Blackboard Ultra
Blackboard
Blackboard Learn Ultra is Coming!
We are excited to share important news about the ongoing and final stage of transitioning to Blackboard Learn Ultra Course View. As part of our continued efforts to improve the technology experience for faculty and students, we are moving towards a new, more streamlined and intuitive version of Blackboard Learn which will significantly enhance your teaching experience and improve the way students interact with course materials.
Blackboard Learn Original
See the modernized course view below
Blackboard Learn Ultra
Facts and Questions
What Does This Mean for You?
Currently, we are using Blackboard Ultra Navigation with the Original Course View, and will be rolling out to full transition of the Ultra Course View in Spring 2026. In the meantime, to support a smooth transition to this new version of Blackboard, we will begin working with the School of Professional Studies and a few other early adopters after Spring 2025 finals, while planning to train all faculty in Fall 2025. To recap, SPS courses will be taught in Ultra Course View in Fall 2025, and all other courses will be moved and taught in Ultra Course View in Spring 2026. Winter Intersession 2026 will remain in Original Course View.
Blackboard Organizations/Communities will also need to transition to the Ultra Course View.
Training and support will be provided during this transition. Please see the timeline and rollout process for details.
Why the Change?
Anthology (Blackboard) has announced the end-of-life support for their legacy system, Learn Original, December 2026. However, previous courses will still be accessible for content retrieval in a ‘read only’ mode.
What’s Changing?
Blackboard Learn Ultra is a new Learning Management System (LMS) experience by Anthology. It features simplified navigation, a mobile-friendly experience, intuitive workflows, and data-driven learning analytics, making it easier for you to keep your students engaged and on the path to success.
Project Timeline and Rollout Process:
The timeline below helps give you an overview of the transition process for enabling Ultra courses within our current Blackboard LMS.
Spring 2025
- Core team (IT&I Blackboard staff and Western’s Instructional Designer) receive training with Anthology’s Education Consultants
- Work with Phase I early adopters (SPS and few others) to prepare for and build Fall courses using Ultra
Summer 2025
- Continue working with Phase I group to build their Fall Ultra courses
- Work with select faculty to build their Summer and Fall Ultra courses.
Fall 2025
- Phase I group using Ultra for all their Fall courses
- Training sessions for remaining faculty in preparation for Spring courses
Spring 2026
- Final migration and all courses taught in Ultra
- Continued training
How Can You Get Started?
While our team continues to receive training and hands-on experience with the new interface, we strongly encourage you to get a first look at some of Ultra’s key features by watching this preview video:
Please also find some resources that may be helpful:
- Blackboard’s Instructor Tutorial Videos let you check out the new design and workflows within Learn Ultra.
- Find out more about Blackboard Learn Ultra from the Blackboard Help site.
What’s Next?
We understand that change can feel daunting, but we are committed to supporting you throughout this transition. Our goal is to ensure you feel confident and prepared, with ample resources and training available to guide you. In the coming weeks, we’ll share more details about training opportunities and phases of this project. Please return to this page for updates.
Support:
We are here for you every step of the way. We are excited about this transition and its potential to enhance both your teaching and student learning. If you have any questions about Blackboard Learn Ultra or the transition process, please reach out to us by contacting our service desk at RequestIT@wcsu.edu, or submitting a ticket via our service portal.
Thank you for your continued support as we work together to improve the educational experience at Western. Resources and information will be updated as the rollout progresses.
Useful Resources:
One of the hallmarks of the Blackboard Ultra Experience is the speed with which new features are developed and released. In fact, new features become available every month! Some of these features are large updates with entirely new functionality, others are very small enhancements that improve the teaching and learning experience. Below are some resources you may find helpful.
Blackboard Learn Help for Instructors – Ultra Course View
Blackboard Learn Original and Ultra Terminology
Navigate Inside an Ultra Course