Canvas Use Guidelines permit content in Canvas that is directly tied to courses and programs in the academic catalog and other use cases with student interactions best met by a learning management system. Most previous Blackboard Organizations and non-term Blackboard courses which meet the use guidelines can now request a Canvas “Community” site. Read more about Canvas course types and request a Canvas Community site.
For uses that do not meet the use guidelines, below is a description of common use cases and a list of curated solutions offered at the University. Review the table below to learn more about each solution and information on how to request these services.
All content and activities will need to be transitioned from Blackboard Organizations by July 15, 2025. Read previous communications to Blackboard Organization leaders.
Migration FAQs
How can I get a Canvas Community site created?
Canvas Use Guidelines permit content in Canvas that is directly tied to courses and programs in the academic catalog and other use cases with student interactions best met by a learning management system. Most previous Blackboard Organizations and non-term Blackboard courses which meet the use guidelines can now request a Canvas “Community” site. Read more about Canvas course types and request a Canvas Community site.
I have been approved for a Community Site. What options do I have to move my Bb Orgs content?
If you are approved for a Canvas Community site, you can move content by (1) requesting the content be migrated using the automated process available as part of the implementation project or (2) by moving content manually, on your own. To learn more about either option, click here: automated migration or manual migration.
Can I make the Canvas site with my migrated content available to users?
No. After migration, the content will be accessible only to the individual who submitted the form. The course site containing the migrated content cannot be made publicly available, as it is simply a container for the migrated content. Request a Community site which you will then copy your migrated content into, and then can be made available for users.
Once the content is migrated, how do I move it into my Community site?
You can use the course copy tool in Canvas to move all or some content into your community site from your migrated course. For more information about course copy, click here.
Can non-Mason users (guests) be added to Canvas?
No, not at this time. We are expecting to allow the creation of guest users Canvas accounts in late Fall 2024.
General FAQs
Will I be able to move my Orgs to Canvas?
Canvas does not offer a direct equivalent to Blackboard Organizations. At this time, access to and utilization of Canvas is restricted to academic courses that constitute a component of the students; academic records, as documented in Banner and reflected on official transcripts. While there may be some exceptions, there are more suitable options for hosting and distributing content to your members. Review the Canvas Use Guidelines to determine what types of content will be permitted in the Canvas LMS.
If my content and activities cannot be moved to Canvas, what options do I have?
Over the last several years, the University has made great investments in technologies and tools that foster and enable collaboration, information sharing and engagement. A review of Organizations use at the University has identified a number of common use cases that can be supported by tools that are available through the University. We encourage users to review the list of options below that have been curated for this effort to determine where they wish to transition their activities.
What is the deadline for migrating my Orgs content?
Blackboard Organization content needs to be migrated by July 15, 2025. You will not have access to Blackboard after this date. Requested to accessed archived content can only be made by submitting a request. Please note content will only be maintained in an archive through June 2026.
I have not used my Org for years and do not need the content, how can I remove it?
If you do not intend on transitioning to another solution, you do not have to take any further action. The content will be removed when Bb is retired.
How can I save the data in an Org onto my computer?
Review the directions to download all files in a course (these are the files added by the instructor/leader, not by students/participants). We recommend that the data you are looking to maintain be saved in OneDrive (personal file storage) or SharePoint Document Libraries (shared file storage).
How do I know if I no longer need to save the files?
The Library of Virginia provides guidance on if and when information should be maintained. Here is a link to guidance for Colleges & Universities.
How do I know what Orgs I am listed as a leader for?
What if I want to keep some content and delete the rest?
If the file(s) do not contain sensitive data, you can move the data to your OneDrive account for easy access. Other information will be removed when Orgs are retired in July 2025.
Solutions Matrix for Bb Orgs Transition
| Organization’s Purpose | Description | Target Audience | Solutions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collaboration (announcements, chats, virtual meetings, file sharing, etc.). | Means to disseminate and facilitate information sharing and collaboration with a project group or department. | Faculty, Students, Staff, External Users (Administrative, Working Groups, Project Teams) | MS Teams, SharePoint Document Libraries |
| Content Storage for Websites | Repository for public files for Drupal or other websites. | All Users, External Users | See information from Nov ’24 email |
| Document Repository | Storage space for group/private shared files | All Users, External Users | OneDrive, MS Teams, Kaltura (Media), SharePoint Document Libraries |
| Non-Academic Courses (inc., summer camps, Institute Programming, Continuing Education, Professional Development) | Delivery of content/training that could result in a certificate or badging | All Users, External Users | Canvas Catalog*, Continuing and Professional Education |
| Staff Training | Training/content related to administrative purposes (compliance, etc.) targeting only staff and/or faculty | Faculty, Staff | MasonLEAPS |
| Student Training | Training for students that requires tracking completion | Enrolled Students | Canvas Community Course |
| Student Orientations | Welcome information for new students | Enrolled Students | Canvas Community Course |
| Student Organizations | Student clubs | Enrolled Students | Mason360 |
| Student Communication by Major (A course site will automatically be created for each undergrad and grad program) | Department communication and information for declared student majors | Enrolled Students | Canvas Community Course |
| Instructional Content Repository (Shared) | Storing course content, such as quizzes, shared content, or modules | Faculty, Staff | Canvas Development Course or Canvas Commons |
| Student Information and Guides | Provide resources and information incl. registration, program details and academic forms to students, and student groups | Enrolled Students | Canvas Community Course, Department Website |
| Student Placement Tests, Assessments | Required pre-tests, placement tests, need to identify student with responses | Enrolled Students | Canvas Community Course |
* Canvas Catalog is a registration system for non-academic courses to add both Mason and non-Mason users to a course. Catalog is not yet available; more information will be provided in late 2024.