Blackboard Policies

Blackboard Policy

The purpose of this policy is to ensure the proper use of Delaware Valley University’s course management system. Blackboard is a Software as a Service (SaaS) system provided by the University to complement traditional methods of teaching and learning and online learning activities. Users have the responsibility to use this resource in an efficient, effective, ethical and lawful manner.  Violations of the policy may result in restriction of access to Blackboard and/or other appropriate disciplinary action.

Blackboard accounts are created based on the official name of the student, faculty staff or alumni as reflected in Human Resource, Payroll and Registrar records. If a user prefers a different name be displayed in Blackboard, the user can go to http://chosenname.delval.edu and enter their preferred first name and select the system(s) to push it to. Once approved,  it'll be integrated into Colleague and then reflected in other systems such as Blackboard. 

Ownership of Blackboard Data

The University owns the Blackboard system. Subject to underlying copyright and other intellectual property rights under applicable laws and University policies.  Ownership of the intellectual property that resides in and is delivered by Blackboard, is defined by University policy under Intellectual Property Rights.

Privacy and Right of University Access

While the University will make every attempt to keep Blackboard secure, privacy is not guaranteed. Under certain circumstances, it may be necessary for the University officials to access University Blackboard Accounts; these circumstances may include, but are not limited to, maintaining the system, investigating security or abuse incidents or investigating violations of this or other University policies.

Account Access

Automatic account access is guaranteed only for those students who are enrolled and faculty who are assigned to a course in a current term.

User Responsibility

The Office of Educational Technology and Distance Education maintains the University’s course management system; faculty, staff and students are expected to manage their accounts appropriately. Sharing of passwords is strictly prohibited. Each individual is responsible for his/her account, including the safeguarding of access to the account. All activity originating from an account is deemed to be authored by the account holder, and it is the responsibility of that holder to ensure compliance with these guidelines.

Temporary User

Faculty, staff, or departments can request temporary Blackboard privileges for users outside of the University. Full time Faculty or Staff requesting these types of accounts will be required to submit user information, rationale for account, expiration date, & sponsor information. 

Course Site Access

Course sites are created in Blackboard using information from Colleague up to 12 weeks prior to their start date.  Once faculty are recorded as the official instructor of record, they are given instructor access to the course's related Blackboard course site (within 6 hours).  Faculty continue to have online access to the course site for approximately two years. 

Student Enrollments and Course Availability

Students are automatically and continuously enrolled into (or removed if withdrawn from) course sites every 6 hours using enrollment information from the school's registration system.  Although student enrollments are automatic, faculty have the ability to add or remove any user from their course site.  If they wish to provide access to someone who wouldn't ordinarily have access, such as a student a translator, tutor, another instructor, etc, they can do so by manually providing the user with access.

Although students are enrolled earlier, by default access into their course sites is not made available until the official start date recorded in the student registration system. Instructors have full access to their course sites up to 12 weeks beforehand (including the ability to email the students) to organize and otherwise prepare the course site before students get access.

By default, student access ceases 14 days after the official end date.  Faculty can extend access at their discretion.

Data Backup

The University’s Blackboard system is backed up on a regular basis as a way to recover from a data loss impacting the entire system.  In less serious situations it may be possible to recover from the accidental deletion of files by a user; however this can be very time consuming and may not be feasible.  Each user is responsible for backing up their own files and folders as appropriate. 

Data Purging and Record Retention

Course data will be available online and accessible to faculty for a period of one year after the conclusion of a course.  Subsequent to online access, course data is archived and stored for 3 years offline.

For more information on the sharing and protection of personal information, please see our Content Sharing Policy. 

The University has the right to restrict the amount of user space on Blackboard accounts as necessary, and to purge and remove Blackboard Accounts of any students who are inactive for over a year.