longer be available to faculty or students in Blackboard Learn. Archives will be retained offline and instructors may contact OIT to request a copy.