The SRSU Blackboard Online Support Desk is where faculty can direct all your Blackboard questions or requests. For instance, if you are the instructor of record for a Blackboard courses and need to add a TA, GA, or additional instructor to your course(s), merge course sections, need help with course copying content, need help with using a Blackboard feature in your course (such as Collaborate Ultra), etc., contact the Online Support Desk.
The Blackboard technical support desk is open 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your convenience. To reach the support desk:
- By calling 888.837.6055
- Via email blackboardsupport@sulross.edu
Don’t hesitate to request a web-conference one-on-one with an ID!
SRSU BLACKBOARD FACULTY RESOURCES & SUPPORT NEWS – UPDATED FOR WEEK OF January 12th, 20256
SPOTLIGHT ON: Blackboard Ultra New Instructor Bootcamps – January 13th thru 22nd Sessions!
These Blackboard Bootcamp sessions are hands-on, held completely online, and are perfect for new SRSU instructors, returning instructors or adjuncts, or even just faculty needing a refresher. As advertised, these Bootcamp sessoins will have you feeling confident in navigating Blackboard Ultra from day one!
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Tuesday, 1/13 @ 1pm
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Thursday, 1/15 @ 2pm
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Tuesday, 1/20 @ 2pm
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Wednesday, 1/21 @ 2pm
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Thursday, 1/22 @ 1pm
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AND SPOTLIGHT ON: Blackboard Ultra – System Wide Navigation Enhancment:
Last Thursday, January 8, there was a system-wide Blackboard update that included a significant user interface (UI) change affecting the look and feel of the top main menu in every course as well as a significant change in the way you close a Bb Ultra course and a new way to switch between different Blackboard courses.
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To view an overview video covering these new Blackboard navigation enhancements: https://vimeo.com/1140070525
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There will be a free webinar tomorrow covering these Blackboard changes at 10 am – What’s New in Blackboard? (SEE #2 Below to Register For This!)
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———— WEEKLY SRSU FACULTY BLACKBOARD NEWSLETTER————
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1) BLACKBOARD ULTRA SUPPORT & “BY APPOINTMENT” ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS.
SRSU Blackboard Admin & Support Tim Parsons -tim.parsons@sulross.edu
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-ALSO AVAILABLE TO ALL SRSU FACULTY- Digital Teaching How-to By Appointment
If you can’t make the times for some of our Digital Teaching Webinars or don’t see what you want listed in our offerings, why not sign up for a “By Appointment” session with an Instructional Development team member? Use our convenient form and let us know what you’d like to go over and when you have availability. Schedule By Appointment sessions for yourself, your program, or even your entire department!
Register for a By Appointment session TODAY for:
- Migrating old content to Bb Ultra
- Course Design
- Plan/Design Your Program
- Technology Integration
- Accessibility
- Much more!
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-For Course Content Copying into Spring 2026 Courses:
For a “How-To” on doing this yourself please view the SRSU Blackboard Ultra Fall 2024 – Fall 2025 – Quickstart and Overview Video.
Ultra course copy topic covered by video timecode: 56:50 to End min – Course Copying into your Summer Ultra Bb Shell
blackboardsupport@sulross.edu can ALSO assist in course-copying content into your summer semester course shells from a previous Bb courses!
BONUS SRSU WORKSHOP: Mastering Bb Grading for Faculty Success! This training took place in 2025 and was ONLY for SRSU Instructors covering pro tips on setting up and maintaining your grade book in Blackboard Ultra! MANY topics covered our folks were interested in learning more on. VERY INSTRUCTIVE! Watch the Recorded Session Here: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1046486030
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2) REGISTER NOW @ SHSU Online – JANUARY BLACKBOARD ULTRA & DIGITAL TEACHING WEBINARS
All January digital teaching webinars are now available for free registration
January Webinars:
All January digital teaching webinars are now available for free registration
JANUARY SPOTLIGHT WEBINAR DESCRIPTIONS (THIS WEEK):
What’s New in Blackboard?
Blackboard has new features, fixes, and updates added each month. This session highlights recent changes (see top “spotlight on”), demonstrates new tools, and shares tips for using them effectively in your courses!
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Large(r) Online Classes: Design, Engagement, Assessment
Teaching a large online class does not have to feel overwhelming. Explore strategies for designing manageable courses, engaging students at scale, and assessing learning efficiently while maintaining quality.
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If you missed any of the free webinars over the spring/summer/fall so far, visit the SRSU Faculty Central “Teaching Online with Blackboard” Organization Site to find webinar recordings and slide decks / resources (SEE: #3 Below)
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3) ULTRA WEBINAR RECORDINGS AVAILABLE in the Faculty Central “Teaching Online with Blackboard” Organization Site
To access our Faculty Central “Teaching Online with Blackboard” instructor resource site within Blackboard:
Choose the “Teaching Online with Blackboard” link in your “SRSU Faculty Central” module on the institutional landing page.
Inside the ToWB site you’ll find:
NEW – Student Engagement in Large(r) Online Classes
NEW – Effective Assessment in the Age of AI
NEW – Enhancing Your Course with Video: Blackboard & Kaltura in Action
… and so much more in the new SRSU “Teaching Online with Blackboard” instructor resource site!
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Videos on new Ultra features – A new YouTube video playlist has been put together by SHSU Online covering significant new Bb Ultra features this past fall including a new Content Designer for Ultra documents, as well as another great new feature, the ability to Convert a File into a content block in an Ultra document.
To see the whole playlist of episodes: New Features For Ultra in Fall 2024 – Highlights
For More on AI in Blackboard, watch this TSUS/SHSU video series: The AI Design Assistant for Blackboard Learn Ultra
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Students can access their SRSU Blackboard Student Support / Orientation site within Blackboard from the SRSU landing page:
Choose the “SRSU Student Central – Blackboard Student Support / Orientation” link in the “SRSU Student Central” module at the top of our landing page.
**A Blackboard Student Support Orientation site link has been added to all fall 2025 Blackboard Ultra course shells!**
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5) BLACKBOARD SPRING 2026 COURSE INFORMATION & SUPPORT INFO:
2026 Blackboard course shells are set to automatically become available to students on their first official class day and are set to automatically become unavailable to students a week after the final official class day.
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SPRING 16-WEEK TERM – SRSU2026SPRG – Blackboard courses will automatically open on the first-class day (01/14/2026) and will automatically close a week+ after the final class day (05/06/2026) on 05/15/2026.
SPRING 1st 8-WEEKS TERM – SRSU2026SPRG10 – Blackboard courses automatically opened on the 1st-8-week first class day (01/14/2026) and will automatically close a week after the final class day (03/06/2025) on 03/13/2026.
SPRING 2nd 8-WEEKS TERM – SRSU2026SPRG11– Blackboard courses will automatically open on the 2nd 8-weeks first class day (03/10/2025) and will automatically close a week+ after the final class day (05/06/2025) on 05/15/2026.
TO REQUEST A DIFFERENT AUTOMATIC OPENING /CLOSING DATE FOR YOUR 16-WEEK AND 8-WEEKS COURSES: Simply contact your Blackboard support at blackboardsupport@sulross.edu and make an open/close date change request.
If you are the instructor of record for a spring 2026 Blackboard course and you need to add a TA, GA, or additional instructor to a course, need to have course sections consolidated, course copied, converted to Ultra, etc. you may request this by contacting our 24/7 Online Blackboard Support Desk at: email- blackboardsupport@sulross.edu or call- 888.837.6055 anytime, 24/7!
Don’t hesitate to request a web-conference one-on-one with an ID!
You may also email your SRSU Team of Blackboard Instructional Designers directly:
Tim Parsons – tim.parsons@sulross.edu
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SRSU Nursing Program Faculty Support
Angela McGuyer – mmj20ew@sulross.edu
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Title V PPOHA – Accelerating Access and Opportunity in West Texas – Faculty Support
Rachel Carvajal – rachel.carvajal@sulross.edu
More SRSU faculty and student support resources may be found at ourSRSU Blackboard webpage
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The following are popular faculty resource links. More information can be found by accessing your SRSU Teaching Online With Blackboard (TOWB) site within Blackboard (see above).
| Content | Manage Course | Training Resources |
Academic Affairs / Instructional Services
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- BAB 104
- PO Box C-106
- Alpine TX 79832
- 432-837-8524 | 432-837-8525