Blackboard, known at Valparaiso University as CourseVU, is an online course management system.  Most online course management systems are used to transmit distance learning courses from a central location to students all over the world.  Although Valparaiso University does offer some distance learning courses, our Blackboard system is used primarily to supplement the classes that meet on campus with materials and activities available on the web.

Logging In

You will use your Valponet user name and password to log into Blackboard.  

When you have successfully logged in, you will see the Home Tab view with your name right beneath the tab.  You will also see:

Tools - quick links to Announcements, Grades and the send email function.

My Announcements - a listing of announcements posted in the last seven days in any course in which you are currently enrolled.

Courses in which you are enrolled - a list of all the courses in which you are enrolled as a student that are currently available.  This list may include courses from previous semesters.  Some instructors like to leave courses available for students to reference as they continue their studies.  You may worry that a course you are taking isn't listed.  It is up to each instructor to decide whether he or she wants to use Blackboard for their course.  If your course isn't listed it could be that your instructor does not plan to use Blackboard to supplement the course.

Assistance and Troubleshooting

For help with Blackboard students can visit the IT Help Desk.

• Assignments - Student View