OIT announces learning management system evaluation project
OHIO’s preferred learning management system, Blackboard, has been an important technology platform to support student success and teaching and learning goals over the past 20 years.
As of March 2022, approximately 75 percent of courses leveraged Blackboard, a significant increase from 35 percent in January 2020. The Office of Information Technology (OIT) understands that the needs of students, faculty, and staff have evolved over the years and the recent also highlighted just how important it is to offer the right LMS technology at OHIO.
To ensure the LMS best supports the University’s teaching and learning goals, OIT is preparing to launch a request for proposal (RFP) to evaluate the LMS market and select a technology that aligns with the University’s needs. With support from the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, OIT will engage students, faculty, and staff to clarify their needs and wants for the preferred LMS for OHIO. The desired outcome for this project is to establish whether the University should migrate to a new platform, or if Blackboard’s new Ultra platform meets the needs of our community.
No change will occur to current courses in Blackboard during the RFP process. Faculty can still opt-in to Blackboard Ultra during the RFP but should be aware that if Blackboard is not awarded the contract, a transition to the new LMS will eventually be required.
Planned RFP Timeline
- Summer 2022: Notify campus community about forthcoming RFP
- Early Fall 2022: Form LMS Evaluation committee with faculty, student, and staff representatives
- Fall 2022: Launch official RFP
- Spring 2023: Award RFP
- Summer 2023: Announce implementation timeline for either a new LMS company or Blackboard Ultra
After the RFP is awarded, a new timeline will be announced regarding LMS implementation, which will be a phased approach in the two years following the award of the RFP.
To learn more about the RFP process, share your feedback, or ask questions, consider joining the Teaching and Learning Advisory Community. The group meets monthly to collect feedback from stakeholders and to discuss innovation and trends in teaching and learning.
If you have specific LMS questions for your current use of Blackboard, please contact the .