Learning Management System (LMS) Transition from Blackboard to Canvas (2024-2026)

UMass Lowell is doing a phased approach to transitioning to Canvas. It is possible that some students will be using both Blackboard and Canvas in a given semester for a little while. If you are taking Business courses or Health Sciences courses in Spring 2025, then those will be in Canvas. Courses offered by Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (FAHSS), the Kennedy College of Sciences and the Francis College of Engineering will transition to Canvas in the near future (see dates above for up to date information).

Yes! Canvas has an app just for students. Download the Canvas app for your device.

Students that are taking Business courses and Health Sciences courses will gain access to Canvas at the start of Spring 2025 semester. For online and graduate courses, this is the first day of the semester. For on campus undergraduate courses, this is 3 days before the start of the semester.

Each UMass Lowell (UML) student will be given access to a self-paced, optional Canvas Orientation course that you will see when you first access the system. This is a great starting point. Another great resource for students is the Canvas Student Guides page.

Yes! The Learning Management Systems (LMS) teams in Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) and Information Technology (IT) will be migrating Blackboard courses for each faculty member going 4 semesters back. The first migration will cover 3 semesters back, and the next one will bring over courses from the most recent semester. So for Phase 1 faculty, in October 2024 we will be migrating Blackboard courses from Summer 2024, Spring 2024, and Fall 2023. And then in December 2024, will migrate courses from Fall 2024 to Canvas.

Yes! If you need a course prior to 4 semesters back, then email: onlinelearning@uml.edu or email: BBhelp@uml.edu and we will be happy to migrate them to Canvas. We are also archiving past courses, so everything will be retained. A special migration request should not be used to archive all of your Blackboard courses, but only for courses that you actually need on Canvas for future teaching.

The LMS teams keep archives of Blackboard courses, and this practice will continue in Canvas. If you need a Blackboard course that was not migrated already, email: onlinelearning@uml.edu or email: BBhelp@uml.edu and we can restore the archive for you on Canvas.

Faculty from Manning School of Business and Zuckerburg College of Health Sciences will gain access to the Canvas platform in early October 2024. Canvas should be used as the LMS instead of Blackboard for this group starting Spring 2025 semester. Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (FAHSS) will begin using Canvas for Fall 2025 courses. Kennedy College of Science in Spring 2026 and the Francis College of Engineering in Summer/Fall 2026.

Faculty can register for Canvas workshops (please see above). Additionally, job aids, documentation, self-paced modules will all be widely available for faculty via this site. The IT and GPS Blackboard support teams are here for you, they will be communicating opportunities to learn Canvas, and will be happy to help or point you towards resources when you are ready.

No. UMass Lowell leadership decided on a phased approach, by College, for migration. All faculty are expected to move from Blackboard at their college's scheduled time.

No. We sincerely appreciate your enthusiasm, but UMass Lowell leadership decided on a phased approach, by College, for migration. All faculty are expected to move to Canvas at their college's scheduled time.

Please visit the Canvas Higher Ed page as a starting point. Another great resource for faculty is the Canvas Instructor Guides page.

Users will have access to Blackboard until approximately Summer 2026. After that, we will have course archives available upon request if needed on the Canvas system.

Yes! Canvas has an app for Faculty. Download the Canvas Faculty app for your device.