Release Notes for Learn SaaS
This page contains features and updates currently on Learn SaaS Test/Stage and Production environments. Visit Archived SaaS Release Notes to see features and updates in older versions. Visit In-Product Updates to learn more about in-product updates.
Filter the list of features to learn more.
More on Learn with the SaaS Deployment | Export the list of Known Issues | Access the latest API and database documentation | Blackboard Learn SaaS release notes archive | Learn Releases White Paper
Looking for Blackboard Learn 9.1 release notes?
Follow this page to get email updates when we publish new release notes
View the SaaS release schedule
Blackboard SaaS release 4000.4.0
Blackboard Learn SaaS Continuous Delivery v4000.4.0
Release to Test/Stage: Tuesday, 11 November 2025 | Release to Production: Thursday, 4 December 2025
Original Course View, Ultra Course View
For full feature details, please review the corresponding notes for the Blackboard 4000.4.0 version included below on this page. Details can be found on Anthology Global Support.
For more information on updates and bug fixes, please visit Anthology Global Support.
The December 2025 - 4000.4 release is robust with features in eight areas:
- Mastery learning and learning pathways;
- Communication and collaboration;
- Gradebook;
- Learner progression and personalized experience;
- Integrations;
- Blackboard core;
- Blackboard Admin; and
- Premium
These improvements impact instructors, students, and administrators. Some features do require administrative action.
Instructors:
- Set release conditions for open or started and for non-assessment content items
- Improved handling of group membership changes
- Aligned gradebook submission counts with Show/Hide Unavailable Students Gradebook setting
- Standardized tabbed interface in Flexible Grading
- Improved Automations experience
- Specify participation requirements for Discussions
- AI Conversation – Remove Originality Reporting
- Better Audio and Video in Feedback
- Learning Module Table of Contents – Instructor View
Instructors and Students:
- AVA – Responses to Student Messages
- Support Inline and Display Formulas in MathJax
- Video Studio: Recording Minimize Workflow
- Video Studio – Record Screen and Camera Simultaneously
Students:
Instructors and Administrators:
Administrators:
- Customize grade pills to reflect incomplete/complete status and exemption criteria
- Apply schema-based gradebook calculations
- Enhance Control Over LTI Proctoring Tools with Institutional Hierarchy
- Permanent “Course Complete” Banner in Closed Original Courses
- Import and Export Privileges for System and Course Roles
- Switch on or off Discussion tool visibility
Mastery Learning and Learning Pathways
Set release conditions for open or started and for non-assessment content items – 4000.4
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Content Release Conditions
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-638, LEARNU-I-394, LEARNU-I-2551, LEARNU-I-34
We expanded release conditions to include activity on items including non-assessment content. This enhancement allows conditions to be based on whether a student has opened or started content items such as documents, media, or course links. Instructors can now control access based on whether a student has opened or started a prerequisite content item.
Key options for release conditions:
- Unopened: The student has not accessed the item.
- Opened or Started: The student has accessed the item.
This enhancement supports flexible learning pathways and mastery-based progression. For example, an instructor can require students to open a reading or watch a video before an assessment becomes available.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Communication & Collaboration
AVA – Responses to Student Messages – 4000.4
Impact: Student, Instructor
Updated Help Topic: Messages (Student), Messages (Instructor)
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
AVA now responds to common student messages sent to instructors. Students often ask about information already available in the course, which increases instructor workload and delays responses. AVA helps reduce this workload and gives students faster answers to common questions.
When a student sends a message to an instructor, AVA scans the course from the student’s perspective to find a relevant answer. Instructors can review and clarify AVA’s responses if needed.
AVA can respond to questions about:
- Due dates, grades, and course content that is visible to the student
- Accommodations and exceptions
- Direct links to relevant course information
- Learner progress within modules, if progress tracking is turned on
AVA responds only when the message is sent to the Instructor role or a role marked as “Treat Users with this Role as Instructor.” AVA does not respond if the message includes more than one student or other roles.
Image 1: AVA responding to a student’s message
Instructors can turn on AVA autoreplies in Course Settings if the feature is enabled in the Administrator Panel. The default setting is off. Instructors can change this setting at any time during the course.
Instructors can review all AVA responses and add context if needed. AVA only responds based on course content. If an item appears in the gradebook, AVA will try to provide details. If AVA can’t find an answer, it will let the student know and suggest waiting for the instructor’s reply. AVA uses the Course Language Pack.
Currently, AVA cannot:
- Read or extract content from uploaded documents
- Answer questions about third-party content such as SCORM, OneDrive, or external websites
- Search the internet or external storage
- Provide details about institutional resources outside the course
Administrators
Availability: AVA is a premium solution.
Activation: AVA features are included in your Blackboard license until 30 June 2026. After that, an AVA license is required. The student message response feature is turned off by default.
Configuration: To turn on this feature, go to the Administrator Panel. Select Building Blocks under Integrations, then Installed Tools. Find the AI Design Assistant and Unsplash building block and select Settings. Under the AVA section, select AVA Responses to Students. Once turned on, the feature appears in the Tools menu in the Administrator Panel under Tools and Utilities. Administrators can turn it on globally or by institutional hierarchy. The default setting is off.
Specify participation requirements for Discussions – 4000.4
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Discussions (Instructor)
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Instructors now have greater flexibility when managing student participation in Discussions. With this update, instructors can specify required student responses for a Discussion topic. It can be difficult for students to meet an instructor’s expectations in a discussion if those expectations are not clearly expressed. This enhancement allows instructors to more closely align grading requirements with their pedagogical goals and provides students with clear expectations for each phase of participation.
Instructors
Instructors can now make clear participation requirements to students. The initial release adds participation requirements to the existing due date(s) for discussions. Instructors can set requirements on the number of required posts and/or replies for a student to fulfil the requirement.
The status of participation requirements is updated through to completion, giving a student a clear understanding of progress made. Participation requirements are linked to progress tracking, so that will be accurately displayed for the student to monitor. Participation requirements are optional but recommended for maximum benefit.
This update does not affect grading workflows or Gradebook structure.
Image 1: Instructors being able to set participation requirements in discussion settings.
Students
The new participation requirements in Discussions give students a clearer understanding of instructor expectations in an assigned Discussions topic. Students can monitor their progress both in the assigned Discussions topic as well as in Progress Tracking.
Image 2: Showing the complete state when all the requirements have been met.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
AI Conversation – Remove Originality Reporting – 4000.4
Impact: Instructor
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
The AI Conversation tool in Blackboard supports student engagement through Socratic questioning and role-play activities. Instructors configure settings for each activity, including assessment and grading options. In this release, the Originality Reporting option has been removed from the settings panel. Because the activity involves interaction with an AI persona, Originality Reporting does not generate a meaningful report. Keeping the option could cause confusion, so it has been removed to improve clarity. Improves instructor experience by removing unsupported reporting.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Gradebook
Customize grade pills to reflect incomplete/complete status and exemption criteria – 4000.4
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Topic: Default Settings for Courses
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
We updated the grade pill display for the Complete/Incomplete grade schema to improve clarity for instructors and students. Grade pills for incomplete items now appear in gray, making them visually distinct from graded submissions. This change ensures that incomplete statuses are clearly communicated without implying a low score or performance level.
Image 1: Incomplete items have a gray grade pill.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Apply schema-based gradebook calculations – 4000.4
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Topic: Default Settings for Courses
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
We introduced a type of gradebook calculation that relies on a new Calculated schema option for custom grade schemas. When enabled, gradebook calculations will use the schema’s numeric Grade Names (e.g., 1, 5.7, 6.8) instead of the raw assessment scores. This enhancement supports grading models like the Chilean grading scale, where a zero score should be interpreted as a 1.
Example:
Three assessments are worth 100 points each and are scored as 0, 82, and 97. Each assessment has been set to use a calculated schema that maps those scores to the Grade Names 1, 5.6, and 6.8 respectively. If an Average calculation is performed, it will use (1 + 5.7 + 6.8) / 3 = 4.5, instead of performing the calculation based on the raw assessment scores and having the output translated onto a grade schema.
Image 1: Administrators can configure schema-based Gradebook calculations.
Image 2: Instructors have the schema calculations in their Gradebook.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: Admins can enable the system-level Calculated schema option for users via the Tools framework accessed via the administration panel under the heading ‘Grading schema - grade name value calculation’. When enabled:
- Administrators have access to a Use rounded scores setting that allows control over whether calculated results used in secondary calculations are exact or rounded based on the configured grade pill decimal settings. The setting is available in Admin > Course Settings > Grade Pill Settings > Calculation Precision and is set to OFF by default. Note that when enabling the setting, all cached calculated grades in the system are cleared and recalculated.
- Instructors have access to a Use "Grade Name" labels in gradebook calculations’ toggle when they view or edit a grade schema in their course. The toggle controls if grade schema Grade Names are used in gradebook calculations. The toggle is set to OFF by default. This setting is included when Grade schemas are copied as part of course copy workflows.
Configuration:
- Create a custom grade schema and enable the Use "Grade Name" labels in gradebook calculations’ toggle.
- Configure the grade schema and ensure that the Grade Names used are numeric and conform to locale-specific decimal formatting.
- Maximum of two decimal places is supported.
- Add the custom grade schema to all assessments that will be used in grade calculations
- Use the ‘Add total calculation’ option when performing gradebook calculations. Both points and weighted calculations are supported. Advanced calculations are not supported at this time.
- Ensure that the configured calculation is set to display in Points.
Improved handling of group membership changes – 4000.4
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
We’ve enhanced Flexible Grading and the Submissions page for group assessments to better handle changes in group memberships. These improvements ensure grading accuracy and reduce confusion when groups are modified after submissions:
- On the Submissions page, if all members are removed from a group:
- The group avatar displays a ? icon.
- A No members label appears.
- The group name becomes non-selectable.
- For active groups, the Flexible Grading interface always shows the current group members for each attempt.
Image 1: On the Submissions page, a No Members label appears in groups with no members.
Image 2: The Flexible Grading interface shows the current group members for each attempt.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Aligned gradebook submission counts with Show/Hide Unavailable Students Gradebook setting – 4000.4
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Gradebook submission counts now align with the instructor’s Show/Hide Unavailable Students setting. When unavailable students are hidden, counts exclude their submissions. When unavailable students are shown, counts include their submissions.
This alignment applies to:
- Submissions page
- Gradable items page
- Student Activity page
Image 1: Instructors can set Student Visibility in Gradebook Settings.
Image 2: Gradebook submission counts align with the Show/Hide Unavailable Students setting, with unavailable students not affecting the submission count.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Standardized tabbed interface in Flexible Grading – 4000.4
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
We improved the Flexible Grading experience by introducing a consistent tabbed interface for all submission types. Previously, tabs were only shown for file-based submissions. With this update, instructors will now see tabs for:
- Instructions: Always present, even if no instructions are provided (displays “No instructions” when empty).
- Submission: For text, LTI or mixed submissions (text, images, files).
- File tabs: Each file submitted appears in its own tab, rendered in Annotate when possible.
This enhancement makes grading more intuitive and efficient by providing a uniform layout across different submission formats. On mobile, navigation buttons appear at the top of the tabbed interface for quick access to previous and next submissions.
Image 1: Consistent tabbed interface for all submission types.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Better Audio and Video in Feedback – 4000.4
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Video Studio (Instructor)
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Instructors can now use the full Video Studio workflow when giving assessment feedback or working in Flexible Grading. They can record or upload video and audio directly in the feedback editor, using features like captioning, transcription, and editing to deliver clear, personalized communication.
This update makes feedback more engaging and accessible, and the workflow matches other Video Studio-supported areas in Blackboard Ultra.
Instructors
Instructors will see the Video Studio button in the feedback editor when grading. They can add media to express tone and intent more effectively. Video Studio supports automatic captioning and transcription and lets instructors edit recordings to improve clarity.
Image 1: Video Studio button available in the instructor feedback panel.
Image 2: Video Studio recording embedded in the instructor feedback panel.
Administrators
Availability: No Video Studio license required; available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Learner Progression & Personalized Experience
Improved Automations experience – 4000.4
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Automations
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
We made several enhancements to Automations based on user feedback.
Instructors
- Better visibility of Automations actions
- Users can now check the status of each automation directly from the list.
- Each automation now displays who executed it, increasing transparency in multi-instructor courses.
- Cleaner interface and more intuitive interactions, including:
- Pagination on the automation list for smoother navigation.
- Improved error messaging and validation when configuring numeric inputs.
- Minor layout and usability improvements for the automation rules panel.
- String and localization improvements.
Image 1: There is an indicator of the status of each automation in the list (active or inactive). The last person to execute the action is stated under each automation, and an error message is displayed for an automation that is incorrectly configured.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: Automations are off by default. Administrators can turn them on by going to the Administrator Panel. Select Configure in The Ultra Experience is Here! module. Select Automations to turn automations on or off.
Users need the following privileges to work with automations:
- Course/Organization > Automations > Add allows users to create new automations.
- Course/Organization > Automations > Delete allows users to delete automations.
- Course/Organization > Automations > Edit allows users to edit existing automations.
- Course/Organization > Automations > View allows users to view existing course automations.
Integrations
Enhance Control Over LTI Proctoring Tools with Institutional Hierarchy – 4000.4
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Topic: Institutional Hierarchy
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
This enhancement applies only to proctoring tools that are using our Ultra Proctoring Service integration based on IMS's LTI 1.3 integration flow.
Institutions using Blackboard’s Institutional Hierarchy (IH) can now manage LTI proctoring tool placements at the node level. Previously, proctoring tools were managed globally, which limited how large organizations—such as university systems or multi-campus institutions—could tailor proctoring solutions for specific campuses, departments, or academic units. Administrators now have more flexibility to manage tool access, improving governance and the instructor experience.
Key improvements include:
- Administrators can turn proctoring tool placements on or off for individual nodes in the Institutional Hierarchy. For example, a central Blackboard administrator can assign different proctoring tools to different universities or departments within the same system. Each unit only accesses tools relevant to its contracts or instructional needs.
- Instructors configuring assessments only access proctoring tools available for their node. Tools not assigned to a node don’t appear in assessment settings, reducing confusion and streamlining the experience.
- Support for multiple deployments of the same LTI proctoring tool. Administrators can register and manage several deployments and assign them to specific nodes for more precise control.
- Familiar configuration workflow using the “Manage Tools” experience.
Image 1: This flowchart shows how institutions using Blackboard’s Institutional Hierarchy can manage LTI proctoring tool placements at the node level.
This update supports complex governance models and phased rollouts by managing feature access at campus, department, or faculty levels. It also reduces administrative overhead and helps instructors focus on relevant tools aligned with institutional agreements and instructional needs.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses using Institutional Hierarchy.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: Administrators configure proctoring tool access and deployments in the Tools section of the Administrator panel and within Institutional Hierarchy node settings.
Support Inline and Display Formulas in MathJax – 4000.4
Impact: Instructors and Students
Updated Help Topic: Math Editor (Instructor), Math Editor (Student)
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
MathJax support in the Content Editor now includes additional LaTeX delimiters for rendering mathematical formulas. This update improves compatibility with standard STEM workflows and simplifies uploading exam content without changing source files.
Instructors and students can now use:
- \(...\) for inline equations
- \[...\] for display equations
These options are in addition to the existing $ delimiters. Expanded support improves the experience of working with mathematical notation in Ultra courses and enhances visual clarity for complex expressions such as integrals, sums, and products.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: To turn on MathJax rendering for LaTeX formulas in the Content Editor, go to Tools in the Tools and Utilities module in the Administrator Panel. Locate MathJax for LaTeX (Ultra Only) and set Availability to ON for Course Tool and/or Organization Tool, based on your institution’s preference.
Blackboard Core
Learning Module Table of Contents – Instructor View – 4000.4
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Learning Modules (Instructor)
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-159
Instructors now have access to a collapsible Table of Contents panel in Learning Modules. This update mirrors the student experience and supports consistent navigation across roles. Instructors can quickly move between module items and access content that isn’t yet available to students—without switching to Student Preview or changing availability settings.
This streamlined workflow helps instructors review and organize course content more efficiently, saving time and improving course management.
The Table of Contents panel includes all items in a module. Select Contents to open or collapse the panel. Instructors can navigate the full module structure and align course design with the student experience.
Image 1: Instructor view of a Learning Module with the Table of Contents panel open.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: Opt-out during rollout. To opt out, go to the Administrator Panel, select Configure in The Ultra Experience is Here! module, and switch off Content navigator.
Configuration: None needed.
Blackboard Admin
Import and Export Privileges for System and Course Roles – 4000.4
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Topic: Course and Organization Roles
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Administrators can now manage role privileges more efficiently in Blackboard by importing and exporting privilege sets for System and Course roles. This update simplifies how permissions are reviewed, edited, and updated across the institution.
In the Administrator Panel, select either System Roles or Course/Organization Roles. Identify the role you want to update and select Privileges from the role's edit option. Updates include:
A new Export All option on the Role Details page to download all assigned privileges for a selected role as a CSV file. The file includes the privilege name, scope (YES/NO), and privilege ID.
Privilege files can be edited offline to adjust permissions.
The Import option on the role's list of privileges updates privileges by uploading a modified CSV file.
Image 1: The page that lists privileges for each system or course role now contains options to Export and Import privileges.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra and Original courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Use New Spectator Role (Course Role) – 4000.4
Impact: Instructors & Administrators
Updated Help Topic: Course and Organization Roles (Administrator)
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNO-I-35
The Spectator course role gives institutions a flexible, read-only option for course access. Use this role for auditors, observers, or external reviewers who need to review course content without making changes or accessing administrative features. This role supports secure, non-intrusive access to course materials and improves oversight and collaboration.
The Spectator role applies at the course level and grants read-only access to all course content. Users with this role cannot edit, delete, grade, or change course settings.
The role uses the same permission checks as the Viewer system role but only applies to courses where the user is enrolled as a Spectator. Spectator users do not have access to administrator privileges or system-wide data.
Assign the Spectator role from the Role Management page using the course role selector. Administrators manage which courses a Spectator can access and for how long through enrollments.
Common uses include:
Assigning Spectator to external auditors for accreditation reviews
Giving department chairs or instructional designers access to observe course delivery
Providing temporary, read-only access for peer review or compliance checks
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Switch on or off Discussion tool visibility - 4000.4
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Administrators can now manage the visibility of the Discussion tool for both Courses and Organizations in Blackboard. A new toggle on the Tools page lets administrators show or hide the Discussion tab and related components in the Ultra Course View interface. When the tool is turned off, all discussion-related elements—including the Discussion tab, content creation options, group discussions, and activity stream notifications—are hidden from users. Existing discussions are not deleted and will reappear with no data loss if the tool is turned back on.
Feature behavior includes:
When turned off, all discussion components are hidden from the interface, including during content creation and in group settings.
Graded discussions remain visible in the Gradebook but are non-selectable and inaccessible. Grades can still be changed, and the grade column can be deleted.
Discussion activities are hidden from the Activity Stream. Previously recorded activities reappear when the tool is turned back on.
No data is lost when toggling the tool off or on.
It’s strongly recommended to turn off the Discussion tool only for new courses and organizations. Turning it off in courses with existing discussions—especially graded ones—may cause issues. Links to discussions will no longer work, and content links or URLs will break.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses and organizations.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: Administrators manage the Discussion tool from the Tools page in the Administrator Panel.
Permanent “Course Complete” Banner in Closed Original Courses – 4000.4
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
When an Original course is marked as complete, a permanent banner now appears on all course pages stating: This course is complete. No further modifications are allowed.
This banner provides clear visual confirmation that the course has ended. It aligns Original courses with Ultra courses, where this banner already exists.
Currently, the banner is informational only—users can still make edits. In an upcoming release, editing completed Original courses will be restricted.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Original courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Premium
Video Studio: Recording Minimize Workflow – 4000.4
Impact: Instructors and Students
Updated Help Topic: Video Studio (Instructor), Video Studio (Student)
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Users can now minimize the camera view and Video Studio controls during a recording session. This update helps instructors and students focus on screen content while keeping the camera visible in a smaller overlay. The minimized view can be restored at any time, supporting flexible presentation styles.
This workflow is especially helpful when giving feedback. It supports clearer communication and stronger engagement.
Image 1: Instructors can now minimize Video Studio recording workflow to focus on a desired screen with a Minimize option.
Instructors can minimize the camera and controls while recording feedback or lectures. The camera appears as a small overlay, giving more options for presenting. Instructors can pause, resume, or restore the full camera view during the recording. This workflow is available wherever Video Studio is supported, including assessment feedback and flexible grading. Automatic captioning and transcription are included.
Image 2: Instructors can minimize Video Studio recording workflow for a more agile approach to recording and presenting instruction to students.
Students benefit from more focused instructional content and feedback. The minimized view helps follow on-screen demonstrations while keeping a visual connection with the instructor. Students can also create polished, professional presentations.
Administrators
Availability: Included with Blackboard Ultra; no Video Studio license required.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Video Studio – Record Screen and Camera Simultaneously – 4000.4
Impact: Instructors and Students
Updated Help Topic: Video Studio (Instructor), Video Studio (Student)
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Users can now record their screen and camera at the same time in Video Studio. This update supports more engaging and immersive recordings, helping instructors and students create content that reflects live presentations and lectures.
Instructors and Students
Instructors can record themselves while sharing their screen, making it easier to deliver lectures, walkthroughs, or demonstrations with both visual context and personal presence. Students can use this feature to present their work in a more expressive and professional format.
This feature is part of Blackboard Core and works for announcements and feedback without a Video Studio license.
Image 1: Split-screen recording showing the instructor and shared screen content.
Administrators
Availability: Requires a Video Studio license. Available as a part of Blackboard Core in instructor feedback and flexible grading.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Course Catalog: Use Trust Payments to pay for courses – 4000.4
Test/Stage: week of 17 November 2025; Production: week of 17 November 2025
Impact: Students
Updated Help Topic: Payment Gateway v2
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
We added Trust Payments as a payment service provider. This gives students the option to use Trust Payments to purchase courses from Course Catalog. As we continue to add more payment service providers, students gain greater flexibility and choice when paying for courses.
Students
When students select Buy for a course, they now see Trust Payments as one of the payment options if it is implemented by their institution.
Image 1: Trust Payments is now one of the listed payment methods. (Only payment methods available at an individual’s institution will be listed.)
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Course Catalog courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: To set up the Trust Payments integration, you will need to access support through a support case.
Blackboard SaaS release 4000.1.0
Blackboard Learn SaaS Continuous Delivery v4000.1.0
Release to Test/Stage: Tuesday, 7 October 2025 | Release to Production: Thursday, 6 November 2025
Original Course View, Ultra Course View
For full feature details, please review the corresponding notes for the Blackboard 4000.1.0 version included below on this page. Details can be found on Anthology Global Support.
For more information on updates and bug fixes, please visit Anthology Global Support.
The November 2025 - 4000.1 release is robust with features in eight areas:
- Instructional design;
- Mastery learning and learning pathways;
- Tests and assignments;
- Gradebook;
- Learner progression and personalized experience;
- Integrations;
- Blackboard core; and
- Premium
These improvements impact instructors, students, and administrators. Some features do require administrative action.
Instructors:
- Bulk change question points in tests
- Improved navigation from Gradebook column headers
- Choose whether to include hidden items in Gradebook downloads
- Automations: Automatically send messages to students based on course-level rules
- Generate or upload custom Achievement badges
Administrators:
- Use name or ID to search object Associations in the Learning Object Repository
- Quick Enroll for Ultra Courses
- Node-Admin “Login As” Restriction
- Configure Grade Pill Decimal Display and Rounding
- Grade Export: Choose which grade value is displayed on the grade-level approval screen
- Group subjects into Programs for aggregated reporting
- Course Catalog: Duplicate existing offerings from the Offering Management screen
Instructional Design
Use name or ID to search object Associations in the Learning Object Repository – 4000.1
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Topic: Learning Object Repository
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
You can now search courses and organizations by name or ID when reviewing the associations for an object in the Learning Object Repository. This improvement streamlines the process of locating relevant learning objects, making it faster and more intuitive to manage object associations.
Image 1: There is now a search box on the association page for objects in the Learning Object Repository.
Image 2: As characters are entered into the search box, the search results are narrowed.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Mastery Learning and Learning Pathways
Group subjects into Programs for aggregated reporting – 4000.1
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Institutions can now organize subjects into Programs—a new optional curricular structure within Blackboard. This enhancement allows subject and course offerings to be grouped under parent programs, enabling aggregated reporting and analytics across related courses.
This structure supports Anthology Outcomes with Blackboard and lays the foundation for future use in premium features such as TDM/Course Catalog, Milestone & Achievement Studio, Evaluate, and Illuminate.
Benefits include:
- Alignment between course subjects and multiple programs for improved data aggregation
- Aggregated insights into student performance and engagement across programs.
- Enhanced reporting flexibility by organizing data by Programs that allow courses to have a parent-child relationship with more than one Program.
- Actionable data for administrators, program directors, and instructional designers to improve curriculum effectiveness and support accreditation.
This update empowers institutions to make data-driven decisions and gain a comprehensive view of learning trends across academic structures.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: Admins can configure subjects and programs in the Communities section in Administrator tools.
Create custom Achievement images for more engaging badges – 4000.1
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-6130
Instructors now have three new options for customizing Achievement badge: AI-generated images, choose from a selection of stock images from Unsplash, and manual image uploads.
- AI Badge Image Creator: Instructors can enter keywords to generate badge images using the AI Design Assistant. The system auto-generates an image based on the badge’s name and description to help guide image creation. Additionally, instructors can provide their own prompt to be used for image generation. Images are optimized for circular cropping to match the standard badge shape.
- Unsplash: Instructors can search from a section of stock images from Unsplash
- Badge Image Upload: Instructors can also upload custom-designed badge images for use in Achievements.
Students will see the badges selected or created by their instructors, enhancing personalization and recognition.
Image 1: Instructors can select or generate an image for the custom achievement.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: To enable this feature, administrators must activate the Achievements feature flag. This flag controls visibility and access to all Achievement-related functionality, except AI-generated content (see configuration note below).
Configuration: The AI Design Assistant must be turned on before it can be used for Achievement badge images. In the Administrator panel, go to Building Blocks. Select Installed Tools to access AI Design Assistant and Unsplash settings. Make sure that the AI Design Assistant is turned on, then set Generate Achievement Images to On.
Tests & Assignments
Bulk change question points in tests – 4000.1
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Edit Tests and Questions
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-247
Instructors can now efficiently update point values for multiple questions in tests using new bulk editing options. This enhancement supports:
- Selecting all questions at once, with the option to deselect specific questions if desired.
- Selecting specific questions (e.g., question 1, 4, 9, 15, 16, 27, and 32) for targeted point value adjustments.
- Selecting questions by type (e.g., all True/False questions) to apply consistent point value changes across that question type.
- Selecting questions by type AND specific questions.
Instructors
After students open the assessment or make submissions, instructors can make these changes:
- Edit the text of questions and answers
- Edit the point value
- New grades are recalculated for all previously submitted assessments
- Give everyone full credit for a question
- Change which answers are correct
- Change the scoring options for Multiple Choice and Matching questions
- Align questions with goals, from the assessment only
After students open the assessment, instructors can't make these changes:
- Add new questions and answers
- Delete a question
- Delete answers in Matching and Multiple Choice questions
- Change the number of blanks in a Fill in the Blanks question
- Move the content, such as switch the order of questions, answers, or additional content
- Add or remove questions from a question pool or delete a pool from an assessment
Image 1: Instructors select Bulk edit points.
Image 2: Instructors can select the questions that they want included in the bulk edit.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Gradebook
Configure Grade Pill Decimal Display and Rounding – 4000.1
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Topic: Default Settings for Courses
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Administrators can now configure how grade pills display numeric values across the system. Previously, grade pills defaulted to showing a maximum of two decimal places with truncation. With this update, admins can choose between 0, 1, or 2 decimal places and select whether values are truncated or rounded half up.
These settings are available in Admin > Course Settings > Grade Pill Settings (formerly Grade Pill Colors). The configuration affects grade pill display only and does not alter stored grade values or calculations.
Options include:
- Decimal precision: 0, 1, or 2 (default: 2)
- Rounding mode:
- Truncate: RoundingMode.DOWN (default)
- Round: RoundingMode.HALF_UP
- Values 0 to <5: round down
- Values 5 to <10: round up
Image 1: How rounded grades display in the Gradebook.
Image 2: How truncated grades display in the Gradebook.
Image 3: Configuration for Decimal Handling, where admins can select the number of decimals to display in grade pills and if the grades should be rounded.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: Admins can configure this setting in Admin > Course Settings > Grade Pill Settings (formerly Grade Pill Colors).
Improved navigation from Gradebook column headers – 4000.1
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
We enhanced the gradebook grid view to streamline access to submission pages from column headers on the Grades page. These updates improve clarity and consistency across item types.
Changes include:
- Assignments, Tests, Forms, Discussions, Journals:
- Replaced the Edit option with a View Submissions option using the eye icon.
- Renamed the grade cell menu option from View to View Submission.
- Manual Items, Calculations, Total Calculations:
- Added a View option to the column header that routes to the submission page.
- SCORM Items:
- Added a View Submissions option with the eye icon.
- Renamed the grade cell menu option to View Submission.
- Removed Edit and Preview SCORM options from the column header menu.
- Attendance:
- Replaced the Edit option with a View option using the eye icon.
- Navigation behavior remains unchanged, with users being routed to the attendance page.
Image 1: Improved navigation in the Gradebook column headers.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Choose whether to include hidden items in Gradebook downloads – 4000.1
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Work Offline with Grade Data
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Instructors now have more flexibility when downloading the gradebook for offline use. Previously, downloads included only the columns visible to instructors. With this update, instructors can choose whether to include hidden items in the download file. This enhancement builds on prior improvements to the Item Management view, which introduced bulk show/hide controls.
Instructors
A new Include Hidden Items option appears when selecting Full Gradebook in Download Options. When selected, the download will contain all gradebook columns, including those hidden from instructor view.
Image 1: Include Hidden Items toggle switch in the Download Grades panel.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Learner Progression & Personalized Experience
Automations: Automatically send messages to students based on course-level rules – 4000.1
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Automations
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Instructors can now create automations that send congratulatory or supportive messages to students based on custom rules set at the course level. Instructors define the score thresholds and write the messages. These automations help instructors deliver timely, personalized feedback throughout the course, boosting student engagement and saving time.
Instructors
On the Course Content page, instructors select View Automations under Automations to manage their automations.
In this initial release, two automations are available. Instructors choose to either Send congratulatory message or Send supportive message. Congratulatory messages are sent when a student earns a high score; supportive messages are sent when a student does not achieve a specified score. Instructors select the grade item, set the score threshold as a percentage, and enter the message text.
Image 1: In the Automation trigger section, instructors set the conditions that will trigger the message to be sent.
Image 2: In the Action to be taken section, the instructor writes the message that will be sent to students when the rule is triggered.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: No additional license is required for Automations.
Configuration: This feature is off by default. Administrators can turn it on by going to the Administrator Panel. Select Configure in The Ultra Experience is Here! module. Select Automations to turn automations on or off.
Users need the following privileges to work with automations:
- Course/Organization > Automations > Add allows users to create new automations.
- Course/Organization > Automations > Delete allows users to delete automations.
- Course/Organization > Automations > Edit allows users to edit existing automations.
- Course/Organization > Automations > View allows users to view existing course automations.
Integrations
Grade Export: Choose which grade value is displayed on the grade-level approval screen – 4000.1
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Topic: Configure the Grade Extract
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Administrators can now choose which grade value appears on the grade-level approval screen. This update helps ensure the value instructors see during grade approval matches what appears in their gradebooks, reducing confusion.
Available grade display options include:
- Grade Letter: Returns a letter grade if the schema value is a letter; otherwise, returns an empty string.
- Schema Value: Returns the grade column Primary display.
- Percentage Score: Returns the calculated percentage score.
- Secondary Schema Value: Returns the grade column Secondary display (applies only to Original courses).
- Score Value: Returns the score value.
Image 1: Administrators now have the option to choose the Grade Display Value Configuration.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra and Original courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Blackboard Core
Quick Enroll for Ultra Courses – 4000.1
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Topic: Enroll Users
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Administrators can now use Quick Enroll in Ultra Course Settings to temporarily join a course as an instructor. This feature streamlines troubleshooting and content updates by allowing admins to enroll in courses, make changes, and then unenroll—all within the course UI.
Image 1. The Details and Actions panel on the Course Content page allowing administrator users to quickly enroll in an Ultra Course to make necessary changes.
When an administrator selects Quick Enroll within a course, a confirmation modal appears. Upon confirmation, the admin is enrolled as an instructor and can perform necessary actions. Once finished, selecting Quick Unenroll removes the role and any participation data (e.g., discussion posts or submissions) created during the session.
Image 2. An administrator user, once they have enrolled into a course to make necessary changes, can also unenroll in the course by selecting the option in the Details and Actions panel.
This feature is designed to reduce friction in support workflows while maintaining auditability and accessibility standards.
Administrators
Availability: Available for Ultra courses only. Visible to users in the Support Admin group.
Activation: Feature flag “Enable Support Quick Enroll” (opt-in, off by default).
Configuration: Required privilege: Course/Organization Control Panel > Quick Enroll.
Node-Admin “Login As” Restriction – 4000.1
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Topic: "Login As" Tool
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
This update enhances security for institutions using Blackboard’s Institutional Hierarchy by restricting the “Login As” privilege for Node Administrators. Previously, a Node Admin could use “Login As” to access nodes in the hierarchy they should not have access to, potentially exposing sensitive information across multiple campuses or institutions within the same Blackboard system.
This feature is especially critical for institutions with multiple colleges or universities under one Blackboard instance, where each node represents a separate entity.
The feature behavior includes:
- The “Login As” privilege is now restricted so that Node Admins cannot log in as users or admins in other nodes where they do not have appropriate access.
- System Administrators retain full “Login As” privileges at the system level.
- Node Admins can only use “Login As” within their assigned node(s); attempts to access other nodes are blocked.
- The restriction prevents cross-node access, ensuring that admins cannot view or manage users, data, or settings outside their designated scope.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra and Original courses using Institutional Hierarchy.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Premium
Course Catalog: Duplicate existing offerings from the Offering Management screen
Test/Stage: week of 20 October 2025; Production: week of 20 October 2025
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Topic: The Offering Management Screen
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Offering managers can now duplicate existing offerings directly from the Offering Management screen. This feature helps managers quickly create new offerings that share most characteristics with an existing one, while updating only the details that need to change. New offerings are set to be unavailable by default to avoid confusion while they are configured. Duplicating offerings reduces the time and effort needed to create new offerings based on existing ones.
Image 1: The menu on the Offering Management screen now includes a Duplicate Offering option for original offerings.
Image 2: The manager can specify the Offering ID of the new offering, then selects the Duplicate button.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Course Catalog courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Looking for older release notes?
Check out the Blackboard Learn Release Notes Archive for more information on past releases.
