Blackboard Ultra Events
Events, Webinar Recordings, and Resources
The Center for Teaching and Learning team provides multiple supports to design, build, and teach courses in Ultra.
January 2026: Spring and Summer 2026 terms - Blackboard courses are set to “Instructor Choice,” so instructors can choose to teach in Original or Ultra
August 2026: Fall and Winter 2026 terms - Blackboard courses are set to Ultra only. All courses will be taught in Ultra.
January 1, 2027: Spring 2027 term - All Original courses will be set to completed and be read-only. No new content can be added, no new assignments submitted, no new discussion posts, etc., but all content can still be accessed and copied over into Ultra. Original courses can't be reverted to an open state.
January 1, 2028: Spring 2028 term - All Original courses will be converted to Ultra and the content flattened, essentially removing any nesting structure. If instructors have an infrequently taught Original course that will not be taught in Ultra between Spring 2026 and Fall 2027, then they should submit an ITS Help Desk ticket to create an Ultra sandbox course to copy that course's content into Ultra now.
Monthly Ultra webinars were held in Fall 2025 and Spring 2026. If you missed them, please see the recordings in Panopto below.
In August 2026, faculty and adjuncts will be invited to a full day Ultra event facilitated by Blackboard. Invitations will be sent out closer to the date.
- Introduction to Blackboard Ultra
- Creating a Blackboard Ultra Course
- Blackboard Ultra Gradebook
To schedule consultation time, click on the link in the email sent by CTL on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
- Getting started with Ultra
- Start by Converting your Blackboard Original Course to Ultra
- Review the list of Original course content types and settings that will and will NOT convert to Ultra
- Determine the best course structure for your course (learning modules strongly recommended for online and hybrid courses)
- Consider using the CTL Blackboard Ultra Course Template (all faculty are enrolled as Course Copiers)
- Review the instructions to Copy Content from Other Courses to determine whether to copy an entire course or individual course items
- Set up your course and reach out to CTL if you need help
- Learning more
- Choose from a list of commonly used Ultra course content at Blackboard Ultra 101
- Online and hybrid courses benefit from offering multiple ways to Interact with Students
- Experience being a student in the Blackboard Ultra Teaching Essentials FA25-SP26 for instructors