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Grand Valley State University
While summer offers a chance to recharge, we're already looking ahead to the Fall semester. This month's newsletter includes important updates to help you prepare, from Fall Blackboard course availability and new features in the July Blackboard release to upcoming professional development opportunities. You'll also find resources and updates related to our ongoing accessibility efforts as we continue working together to create engaging and inclusive learning experiences.
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Blackboard Fall 2026 Course Availability

Beginning July 6, 2026, faculty listed as the instructor of record in Banner will see their Fall 2026 courses.
If you don't see your courses on Blackboard, please contact your department coordinator to assign you as the instructor of record in Banner. Student enrollments will begin in Banner three weeks before the course start date (August 10, 2026, for most course sites).
As you start thinking about your Fall 2026 courses, you may want to take advantage of the following common requests:
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July Blackboard Enhancements

Blackboard uses a continuous release cycle, meaning new features are released monthly. Some new features are significant updates with completely new functionality, while others are minor enhancements. We've highlighted three minor improvements in the release that will be available starting July 3, 2026.
Description Fields for Journals and Discussions
When creating or editing a Discussion or Journal, instructors can add an optional description to provide students with context before they engage with the activity. The description field is separate from the prompt, which is longer and will appear on the Course Content page. Instructors can use the description to set expectations and then reserve the prompt for the engagement question or task itself.
Instructors can enter a description in the Description field for a Discussion
Find your Favorite Courses Faster with the Updated Course Switcher
In the July release, Blackboard has enhanced the Course Switcher to make it easier to access the courses you use most frequently. By adding Favorites to the Course Switcher, users have faster, more flexible ways to move between courses. This centralized experience helps reduce navigation friction and keeps users focused on their work.
The Course Switcher now has a Favorites tab, allowing you to add a personalized list of frequently used courses
Run a Rubric Evaluation Report for Graded Activities
Beginning July 3, 2026, instructors can run a Rubric Evaluation Report directly from the gradebook for any graded activity with an associated rubric. This report aggregates rubric data across all student submissions, giving instructors a clear picture of how students are performing against each rubric criterion. The report supports ongoing course improvement by helping instructors identify areas where students are excelling or struggling. This function can be found by accessing a column in the Gradebook with an associated rubric.
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Web Content Accessibility Reminders

As each month passes on the way to our April 26, 2027 deadline for meeting federal accessibility requirements, we want to remind faculty of several ways to start making their content more accessible.
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Blackboard Unavailable during Overnight Campus Network Maintenance, 7/8 – 7/9

From 11pm on Wednesday July 8, 2026 to 4am on Thursday July 9, 2026, maintenance will be performed on the Grand Valley campus network. This will affect both on-campus and remote users. Any University application that requires GVSU Single Sign-On (SSO)—including Blackboard—will be unavailable during this time.

Professional Development Opportunities for June and July
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Self-Paced Options
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Webinar Options

Unless specified otherwise, these sessions are held via live webinar on Zoom. Select the webinar title to officially register in Workday Learning and receive your meeting link. If you have difficulty registering, please email Kim Kenward (kenwardk@gvsu.edu).
AI Topics
Maximizing Productivity with Free Microsoft Copilot Features
7/29/26 • 1pm – 2pm
Accessibility Topics
PDF Tune-Up in 15 Minutes Using Blackboard Ally
7/8/26 • 12pm – 12:15pm
7/23/26 • 3pm – 3:15pm
Making PDFs Accessible
7/09/26 • 1pm – 1:30pm
7/20/26 • 3:30pm – 4pm

Connect with eLearning!

There are many benefits to working with eLearning. We can assist in optimizing your Blackboard course structure, enhancing online and hybrid learning experiences, and incorporating innovative tools to foster active learning. You're encouraged to contact your eLearning Technologies liaisons or submit a consultation ticket at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Kim Kenward, Director of eLearning Technologies
kenwardk@gvsu.edu
GVSU Information Technology
Visit our eLearning Technologies website
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1 Campus Drive
4490 Kindschi Hall of Science
Allendale, MI 49401
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