Blackboard

Ithaca College uses Blackboard CE 8 as its online courseware system allowing for easy access and storage of course-related materials. Blackboard ties directly into Homer, the student information system, for section creation and enrollment. Faculty and students are automatically enrolled in Blackboard once they are registered for a course. Staff who take courses get enrolled in Blackboard after having enrolled in a course.

Blackboard uses the Ithaca College Netpass username and password for authentication for undergraduate students and faculty. Graduate Education and Professional Studies students and faculty will be given a username and password by the Graduate and Professional Studies Office.

Faculty

After activating their Netpass account, new faculty must wait for an overnight process to occur before accessing Blackboard. Returning faculty should have immediate access to Blackboard. Adjunct faculty member access is dependent on the contractual start dates. Check with Human Resources to verify this date. Netpass accounts may be activated before this date but the student information system does not allow access to the course activation process until the contract start date.

Students

In order to use Blackboard for the first time, new students must activate their Netpass account and be registered for courses. Once these two steps have happened, students can log into courses.ithaca.edu (or access Blackboard through myhome.ithaca.edu) and see which classes are using Blackboard. Class sections become available to all students one week prior to the start of a term. Returning students can simply log into Blackboard using their Netpass username and password.

FERPA Protection

Students who request FERPA protection will not automatically be able to access Blackboard using their Netpass username and password. FERPA-protected students have the option to either waive the FERPA-protected status for Blackboard and use their Netpass username and password or have a unique account created. If a student chooses to have a unique account created, it is the responsibility of the student to inform the faculty member of this choice. FERPA students should contact the ITS Helpdesk for more information.

Staff

Staff members get Blackboard access by either being enrolled in a course using Blackboard or by requesting guest access.

Guest Access

Only faculty and students officially registered in courses have automatic access to Blackboard. If a guest needs access to Blackboard, a unique account must be created. Use the Guest Account Request Form to get a guest account created.