September 2025 Release Notes (3900.125)
Release Information
Tip
For more information on updates and bug fixes, please visit Anthology Global Support.
Instructional Design
Enhance Documents with block styling options
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Create Documents
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-5171
Instructors
We added block styling to Documents, giving instructors new ways to enhance visual appeal and guide student attention. The styling options feature both color and icons. The style options include:
Image 1. Instructors can select styling options from a dropdown menu that appears in Edit mode on all block types.
This update helps instructors create more engaging content.
Apply block styles to add visual interest, organize your content, and guide students through key ideas, actions, or reflections.
Use styles consistently to build familiarity and reduce cognitive load.
Clearly communicate the purpose of the styles to students to improve usability and accessibility and help all learners understand their significance
Question: Use for prompts or reflective questions. Keep questions concise and open-ended to encourage critical thinking.
Tip: Use for tips, insights, or helpful suggestions. Ensure tips are actionable and relevant to the content.
Key points: Use to highlight key points or essential facts. Keep these blocks brief and focused to reinforce retention.
Next steps: Use for next steps or instructions. Present steps in a clear, logical order and consider using numbered lists for clarity.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Update content with synced Learning Object Repository attributes and settings
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Topic: Learning Object Repository
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-6434
We introduced an update that syncs more attributes and settings in Learning Object Repository objects. The following attributes and settings are now synced:
Visibility settings
Class conversations
Goals
Syncing attributes will allow us to lock these attributes and settings in the October update. Locking visibility settings is especially valuable for managing instructor-only materials. By enforcing visibility at the repository level, administrators can ensure that sensitive or instructional content remains hidden from students, regardless of where the object is used.
Syncing in the Learning Object Repository is not instant and takes time. We're waiting until the October update to add locking, so that all existing Documents in the Learning Object Repository will have had time to be updated. This prevents administrators from being unable to adjust the settings of an object before the update.
This change to syncing supports our broader strategy of careful expansion before opening up the Learning Object Repository for selective configurability. It ensures consistency, security, and clarity across learning environments. In the future, we'll increase the usability of the Learning Object Repository by giving institutions the option to choose which settings are locked or unlocked.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Tests and Assignments
Add and manage question titles in tests, forms, and banks
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Reuse Questions
Idea Exchange ID: BD-I-64
Instructors can now add, view, edit, and delete question titles when working on questions in tests, forms, and banks. Titles are optional and non-unique. Titles are recommended, as they enhance searchability and reuse workflows.
Image 1: Instructors can enter or edit the question title.
Instructors
In the keyword search in the Reuse question panel, instructors can now search for questions on the question text or the question title.
Titles appear when:
Creating or editing questions in tests, forms and banks
Viewing or selecting questions via the Reuse questions workflow in tests, forms and banks
Adding questions to pools (Add Question Pool workflow)
Viewing questions in a pool (View Questions workflow)
Titles do not appear when the instructor views or grades the test and form submissions. Students do not see the question titles when they take a test or review their submission.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Export question banks in QTI v2.1 format
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-2654
Instructors and instructional designers can now export question banks in the QTI v2.1 format. This enhancement supports the IMS Question and Test Interoperability (QTI) standard, which enables the exchange of assessment content between systems.
Instructors
This update allows instructors to:
Export question banks from Ultra courses in QTI v2.1 format.
Use exported packages in other learning platforms that support QTI.
Simplify onboarding and migration processes by using a standards-based format.
This feature is especially useful for institutions that use multiple systems or are transitioning to Ultra.
The export process uses the same backend as Original courses, which already support QTI v2.1 export from Pools. This ensures consistency and reliability across course types.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Display time limits and extra time consistently across roles
Impact: All Users
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-5282, LEARNU-I-6822
We improved how time limits and extra time are communicated in Assessments. This change ensures that all users understand exactly how much time is available.
Now, all users have the time limits and extra time presented in a consistent format:
“Time limit: 20 minutes + 10 minutes extra time”
This format appears:
When instructors configure or review assessment settings.
When students begin or review an assessment.
In the preview mode for instructors.
Image 1: Time Limit configurations appear in the Assessment Settings panel.
Image 2: Time limit information appears in the assessment metadata.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Communication and Collaboration
Require confirmation for updated email addresses
Impact: All users
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
All users
To enhance security and ensure reliable communication, we added a verification step when users update their email address in Blackboard. Now, whenever a user changes their email, a confirmation message is sent to the new address. The user must verify the new email before the change takes effect. This helps prevent issues caused by typos or incorrect addresses, ensuring users continue to receive important communications without interruption.
Image 1. Users have the option to resend the confirmation email from their profile.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Simplify announcement creation with cleaner interface
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Announcements
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Instructors
We streamlined the New Announcement page by removing the unnecessary Recipients dropdown. Previously, this dropdown only offered one option—sending to all course members—making it redundant. With this update, the page now displays only relevant options, creating a cleaner, more focused interface and a smoother user experience.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Gradebook
Use pop-out rubric when grading group submissions
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-745
Instructors can now use the pop-out rubric when grading group submissions in Flexible Grading. This enhancement brings the same efficient grading experience already available for individual submissions to group work.
The pop-out rubric is a separate, moveable window and formatted in a grid view. Previously, the rubric was only available in a side panel and formatted in a stack. This update makes it easier to navigate and grade student submissions by providing a clearer, more comprehensive view of the rubric. Popping out the rubric lets instructors view the student submission and the rubric side-by-side for a more efficient grading experience. Instructors can quickly select performance levels and provide feedback in the rubric while viewing the student submission.
Instructors
Instructors can access the pop-out rubric when reviewing a submission.
Bulk performance level selection: Apply a level across all criteria with one click.
Cell syncing: Selected cells update the grade pill automatically.
Focused feedback entry: Selecting a cell moves focus to the feedback textbox.
Navigation warning: Alerts instructors if they try to leave with unsaved changes.
Override warning: Shows a banner if the grade was overridden and disables rubric editing.
Printing: Instructors can print blank or completed rubrics using the browser’s print function.
When the pop-out rubric is open, the ability to add Overall Feedback and grade with the rubric in the main grading interface is inactive. This prevents an instructor from editing the same information in two separate places simultaneously.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Display per question feedback to students on group test submissions
Impact: Students
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Students can now view per-question feedback on group test submissions. Instructors have been able to provide per-question feedback, but it was not visible to students until now.
Students
With this update:
Students reviewing a graded group test can see feedback for each question.
Feedback supports all formats: text, file attachments, and video recordings.
Per-question feedback appears alongside overall feedback and rubric scores.
This enhancement ensures that group submissions benefit from the same detailed feedback experience as individual submissions. It also supports:
Originality reports (when enabled via SafeAssign or TII).
Attempt-level score overrides for individual group members.
AI Rewrite for both overall and per question feedback.
Navigation between group submissions using Previous/Next controls.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Use See More functionality in Add Question Pool
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
We added See more functionality for the Sources, Questions Types, and Tags filter sets. This enhancement helps instructors more easily navigate long lists of filter values when managing large pools of questions.
Instructors
In the Add Question Pool screen, the filter panel now includes See more functionality for Sources, Question Types, and Tags when the number of values in that filter section exceeds 10. Selecting See more expands the list, revealing the full list of values.
Image 1: Selecting See more expands the list, revealing the full list of values.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Improved accessibility on the Submissions list page in the Gradebook
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
To improve accessibility, we updated the Submissions list page in the Gradebook to use a semantic HTML table structure. This change replaces the previous layout, which relied on stacked <div> elements. The new structure improves screen reader support and keyboard navigation.
Screen reader users can now hear row and column headers as they navigate the table.
Keyboard users can move efficiently across rows and columns without needing to tab through each element.
The table uses proper HTML markup, including <caption>, <th>, <tr>, and <td> elements to ensure clarify and accessibility.
The update applies to all submission list views, including standard, individual, and peer assessments.
This change aligns the Submissions list with the accessibility improvements previously made to the student Gradebook and supports Anthology’s commitment to inclusive design.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Customize grade pill thresholds
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
We added a new system-level setting that allows administrators to customize the performance thresholds and colors used in grade pills across Ultra courses. This update helps institutions align grading visuals with their own policies and reinforce grading expectations in a way that resonates with both students and faculty.
With this update, administrators can:
Define up to 10 performance levels.
Choose from 12 accessible, predefined colors.
Set custom percentage thresholds for each level.
Ensure that each color is used only once to maintain clarity.
The default configuration matches the existing scale:
> 90% = green
80–89% = yellow-green
70–79% = yellow
60–69% = orange
50–59% = red
Administrators can also choose to turn off colored grade pills entirely, in which case grades appear in white on a black background.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: To configure performance thresholds and colors, select Grade Pill Colors in the Course Settings area of the Admin panel. This is a system-level setting that applies to all grade pills across the institution. Once configured, the custom thresholds and colors are reflected consistently in all grade views.
Grade Export: Display record range and total number of search results
Test/Stage: week of 11 August 2025; Production: week of 11 August 2025
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Page: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
The Grade Export tool now indicates which records are currently listed out of a total number of search results. This update helps graders quickly understand how many records match their search and where they are in the list, improving navigation through search results.
Instructors
Image 1: The Grade Export tool now indicates which records are currently listed out of a total number of search results.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Integrations
Improve EULA Workflow for Turnitin Submissions
Impact: Students
Updated Help Page: Turnitin (Student)
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Students now receive clearer guidance when submitting assessments to Turnitin if they haven’t signed the End User License Agreement (EULA). This update aligns with the latest 1EdTech Asset Processor Specification and improves the submission experience.
Previously, students who hadn’t signed the EULA couldn’t submit assessments and didn’t receive helpful instructions. This caused confusion and increased support requests. Now, students receive a message explaining the issue and what to do next.
Students
If a student hasn’t signed the EULA, they receive this message: "Before submitting the assignment, you must review and agree to the Turnitin End User Licensing Agreement below." The modal message also displays the EULA. After scrolling through and selecting Accept, the student can submit the assignment. Blackboard sends this information to Turnitin immediately. The EULA applies to all other Ultra Courses for that student. If the EULA changes, Turnitin can reset acceptance status.
If a student selects Decline, they receive this message: "By declining the Turnitin End User Licensing Agreement, you will not be able to submit assignments online. You must contact your instructor for alternate ways to submit your assignments."
This update improves clarity, reduces friction in the submission process, and streamlines the Blackboard-Turnitin integration.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses using Turnitin integration.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: To enable the new EULA workflow, a new placement must be added to the relevant integration. In the Administrator Panel, navigate to LTI Tool Providers and select the Turnitin Feedback Studio Sandbox integration. Navigate to Manage Placements and select Synchronize Placements.
SCORM – Send Learner Event Data to Learner Record Store (LRS)
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Page: SCORM Engine
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
SCORM activity data of students can now be securely emitted from Blackboard to external Learner Record Stores (LRS). Institutions can use advanced analytics and reporting tools designed for SCORM content.
Previously, Blackboard’s SCORM player captured learner interactions but didn't include a way to send this data to external LRS platforms. This limitation impacted clients who rely on LRS systems for compliance, performance tracking, and learner analytics.
Image 1: SCORM activity data of students can now be securely emitted from Blackboard to external Learner Record Stores (LRS).
New capabilities include:
LRS Integration toggle switch: Administrators can now turn on SCORM event data transmission using a new toggle switch in the Administrator Panel.
Configurable LRS Targets: Institutions can register their LRS URL credentials.
Event Emissions: The system now supports a wide range of SCORM events.
Note
The integration aligns with xAPI standards, ensuring compatibility with modern LRS platforms.
This update empowers institutions to track learner progress and gain deeper insights into SCORM-based learning.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: In the Administrator Panel, under Integrations, select Building Blocks. Next select Installed Tools. Then select Search SCORM Engine B2. In SCORM Settings in the Administrator Panel, turn on Use External LRS. Then fill out External LRS Settings fields: URL, Username (Key), and Password (Secret). Username and password are provided by the LRS.
Premium
Video Studio: Use Video Studio in Journals
Impact: Instructors, Students
Updated Help Topics: Journals (Instructor) and Journals (Students)
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Video Studio now works with Journals in Ultra Courses. Instructors and students can record or upload video and audio directly within journal prompts and responses. This update supports more personal, engaging, and accessible communication.
Instructors
Instructors can now use Video Studio when creating a journal assignment. A new Video Studio button appears in the content editor of the journal description field. Instructors can record or upload media to introduce the topic, share context, or encourage reflection. The standard Video Studio workflow supports automatic captioning and transcription, ensuring accessibility and consistency across the platform.
Image 1: Instructors can now include Video Studio recordings in Journals.
Students
Students can respond to journal prompts using video or audio. The Video Studio button in the content editor when creating a journal entry. Students can record or upload media to share their thoughts in a more dynamic and personal way. This enhancement supports multimodal learning and allows students to engage with course content using their preferred communication style.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
AVA - Use AI to generate attempt feedback summaries from rubrics
Impact: Instructor
Updated Help Topic: Grade Assignments with Flexible Grading
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
The new AI-powered Summarize option in Flexible Grading lets instructors generate high-quality overall feedback for student submissions evaluated using a rubric. This tool uses generative AI to analyze and suggest overall feedback on the submission based on the rubric criteria, the selected performance levels and their descriptions, and any criterion feedback provided.
Instructors
Instructors can access the Summarize option when providing overall feedback on assignments once the rubric has been completed. For assignments, the summary is based on the rubric criteria, the selected performance levels and their descriptions, and any criterion-level feedback provided. Any existing Overall Feedback in the RTE will also be included in the summary.
Instructors can accept, reject, or regenerate the summary. Accepting the summary then allows the instructor to directly edit and further refine the summary. Rejecting reverts the summary to the original. Regenerating the summary prompts a newly written summary.
Image 1: Instructors can generate feedback.
Administrators
Availability: The Summarize feature is a premium solution.
Activation: AVA features including AI summarization are included in your Blackboard license until 30th June 2026 when a specific AVA license will be required.
Configuration: In the building block, AI Design Assistant and Unsplash, a new option called AI Summarization is available under the AI feedback generation heading. The default state is off. When this feature is turned on, the privilege needs to be assigned to course roles, such as Instructor. The required privilege is Generate AI Feedback Changes in Course/Organization Control Panel.
AVA - Use AI to revise submission feedback
Impact: Instructor
Updated Help Topic: Grade Assessments with Flexible Grading
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
The new AI-powered Rewrite option in Flexible Grading helps instructors improve the clarity and tone of their feedback. This tool uses generative AI to reword instructor-authored comments—whether they are rough notes, bullet points, or complete sentences—into more polished and student-friendly language. The Rewrite option supports iterative editing and is designed to help instructors deliver clearer, more impactful feedback with less effort.
Instructors
When an instructor is providing overall feedback on submissions in Flexible Grading, the Rewrite option becomes available when the instructor adds at least 30 characters. After entering their own comments, instructors can select Rewrite to generate a suggested version of the feedback. A banner clearly indicates that the suggestion is AI-generated.
Instructors can accept, reject, or regenerate the suggestion. Accepting the suggestion allows instructors to continue editing the revised feedback directly in the rich text editor. Rejecting or canceling the suggestion restores the original input. Instructors can use the Rewrite option multiple times on the same feedback to refine their message further.
Image 1: Instructors can select Rewrite to regenerate the feedback.
Administrators
Availability: The Rewrite feature is a premium solution.
Activation: AVA features including AI rewrite are included in your Blackboard license until 30th June 2026 when a specific AVA license will be required.
Configuration: In the building block, AI Design Assistant and Unsplash, a new option called AI rewrite is available under the AI feedback generation heading. The default state is off. When this feature is turned on, the privilege needs to be assigned to course roles, such as Instructor. The required privilege is Generate AI Feedback Changes in Course/Organization Control Panel.