eCampus Ultra Adoption Timeline

What is the schedule for adoption?

Pilot groups have already begun using Ultra, but faculty will have until Spring 2026 to migrate their courses to eCampus Ultra. Beginning in the summer of 2025, all course shells for the upcoming Fall 2025 semester will be created in Ultra. If you wish to keep your Fall 2025 course in the original version of eCampus, you will need to submit a request to keep that course in eCampus Original. ITS will announce instructions and specific course shell availability dates when they are set.

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When will faculty be required to use eCampus Ultra? 

Most eCampus courses will need to be copied to or rebuilt in Ultra by Fall 2025. eCampus Original will be retired at the end of the Spring 2026 semester, or when the vendor stops providing updates. By Summer 2026, all eCampus courses should be in Ultra.

This timeline gives instructors, departments and colleges two years to plan their transition.

Can I switch to eCampus Ultra now?

Instructors may submit a request for a development shell starting in September 2024 to begin familiarizing themselves with Ultra. Be sure to add the word “Ultra” under Special Instructions on the request form. Creating a new development shell may take 3-5 business days to generate, depending on demand.

Please keep several things in mind as you prepare for this transition:

• Courses can be offered and taught in either Original or Ultra; however, once your course is created in Ultra, it cannot be reverted to Original.

• This is an entirely new interface, not a routine version update. You will likely want time to explore the new platform and review the eCampus Ultra resources so you understand the differences.

  • Navigate Inside an Ultra Course (blackboard.com) 

• Instructors or course designers can build in Ultra two ways:

  • Fully rebuild a course using all native tools in Ultra.

  • Copy course content from Original to Ultra. Instructors will receive a detailed exceptions report when the copy is complete - if there are errors. Those errors can be corrected at the instructor’s convenience.

When can I actually begin teaching in Ultra?

Instructors will be able to request a live course shell for the Spring 2025 semester. Requests for production (live) courses in Ultra for the Spring 2025 semester will be accepted until November 1st, 2024. ITS will announce instructions and specific course shell availability dates when they are set.

Do I have to move all my sections to Ultra at the same time?

No. You can copy or rebuild your courses in Ultra between Fall 2024 and Spring 2026, when eCampus Original will be retired. By Summer 2026, all eCampus courses must be in Ultra.

How long will it take to migrate my course to Ultra?

It depends. Start by importing your current courses into Ultra development shells to test the migration. The standard copy procedure, which only takes a few minutes, may be sufficient. If the content doesn’t look right in the Ultra development shell after the standard copy procedure, additional steps may be necessary to finish course migration. In that case, seek further assistance from your College’s instructional design resources, or the Provost Office if your College does not have an instructional designer.

How long does WVU’s current contract with Blackboard/Anthology last?

Until at least June 30, 2029.

Can my TAs help me with creating content in the development shell?

Yes. When requesting the development shell, choose “Yes” when asked “Would you like to enroll additional users to the course?” You’ll be prompted to add their username to provide them with the appropriate access.