Category: email

Blackboard Access Ends July 15, 2025

Email sent April 16 to all non-faculty Blackboard course and organization owners

Dear Blackboard Users,

You are receiving this message because you are an owner of one or more Blackboard courses or organizations. As part of the university’s transition to Canvas, all content housed within Blackboard will become inaccessible after Tuesday, July 15, 2025. This is the last day Blackboard will be available. We encourage you to review your content now to determine next steps.

Steps to Take:

Review Your Content: Log into Blackboard and choose Courses and/or Organizations on the left menu. Evaluate the material on your site(s). If you do not need the content, no further action is required. For guidance on how to download content, please review the Blackboard retirement resources.
Request a Canvas Site: Refer to the Canvas Use Guidelines to assess if your content is appropriate for Canvas. A Canvas Community site or other Canvas course type may be a suitable replacement for specific types of non-instructional content. If your use case is within the guidelines, the last opportunity to have Blackboard content automatically migrated to Canvas is May 6, 2025. Submit your requests here.
Have a Plan for Website-Related Content: If your Bb Orgs content is linked to a university website and you are hosting downloadable files like PDFs, Word documents and/or Power Point files, please visit the WebDocs solution resource page to determine if your content falls under this use case and to learn more. Here, you will also find best practices for hosting content on the web.

More information is available on the LMS Transition Website. If you have any questions or need assistance with next steps, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected].

Thank you for your attention to this important transition.

LMS Advisory Committee
George Mason University

Action Required: Save Your Files Before Blackboard Access Ends

Email to all Mason student:

Dear Patriot,

As a reminder, the Blackboard learning management system (LMS) will be retired at the end of the spring 2025 semester. Beginning in the summer 2025 term, all courses will use Canvas as the University’s official LMS.

Important Dates:

Spring 2025: Last semester Blackboard will be used to support instruction
July 15: All access to Blackboard will end

Before July 15, we strongly encourage you to download and save any materials from Blackboard that you may want or need to keep. This could include:

Content required to complete an incomplete grade (please work with your instructor on what materials you need)
Portfolio artifacts for academic or professional use
Documents that may be useful when requesting letters of recommendation

Once Blackboard access ends, these materials will no longer be available. You will not have access to these courses in Canvas.

If you have any questions or need assistance downloading your materials, please visit the Blackboard Retirement Student Resources website or contact the project team at [email protected].

Thank you for taking the time to prepare for this transition.

Sincerely,
Charles Kreitzer
Executive Director, Mason Online
Office of the Provost

Joy Taylor
Executive Director, Learning Support Services
Information Technology Services 

March Faculty Update: Update on Blackboard to Canvas Transition – The Final Stretch

Dear Colleague,

As we enter the final phase of the transition from Blackboard to Canvas, we want to remind you that spring 2025 is the last semester in which courses can be taught in Blackboard. Starting summer 2025, courses that use the LMS must use Canvas (all sessions). Access to save any content from Blackboard will end on July 15, 2025. To prepare for this transition, please review the new Blackboard Retirement Resources site, which provides details on the following:

Manage Blackboard Content & Final Migration Opportunity: Save any Blackboard materials you need before July 15, as access will end after this date. The content from many courses has already migrated to Canvas, with all spring 2025 course content moving in May.
- If you need additional courses or organizations migrated, submit a request via the Final Content Migration Form by May 6. All spring 2025 Blackboard courses will migrate automatically. Archived Blackboard content, including student data, will only be available upon request after July 15.
Plan for Incomplete Grades & Grade Appeals: Spring 2025 Canvas course migrations will not include student work. If you assign an incomplete grade, download all necessary materials before Blackboard access ends on July 15. If a grade appeal arises after this date, you may request archived student records.

The next Canvas Boot Camp is a six-part series that began March 21 and runs until May 2. Click here to register today.

For additional information about any details above, please visit the Blackboard Retirement Resources site. If you have any questions about the transition, please visit the project website or contact the project team at [email protected].

Thank you for your cooperation as we complete this transition to Canvas.

Charles Kreitzer
Executive Director, Mason Online
Office of the Provost

Joy Taylor
Executive Director, Learning Support Services
Information Technology Services 

Blackboard Org to WebDocs – Migration Readiness

Hello, Web Managers,

Web-downloadable documents currently stored in Blackboard Organization spaces will be migrated to WebDocs, the new web document management solution for George Mason websites.

WebDocs, a joint project of the ITS WAS and OUB Web Teams, will store and manage web- downloadable documents that meet both WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards and content purpose criteria.

WebDocs features include:

Continued Editing Access – Content editors will be able to update migrated files in the future, and new versions will retain the same URL.
Adding New Files – Editors can upload new documents to WebDocs.
Automatic URL Redirection – Existing Blackboard document links on SiteMasonry CMS pages will automatically resolve to the new WebDocs location—no manual updates required.

Webpages Versus Downloadable Documents

In most cases, content should be published as a webpage rather than contained in a PDF, Word document, or PowerPoint file.

There are a few situations when a downloadable web document is appropriate:

Forms that require print-only submissions: Documents that must be printed, signed, or submitted in hard copy.
Reports or policy documents: Official publications that need to retain formatting for compliance, archival, or print distribution.

Industry best practices discourage the use of downloadable documents whenever possible.

Content locked within a document is harder to access, navigate, and find compared to webpage content, creating several challenges:

Difficult to access: PDFs and other formats often lack proper tagging, making them inaccessible to screen readers and assistive technologies.

Disruptive to read: Downloadable files interrupt browsing flow, requiring extra steps to open and navigate.
Not mobile-friendly: PDFs and other documents do not resize well, forcing users to zoom and scroll.
Obscured from analytics: Analytics are less available for documents than web pages. For example, when a web user finds a PDF using Google search, that web user’s click to the PDF isn’t recorded in George Mason’s analytics.
Lower search visibility: Search engines prioritize webpage content over document content, making PDFs harder to find.

Prepare to Move to WebDocs

For each document in your Blackboard Org space, take one of the following actions based on its content and purpose:

Delete: Remove outdated, redundant, or irrelevant documents.
Relocate: Use the Solutions Matrix for Bb Orgs Transition to determine where a document should be moved, based on its purpose and content.
Convert to Web Content: If the information is evergreen or frequently referenced, incorporate the content into webpage instead of keeping it in a downloadable file.
Confirm Accessibility Compliance: The Assistive Technology Initiative office can confirm that documents for public download meet WCAG 2.1 digital accessibility criteria. Documents left in Blackboard Org spaces for migration must meet digital accessibility standards.

Transition Timeline

Now–April 2025: Review files stored in BB Org spaces.
- Delete outdated or unused documents.
- Move documents that are not printable forms, policies, or reports.
- Confirm the web downloadable documents (printable forms, policies, or reports) meet WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards.
May–June 2025: Migration process begins. If you have finished your cleanup early, let us know!
July 2025: Blackboard file storage is decommissioned.

Have Questions?

Have questions about the move to WebDocs? Finished your cleanup early? Let us know!

New Accessibility Tool in Canvas

Dear Colleague,

We are excited to share that when you return from Spring Break, you will have access to Panorama, a robust accessibility tool within Canvas that will replace Ally, the solution previously available in Blackboard.

Panorama offers similar functionality to Ally, along with enhanced features designed to improve the accessibility of your course materials. One of its key benefits is its ability to automatically fix accessibility issues at the touch of a button, making it even easier to create an inclusive learning environment for all students.

Like Ally, students do not see your course content accessibility scores. Students only have the option to view alternative formats.

While Panorama is user-friendly, we encourage you to review our Panorama web page to access user training materials and help you get started. Additional information about using Panorama can be found by:

Panorama Overview training recording
Visiting the Yuja Panorama Help Center

Additionally, we invite you to join our upcoming Panorama Accessibility office hours, where you can connect with a member of the ATI, LMS, or Instructional Design team for any specific questions or additional support regarding Panorama.

Monday, March 17, 2025 – 1:30 PM – 3 PM ET – Session Link
Tuesday, March 18, 2025 – 10 AM – 11:30 AM ET – Session Link

We are thrilled to provide this valuable resource as we continue our commitment to ensuring accessible and inclusive teaching and learning environments. Thank you for your dedication to supporting all students.

Best,

Korey Singleton
Deputy ADA Coordinator for Accessibility
Office of Access, Compliance, and Community

Joy Taylor
Executive Director
Learning Support Services, ITS

February Canvas Implementation Update: Blackboard Retirement Planning Resources

Dear Colleague,

As we enter the final phase of the transition from Blackboard to Canvas, we want to remind you that spring 2025 is the last semester in which courses can be taught in Blackboard. Starting summer 2025, courses that use the LMS must use Canvas (all sessions). Access to save any content from Blackboard will end on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. To prepare for this transition, please review the new Blackboard Retirement Resources site, which provides details on the following:

Manage Blackboard Content: Save any Blackboard materials you need before July 15. Many Blackboard courses have already been migrated to Canvas, and all spring 2025 courses will be migrated to Canvas in May, with one final upcoming chance to request content from past courses. Other migration options are on the course migration site. All semester courses currently in Blackboard, including all student data, will be available by request after July 15.
Anticipate Incomplete Grades & Manage Grade Appeals: While spring 2025 courses will be migrated to Canvas at the end of the semester, they will not include student work, and students will not have access to Blackboard after July 15. If you assign an incomplete grade at the end of the semester, download all necessary course materials and relevant activities to facilitate grading once the student completes the requirements. If a student files a grade challenge after the Blackboard sunset date, you may need to submit a request to retrieve student records from the Blackboard archive.

Those who have not yet participated in or reviewed a previous recording, the next virtual Canvas Boot Camp will be February 18 – 20, 2025. Click here to register today.

Thank you for your cooperation as we complete this transition to Canvas.

Charles Kreitzer
Executive Director, Mason Online
Office of the Provost

Joy Taylor
Executive Director, Learning Support Services
Information Technology Services 

January Canvas Implementation Update: Semester Start Up Remind

Dear Colleagues,

The start of the spring semester is right around the corner!

Blackboard will be the default LMS for the spring; however, instructors are encouraged to use Canvas and must opt in by completing this form. So far, more than 3,500 courses plan to use Canvas this semester. The spring 2025 semester will be the final term courses can be taught using Blackboard.

Remember that students and faculty will be engaging in both Blackboard and Canvas, so it will be important to communicate what system you will be using and share student resources. Be sure to email and/or post an announcement to reinforce training and support options and include the Recommended Course Statement in your materials and early communications.

Course Migrations
All summer and fall 2024 Blackboard courses were copied to Canvas. These course names start with Bb Migrated and can be used as a source to copy into your semester courses. Read more about course migrations.

Upcoming Trainings
Learn more about Canvas and integrated tools like Honorlock (test integrity), Turnitin (plagiarism detection), Poll Everywhere (polling), Kaltura (video), and more by attending an upcoming training. Those not yet in Canvas should consider attending an upcoming Canvas Boot Camp: Info and Registration.

Canvas Support
Remember, 24/7 phone and chat support is available within Canvas by clicking “Help” in the left-hand menu.

Best wishes for a successful semester!

Charles Kreitzer
Executive Director, Mason Online
Office of the Provost

Joy Taylor
Executive Director, Learning Support Services
Information Technology Services

Bb Organization Update & Web Links Information

Dear Colleague,

You are receiving this message because you are enrolled as a leader in a Blackboard Organization (Bb Org) accessed within the last 24 months. As you are aware, Bb Orgs will be retired on July 15, 2025, as part of the Canvas implementation. Below are reminders, updates, and new information on the transition.

Transitioning to the Canvas Community Site
Not all Bb Orgs can transition to Canvas based on the Canvas Use Guidelines.We encourage those whose will not transition to Canvas to review the other options available to move your content to another collaboration or file storage solution. If your Bb Org does meet the guidelines, you can request a Canvas community course site. Each request will be reviewed to ensure it meets the guidelines.  

Automated Content Migration
For use cases that can transition to Canvas, we are pleased to share that the next deadline to request a content migration from Blackboard to Canvas is Monday, December 2. After migration, the content will be accessible only to the individual who submitted the form. Additionally, it cannot be made publicly available, as it is simply a container for the migrated content. The content must be copied into a new Canvas site. To submit your request, please complete the December 2024 Content Migration Request Form by Monday, December 2. You will receive an email when the content has been migrated.

We recommend you request a community course site prior to requesting the content migration. Failure to do so could result in content that cannot be migrated to an active course site. 

SiteMasonry Sites – Transitioning Downloadable Documents from Blackboard Organization Spaces
The Information Technology Services (ITS) and the Office of University Branding (OUB) web teams are developing a Web Document Repository to store publicly downloadable files compliant with the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Revised 508 Standards for accessibility. Recent updates to the ADA reinforce the requirement for public entities, including George Mason University, to provide fully accessible digital experiences, including accessible documents.

The new Web Document Repository will be available to SiteMasonry web managers in late spring 2025. A member of the OUB web team will reach out to each SiteMasonry web manager currently using a Bb Org to assist with creating a transition plan to:

Identify documents for deletion
Move non-public documents to appropriate platforms (e.g., Canvas, Mason Online sites)
Ensure publicly downloadable documents meet ICT Revised 508 Standards for digital accessibility
Ready digitally accessible, publicly downloadable documents for a move to the new Web Document Repository

Major/Degree Community Courses
Finally, we are pleased to share that a Canvas community site has been created for each major at the university. This allows units to use the site to communicate and share content with students. Membership in each group will be managed automatically through integration with Banner. Read more and request access.

The project team hopes you have a successful end to your semester and will enjoy the upcoming winter break. As always, if you have questions about this transition, contact [email protected] or visit the project website at http://lms.gmu.edu/orgs.

November Canvas Implementation Project Update: Preparing for Spring 2025

Dear Colleagues,

As the fall semester comes to a close, we’re providing essential updates on the Canvas implementation to help you prepare for spring and the full transition to Canvas. With end-of-semester activities increasing, this will be our last update until January, so please review this message thoroughly.

Spring 2025 Courses
As a reminder, Blackboard will be the default LMS for the spring; however, instructors are encouraged to use Canvas and must opt in by completing this form. If you used Canvas this fall, you must opt into Canvas again for the spring; it will not be done automatically.

Next Course Migration
All course sections that used Blackboard in summer and fall 2024 will be migrated automatically at the end of the semester. If there are additional courses you would like migrated—such as those updated since the last migration or not previously migrated—please submit them using the December 2024 Content Migration Form by Monday, December 2. You will need the Blackboard course ID for each section you wish to migrate. An email will be sent once the migrated courses are available in Canvas (expected in early January).

Preparing for Summer Canvas Cutover
We want to remind all faculty who have not yet transitioned to Canvas to begin developing a plan for their courses. The spring 2025 semester will be the final term courses can be taught using Blackboard.

We strongly encourage you to take advantage of the resources available to become familiar with Canvas. For those not as familiar with Canvas or need a refresh, the next synchronous Canvas Bootcamp will be hosted December 3 – 5. Register Today! Additional training on specific topics will also be held on Tuesday, December 10. Links and details for these sessions and a full list of the training resources can be found at https://lms.gmu.edu/training-events/.

Finally, if you have had content migrated to Canvas, please take time to review these materials, which you can find on your Canvas Courses page. The course title will begin with “Bb Migrated.” The Migrated Course Cleanup Guide offers tips and best practices as you review the migrated content.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and commitment to this important effort.

Charles Kreitzer
Executive Director, Mason Online
Office of the Provost

Joy Taylor
Executive Director, Learning Support Services
Information Technology Services

Canvas Implementation Project Update: Preparing for Spring 2025

Email sent to faculty on October 10, 2024

Dear Patriots,

As we continue our transition to Canvas as the university’s new Learning Management System (LMS), we want to provide an important update regarding the timeline and expectations for the upcoming spring 2025 semester.

Spring 2025 Courses
For the spring semester, all courses will be created in Blackboard. Instructors are encouraged to use Canvas and should opt in by completing this form. If you taught using Canvas in the fall, you will need to opt into Canvas again for the spring.

During the first semester of Canvas availability, we saw impressive participation, exceeding our goal of 25% of courses, with over 900 unique instructors teaching 1,900+ sections to nearly 29K unique students. In anticipation of the full transition to Canvas at the end of the spring 2025 semester, we strongly encourage all faculty to begin shifting to Canvas. This will ensure you are fully prepared for the final cut-off and have time to explore the platform’s capabilities before Blackboard is fully phased out. All summer 2025 courses and beyond must use Canvas.

Training & Support
To help you with this process, a variety of development opportunities are available to guide you through Canvas setup, course migration, and feature utilization. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of these resources as soon as possible. Training sessions and self-paced workshops are available to meet your individual needs. A complete list of these resources can be found on the project website at http://lms.gmu.edu.

Canvas Day
We also invite you to join us at Canvas Day on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, which will be offered both in person and live-streamed. To register and view the program’s agenda visit http://lms.gmu.edu/canvas-day.

Your proactive engagement in this transition is vital to ensuring a smooth experience for both you and your students as we move to Canvas after the spring 2025 semester.

Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to this important transition.

Charles Kreitzer
Executive Director, Mason Online
Office of the Provost

Joy Taylor
Executive Director, Learning Support Services
Information Technology Services

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