Stay informed with updates, training, and tips on the Blackboard Ultra transition—updated regularly through the 2025–2026 academic year.
JUNE 6, 2025
Accessing Your Blackboard Ultra Courses
If you have been notified that your Fall course has been converted to Ultra, it’s time to take a look! Logging to Blackboard Ultra is the same—start at learn.mssm.edu and follow the steps illustrated below:
- Select Courses from the left menu.
- In the Fall course list display, Ultra (2025) courses will have a color strip on the left while any prior courses will have a gray strip. There may also be a banner view.
- Select your Fall 2025 course and once inside, explore the top and side menus.
MAY 14, 2025
Updated Guides for Your Transition to Blackboard Ultra
To help you prepare for the Fall 2025 Blackboard Courses transition, we have updated our Blackboard guides, which now detail how to manage your courses, content, tools, and grades within Ultra.
You can find the guides at https://libguides.mssm.edu/educationaltechnology/blackboard-ultra and we will update this page as additional documentation becomes available.
If you have questions or would like to schedule a consultation, contact the Levy Library Educational Technology Team at https://libguides.mssm.edu/educationaltechnology/connectwithEdTech or email edtech@mssm.edu
APRIL 25, 2025
Navigating the Transition to Blackboard Ultra Video Available
The Fall 2025 Blackboard Courses transition work continues! Watch the transition workshop recording focused on what you need to know at vimeo.com/1078676280/d87e7ad62a?share=copy
We will do another round of workshops before the Spring 2026 semester for those of you who teach in the Spring to get accustomed to the Ultra interface.
If you have questions or would like to schedule a consultation, contact the Levy Library Educational Technology Team at https://libguides.mssm.edu/educationaltechnology/connectwithEdTech or email edtech@mssm.edu
APRIL 15, 2025
Upcoming Training Dates and a Sneak Peek of the New Experience
The Fall 2025 Blackboard Courses transition work has begun! Watch the pre-transition workshop recording focused on what you need to know at vimeo.com/1074030966/bb7445584b?share=copy
The next training is Navigating the Transition to Blackboard Ultra on Monday, April 21, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm. Please register at libcal.mssm.edu/event/14258733 even if you aren’t able to attend so you receive the recording. [recorded video now available]
Here’s a sneak preview of the improved navigation menus in Ultra for instructors and students:
If you have questions or would like to schedule a consultation, contact the Levy Library Educational Technology Team at https://libguides.mssm.edu/educationaltechnology/connectwithEdTech or email edtech@mssm.edu
MARCH 12, 2025
Blackboard Ultra is Coming Fall 2025: What You Need to Know
Our online learning management system Blackboard enables learning anytime, anywhere. We are excited to upgrade to the Blackboard Ultra platform starting with the Fall 2025 courses. This blog will provide project updates for the entire 2025-2026 academic year.
Getting to Know Ultra
Ultra provides several benefits:
- Improved course interface and navigation
- Mobile-friendly experience
- New features like course-specific Content Search
- Streamlined workflow for learner submissions
- Potential for future integration with Blackboard AI Design Assistant and other scholarly tools
We will share more on these Ultra aspects as they go live.
Making the Transition
Upgrading to Ultra is a team effort among instructors and coordinators, enrollment management, Academic Systems, the Library's Educational Technology team, and Blackboard's experts.
We welcome you to participate in real-time training, review videos and guides, or connect with us for specific support. These courses will be recorded and links will be shared here.
- To get ready for the transition, please attend Preparing your Course for the Blackboard Learning Management System Transition to Ultra on Thursday, March 20th, 2025, Noon-1:30 PM.
- Many fall courses will be transitioned between April 1-30. The follow-up course, Navigating the Transition to Blackboard Ultra, Monday April 21st, 2025, Noon – 1:30, will help you once your courses have transitioned to Blackboard Ultra.
There will be additional trainings for those whose fall courses are transitioned later this summer, and for spring courses that will transition in the fall. We will link them here when they are scheduled.
Stay in Touch
We look forward to introducing you to Blackboard Ultra through updates to this blog and a variety of communications. We would be happy to speak with your group about the Ultra transition, please contact us at edtech@mssm.edu.
Kris Alpi, Associate Dean of Libraries & Information Sciences
Please be advised that due to a planned electrical shutdown and maintenance in the Annenberg Building, the Levy Library will have adjusted hours on Saturday, March 29, 2025.
Adjusted Levy Library Hours
To accommodate building-wide electrical maintenance, Levy Library will have adjusted hours and access over the weekend. Please note that we will be opening earlier than usual on Saturday:
Saturday, March 29: Open from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm (early opening and early closure)
Sunday, March 30: Reopening at 12:00 pm, with normal operating hours resuming
Access Restrictions During our Closure
The following areas will be fully closed during the shutdown:
Levy Library, 11th Floor
Levy Library Student Commons
Levy Library, 10th Floor Classrooms and Individual Study Room
Please be advised that Mount Sinai ID card access to the 10th and 11th floors will be disabled from Saturday at 4:30 pm through Sunday morning until noon.
Plan Ahead
We encourage all users to secure alternate locations for study, research, or work during this time.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at library@mssm.edu.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.