Most of the user management in Blackboard is done by the System Administrators. Student accounts are generated and enrolled in courses automatically (see the Policies section form more details). However, some user management must be done by instructors. Instructions for these tools are given below: List/Modify Users, Remove Users, and Manage Groups.

List/Modify Users

The List/Modify Users feature allows instructors to modify a user's Personal Information, as well as their role in your course. This is most often used to update students' email addresses.

From the Control Panel:

1. Click on List/Modify Users in the User Management section.
2. Click on the Properties button on the right side of their name.
3. Update email address or course role.
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Submit button.

User Roles

• Builder - allows the user to add content to the course through the Content Areas and the Course Tools on the Course Control Panel.
• Grader - allows the user to access all areas under Assessments.
• Guest - allows the user to view areas of the course, but not participate in any way.
• Student - allows the user to access all available course content and be graded on Assessments.
• Teacher - allows the user to control all aspects of the course through the Control Panel.
• Teacher's Assistant - allows the user to control most aspects of the course through the Control Panel.

More information

Q: Why can’t I modify some of the fields?

A: Not all properties may be modified, depending on the configuration of the Blackboard system and how it is integrated with the student information system. Your campus Blackboard system may be integrated and that feature is disabled.

Q: What are the different roles used for?

A: Different roles allow access to different features of the Blackboard system

Q: What does Available mean?

A: If Yes is selected for this question, the user will have access to the course Web site. If No is selected, the user will not be able to access the course.

Remove User

The Remove Users from the Course feature allows you to remove individual students from your course.

Note: Once the student has been removed from the course, all the data (grades, tests, discussions, etc.) will be removed too. This data cannot be retrieved.

From the Control Panel:

1. Click on Remove User from the Course in the User Management section.
2. Click on the REMOVE box from the list of users displayed.
3. Type "Yes" in the box above the Submit button.
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the Submit button.

More Information

Q: Why would I want to use this tool?

A: The System Administrators cannot batch remove users from courses. therefore, students that drop your course will need to be removed form your Blackboard course site using this tool.

Manage Groups

The Manage Groups feature allows instructors to create Groups within courses. This allows the Group members to have access to their own private Discussion Board, Virtual Classroom, Group File Exchange, and Group Email.

From the Control Panel:

1. Click on Manage Groups in the User Management section.
2. Click on the Add Group button.
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the Submit button.

Modify Group

1. Click on Manage Groups in the User Management section.
2. Select the Modify button.
3. Select the modification function.

   Group Properties

   1. Click on the Group Properties link.
   2. Fill out the form.
   3. Scroll down to the bottom and click on the Submit button.

   Add Users

   1. Click on the Add Users link.
   2. Click the ADD box next to the user you wish to add.
   3. Scroll down to the bottom and click on the Submit button.

   List Users

   1. Click on the List Users link.
   2. Choose how you want to have users listed.
   3. Click the OK button.

   Remove Users

   1. Select Remove Users button.
   2. Click the REMOVE box next to the user you wish to remove.
   3. You must type, "Yes" in the box above the Submit button.
   4. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the Submit button.

Remove Group

1. Click on Manage Groups in the User Management section.
2. Select the Remove button next to the group you wish to remove.

More Information

Q: Why would I use this tool?

A: This is a great tool to allow your students to work in groups. With the Blackboard group tools the students can share files, discuss, email, and chat in their own private collaboration tools.

Q: Once I add a student into a group, can I move him/her into another?

A: No, you can not move the student. You would need to Remove the student and then Add him/her back into the correct group.
Note: Do not remove the student if they have participated in any of the tools (discussion, chat, or file exchange). All information connected to that student will be lost.