How do I request a new tool, technology, or integration for Blackboard?

All software purchases are required to be reviewed by the software review committee prior to purchase regardless of the dollar value for the software. Please see Procurement for more information.

Please allow adequate time for your request to be evaluated and implemented. A full semester is preferred for implementation to ensure the tool or resource is ready and functional. A new tool cannot be installed 2 weeks before a semester starts or in the middle of a semester.

In addition to ensuring the tool will function as designed within Blackboard, DoIT staff require additional time to evaluate the authentication process with myUMBC, validate the security and privacy of student information and grades passing between Blackboard and the third-party tool, to secure training for instructional technology staff, and to prepare appropriate documentation for the users.

Requests may be closed for the following reasons:

• Identified issues related to tool functionality, security, privacy, or accessibility
• The institution already supports a tool with similar functionality
• Lack of funding for the tool
• Requestor withdraws tool integration request
• Other issues impacting tool integration

Review the list of current integrations to ensure we have not already adopted the tool or have an existing approved tool that may also meet your needs.

Please open an RT ticket with Instructional Technology, add "New Tool Integration Request" in the subject line, and provide the following information:

• Name of the tool or service
• Version number (if available)
• Vendor and website URL
• Sales rep contact information (name, email, website)
• Cost, if known, and responsible party for payment (Department, Division, etc.)
• Target semester or date the tool is needed
• Date(s) available for testing
• Purpose of the tool or service, and how the tool will enhance your teaching
• Courses(s) and instructors who will use this tool or service
• Approximate number of students in the course(s)
• Whether the requested tool is connected with a course materials request through the UMBC Bookstore
• References for other institutions that use this tool or service (preferably within the University System of Maryland)

After Instructional Technology receives your initial request, we will coordinate with you and the vendor to gather information about the requested tool/integration. 

DoIT staff should be involved during your demo and evaluation process so we can ask vendors questions about any possible Blackboard integration. Our staff will also be able to evaluate the tool and provide you with an honest assessment of its functionality for your expected use case. 

During the evaluation and implementation process, the instructor who requested the tool or resource will be designated as the point of contact with Instructional Technology staff and will be asked to:

• Assist with testing the tool or resource

• Communicate with instructional technology staff and the vendor as needed

• Notify students about using the tool or resource

• Provide feedback on workflow and documentation

This next step requires additional campus coordination and review of the integration.

• You should also plan to involve the Office of Student Disability Services to ensure the integration complies with accessibility requirements.  
• If students are expected to purchase the integration as part of a textbook bundle or in lieu of a textbook as a digital resource, please contact the UMBC Bookstore to ensure the ISBN is listed and/or to see if your integration may benefit from the Course Materials Initiative.

Third-party integrations for Blackboard are typically hosted solutions, some involving an institutional contract and/or licensing fee. You must follow all procurement and legal requirements. DoIT works closely with procurement and legal services to review all cloud service applications to ensure they meet applicable requirements and regulations, such as FERPA. If you have questions, please contact Procurement.

Instructional Technology will coordinate with the vendor to support tool testing and implementation. The vendor should expect to offer a certain level of support to faculty/students and to DoIT system admins throughout testing and implementation. In addition, the vendor should offer support in the event the integration suffers a failure.  Time estimates for implementation are influenced by vendor and instructor response times. We will do our best to meet a requested deadline, but lack of feedback, support, and unforeseen issues can impact the implementation timeline.