The University of Connecticut (UConn) is proactively enhancing its digital learning environment by migrating HuskyCT, the university’s learning management system (LMS) powered by Blackboard Learn, to the more advanced Ultra Course View. This strategic move is designed to ensure a contemporary and fully supported online learning experience for all UConn faculty and students.
Currently, UConn offers instructors the flexibility to deliver courses through either Original Course View, the established platform, or Ultra Course View, the latest iteration of Blackboard Learn. While Original Course View has served the university well, Anthology, the developer, is concentrating its resources and support on Ultra Course View. This forward-looking approach ensures that Ultra benefits from continuous updates, feature enhancements, and crucial security patches, while support for Original Course View gradually diminishes. Recognizing the evolving needs of modern education and the positive feedback received from the UConn community regarding Ultra, the university is initiating a phased migration to this innovative platform.
The transition plan prioritizes a seamless shift to Ultra Course View over the next two academic years. Courses at the 1000 and 2000 levels are scheduled to be migrated by the commencement of the Fall 2024 semester. The remaining courses will follow suit, with their transition completed by the start of the Fall 2025 semester. This phased approach ensures that incoming students will immediately benefit from the enriched Ultra experience throughout their academic journey at UConn. Furthermore, strategically important, high-enrollment courses, irrespective of their level, will be selectively prioritized for early migration to maximize the positive impact on the largest number of students.
UConn’s Information Technology Services (ITS) and the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) are collaborating to provide comprehensive support and guidance throughout this transition. Faculty expertise remains central to this process, as course content is intellectual property and requires faculty involvement in every stage of migration. While some simpler courses can be automatically migrated with minimal adjustments, more complex courses may necessitate manual corrections or even a complete rebuild within Ultra Course View to fully leverage its capabilities.
To ensure a smooth transition, UConn is dedicating resources to provide practical assistance tailored to diverse faculty needs and timelines. Faculty are strongly encouraged to begin exploring and initiating the migration process early, while support resources are readily available and demand is lower. For detailed information, best practices, and ongoing updates regarding the migration, please visit the dedicated UConn website: Ultra Course View in HuskyCT/Blackboard.
To start a conversation about migrating your course to Ultra Course View, or to request a course conversion, please utilize the following form and select the option for an Ultra discussion: https://s.uconn.edu/courserequest.
For any questions, comments, or concerns regarding the HuskyCT migration timeline or process, please do not hesitate to reach out. UConn is committed to supporting faculty through this transition to ensure a superior learning environment powered by Blackboard Learn Ultra Course View.
