Gaining access to Blackboard Learn and other essential university systems at Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a structured process designed to safeguard both the institution and its students. While access is intentionally controlled, NIU recognizes that instructors often require preparation time to develop high-quality courses within Blackboard Learn. This is especially true for new instructors who may need to start course development well in advance of their official contract start date.
For new instructors needing to prepare their courses significantly before their contract term commences, NIU provides a pathway to early Blackboard Learn access. This involves completing two essential forms: a Volunteer Agreement form and a Mandated Reporter Acknowledgement form. Both of these forms are readily available on the Human Resource Services website. These forms are crucial as they provide Human Resources (HR) and IT Security with the necessary information to grant appropriate system access while upholding university security protocols. Once completed, these forms should be submitted directly to HR, mirroring the standard procedure for new hiring paperwork.
In addition to these forms, the department facilitating the new instructor’s early access will need to formally request an “affiliate account” from the Division of Information Technology (DoIT). The process to submit this request is straightforward:
- Navigate to the IT services portal at it.niu.edu and log in using your NIU Account ID and password.
- Click on the prominent Make a Request button.
- Under the section labeled Identity and Access Control, locate and click the Create Sponsored Account link.
- Utilize the Account Sponsorship Type drop-down menu to select Non-Paid Affiliate/Volunteer.
- Complete all mandatory fields within the form, ensuring you specifically indicate Blackboard under the Account Access section to specify the necessary system access.
- Carefully review all entered information for accuracy and then submit the request by clicking the Submit button located at the top of the page.
It is critical to understand that this affiliate account process for early access is not a substitute for standard hiring procedures when seeking Blackboard Learn access for paid teaching positions. This specific pathway is exclusively intended for situations where individuals are undertaking unpaid volunteer work, such as course development or instructional preparation prior to formal employment. Departments must clearly communicate that this early access and course development period is unpaid and does not constitute a guarantee of future employment. Furthermore, instructors should be aware that in circumstances where a course is not offered due to factors like low enrollment or budget constraints, or if the instructor becomes unable to teach, compensation for course development work should not be expected. Therefore, initiating this process should involve a careful assessment of these potential risks and considerations.
