2024 Winners

Keiser University's Online Division has excelled by leveraging Anthology® Outcomes as a strategic partner to revolutionize their assessment processes. Aware of the complexities and differing perspectives of accreditors, administration, and faculty, the team initiated a transformative journey with the expertise of Anthology's strategic consultants. By collaborating closely, the team introduced innovative initiatives that utilized technology to meet accreditation requirements and improve program learning outcomes. Their progressive approach not only addressed immediate assessment needs but also established a comprehensive, university-wide assessment initiative, setting a new standard for excellence.

Odessa College's implementation of Anthology® Outcomes has revolutionized its assessment practices, enabling streamlined processes and compliance with accreditation standards. Through Outcomes data analysis, faculty identified areas for improvement in various programs, leading to enhancements in computer skills, script analysis, writing clarity, and critical thinking skills. Anthology Outcomes has catalyzed improvements in general education programs, including the addition of synchronous sessions, mandatory tutoring, and quality course checklists. This transformative impact has resulted in enhanced student learning experiences, evidenced by improved course continuity, increased engagement, and targeted learning assignments, ultimately benefiting student success and institutional compliance with accreditation standards.

In 2023, Traci Steelher was tasked with leading assessment initiatives for the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Cincinnati. She developed a brand-new assessment strategy, implemented a five-year assessment plan, started and led a group of student affairs assessment liaisons, and created brand-new planning templates that revolve around the assessment cycle. This initiative has helped to break down the barriers to assessment that staff were facing at the university into small, easy-to-tackle pieces with clear expectations. By doing this, the Division of Student Affairs has collected meaningful, robust assessment data that is easily reportable via Anthology® Planning while changing the culture of assessment in UC's Student Affairs for years to come.

The University of the District of Columbia has embraced a cultural shift towards continuous improvement and data-informed decision-making by transforming their LMS into a central hub for learning and outcomes assessment. UDC leveraged Anthology® Outcomes to enhance curriculum and program outcomes, showcasing the impact of a technology-driven, purposeful approach to assessment. This cultural shift benefits students by providing clear learning outcomes that enhance their academic lifecycle. Faculty have improved their assessment practices using data visualization, fostering professional growth, and elevating educational quality whereas staff benefit from efficient academic management and a culture of data-driven decisions.

Grupo Ser Educacional carries out the Interdisciplinary Practice of Extension program to foster interdisciplinary learning and generate social impact. In 2023, approximately 19,000 actions were executed across Brazil, involving 28,401 students and benefiting over 200,000 people. Blackboard® Learn Ultra played a crucial role, enabling effective monitoring, web conferencing, and direct communication. This facilitated quick interactions and practical student experiences. The program was offered to all higher education courses from the Ser Educacional Group in their various areas of knowledge, and covered diverse topics like sustainability, education, social issues, and health care. Blackboard Learn Ultra streamlined the management, evaluation, and guidance processes, enhancing the overall effectiveness and reach of the initiative.

By integrating Anthology® Ally into Blackboard® Learn, the University of Bahrain solidified its dedication to accessibility, achieving an impressive 94.4% accessibility score. This milestone reflects the institution's unwavering pursuit of an inclusive academic experience. The initiative revolutionized the learning journey, ensuring every student navigates content seamlessly. With approximately 33,000 students, the university witnessed transformative results, particularly in course content accessibility through Ally integration. Faculty emerged as advocates for inclusivity, shaping a curriculum that resonates with diverse learners. This evolution, driven by visionary leadership, reshaped the university culture, affirming its commitment to educational equity.

In 2023, the University of Derby advanced its commitment to accessibility and inclusion by transitioning to Blackboard® Learn Ultra, embedding inclusive practices throughout the project. Central to this effort was the integration of Anthology® Ally, fostering a digitally inclusive environment. Significant achievements include the Digital Accessibility Maturity Model, Digital Learning Baselines, and a mandatory digital practice training program for staff. With 92% of target academic staff completing the 'Accessibility and Me' course, over 1,200 completions were recorded. These initiatives have embedded a culture of inclusive practice, enhancing digital accessibility and positively impacting student satisfaction, attainment, and the University's TEF Gold rating.

By integrating Anthology® Ally & Eye-Able with generative AI, the University of Illinois Chicago has enhanced the accessibility of digital course content across both Blackboard® Learn Ultra and Original platforms. This multi-faceted approach ensures that all students, regardless of their backgrounds or abilities, have equitable access to educational resources and materials. The project has witnessed over 74,000 alternative format downloads, fostering accessibility awareness, and benefited over 15,000 unique users across 4,000 courses in the first semester alone. This initiative has not only improved the student experience but has also empowered instructors with tools to create more inclusive and accessible learning environments.

Utilizing Anthology's sub-community, Jessica Watts launched the Louisville Alumni Email Ambassador Program, empowering campus-wide communications personnel to craft and customize digital event invitations and e-newsletters for alumni and donors. This autonomy has enhanced collaboration and reduced the workload on the central communications team, while branded templates ensure consistent visual identity and messaging. Currently, 16 email ambassadors create tailored communications for their respective schools and colleges, fostering alumni loyalty and engagement. The program has improved overall open rates and positively impacted the institution by enhancing communication, increasing engagement, fostering collaboration, and managing workloads more effectively.

In 2023, Morehead State University revolutionized its giving day by eliminating a public goal and moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, they utilized Anthology® Encompass to send over 35 segmented email campaigns, each tailored with specific branding, giving links, and messaging. This strategy allowed for organized and categorized communication. The result was the most successful giving day in over a decade, with funds raised immediately available for student use. This personalized approach also reinforced to alumni that they are recognized and valued by the university, enhancing engagement and support.

The University of Washington successfully replaced its 15-year-old advancement system with Anthology® Raise, moving from a legacy application to a robust platform with cutting-edge technologies. This transition involved a steep learning curve as the team adapted to new roles and built QA and other necessary items. The implementation resulted in a highly customizable solution for UW's advancement team, enhancing their fundraising capabilities and overall supportability. With Raise, the university now efficiently manages gifts, allowing the team to raise even more resources for valuable causes benefiting the community.

Central Michigan University's transition to Blackboard® Learn Ultra Course View over a three-year timeline signifies a significant milestone in enhancing teaching and learning experiences. Led by Marnie Roestel, the migration involved meticulous planning, extensive training sessions, and dedicated support to facilitate a seamless transition for faculty and students. Despite the challenges, the transition has garnered positive responses from faculty, with close to 200 participating in comprehensive Learn Ultra training sessions. With over 5,000 courses migrated and faculty feeling supported throughout the process, CMU is poised to provide students with an intuitive, flexible, and robust learning environment that ensures the best education possible.

GVSU committed to migrating all courses to Blackboard® Learn Ultra by May 2023 to modernize its LMS, offering a user-friendly, feature-rich platform. Its eLearning Technologies team meticulously prepared for data migration to cloud-based hosting and designed resources and training for a seamless transition. They developed a comprehensive LMS migration website, established new support frameworks, and created professional development initiatives. GVSU's commitment extends to assisting other institutions with their Learn Ultra journeys through statewide events, consultancy services, and resource sharing. Their Ultra Transition Resources website facilitates knowledge exchange and collaboration, providing adaptable resources to enhance LMS migration processes for other institutions.

Nasaq System, an initiative by IAU, has revolutionized digital transformation and spending efficiency, earning the first Saudi eLearning Innovation Award for institutions in 2024. Launched in 2018, Nasaq addresses instructional designer shortages and optimizes faculty training, development, and e-course review on Blackboard® Learn. Achievements include 2,361 completed tasks, 62 certificates issued, a faculty increase to 162, and an 80% user satisfaction rate. The system enhances e-course quality, facilitates project management, and supports Arabic and English. Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, Nasaq bridges skills gaps, improves education indicators, and boosts e-learning course efficiency and quality.

The institution formed a team of academic leaders and LMS administrators to design a standardized structure in Blackboard® Learn Ultra, ensuring consistency, quality, and efficiency of online learning materials. The 4Cs project was launched to address the need for better use of Blackboard Learn Ultra and for timely support by promoting quality content delivery across different programs, involving six phases: creating a repository, teacher orientation, collaborative course shell creation, uploading standardized shells, follow-up workshops, and project evaluation. The project's success has led to institutional recognition and ongoing improvements in digital support services.

The European and American Anthology Ally User Group Leaders have created a global community focused on leveraging Anthology® Ally's solutions to promote accessibility and inclusivity in higher education. This collaborative group fosters the advancement of these essential practices, serving as a model for effective community-led initiatives. By continuously refining its design and structure, the group raises awareness and facilitates idea exchange among participating institutions. Providing a platform for ongoing dialogue, the user group keeps members informed about emerging trends and best practices in digital accessibility, enhancing professional growth and impact within their respective institutions.

Cal Poly's 'Paths' initiative, powered by Anthology® Engage, aimed to drive student engagement beyond academia, fostering global impact readiness. Paths integrates immersive experiences into the curriculum, bridging theoretical knowledge with real-world skills vital for career success. Co-curricular design, innovative skill development, and strategic communication initiatives were implemented, leading to elevated student satisfaction, retention, and completion rates. Leveraging data utilization and outcome-focused evaluation, Cal Poly achieved tangible improvements in student outcomes and decision-making processes. The initiative also saw increased event participation and mobile app adoption, signaling a transformative shift towards holistic student development.

Edge Hill University's Student Life and Learning Design teams created a pre-arrival course for international students to ease their transition to life and study in the UK. Involving students at every stage and using iterative design approaches, the course offers practical guidance and interactive activities. Blackboard® Learn's extension TDM 2.0 was used for design, allowing easy access via personal emails, and reducing staff's administrative burden. Its mobile-friendly design catered to international students' preferences, while the Learn Ultra interface introduced them to university tools. The initiative benefits both students and staff, as evidenced by fewer queries about UK living and studying. Ongoing statistics will further gauge the impact of the Pre-Arrival Course on student preparedness and staff support needs.

Marshall University's partnership with Anthology Solutions showcases a transformative approach to institutional advancement, reversing declining yield rates and fostering substantial growth in enrollment and revenue. Leveraging data insights and strategic consultation, Marshall's multi-modal engagement campaigns and personalized support exceeded expectations, demonstrating proactive solutions to enrollment challenges. This collaboration has not only addressed declining yields but also enhanced relationship-building and targeted demographic growth, yielding significant financial benefits for the institution.

Sam Houston State University uses Anthology® Engage to enhance student engagement, development, learning, belonging, and retention through their Ultimate Bearkat Path. Staff within Student Involvement partner with offices across campus to offer the Path for students to intentionally engage in experiences that foster development in career readiness, communication, critical thinking, ethics, teamwork, wellness, and spirit and traditions. Along the Path, students reflect on their experiences and complete a capstone project to be eligible for induction into the Ultimate Bearkat Society. Inductees earn a medallion for graduation, which contributes to retention and persistence towards degree completion. This innovative endeavor maximizes and optimizes the student experience.

On August 9, 2023, the University of Memphis launched TigerZone Mobile, a comprehensive student engagement app built with Navengage, the university's instance of Anthology® Engage. This app connects students to campus resources, events, and peers, resulting in a 157% increase in scanned event attendees, a 16% increase in registered events, and a 29% increase in unique attendees within the first six weeks. With over 6,000 users, TigerZone Mobile has facilitated 4,000 group messages and over 1,000 feed posts. The app's success has led to its integration into campus life, with plans to include more college-hosted events and the New Student Orientation Schedule.

The College of Engineering, Technology, and Management (CETM) at Bellevue University (BU) launched a Learning Transformation Initiative for the People and Business Leadership Program (PBLR), resulting in significant student success improvements and the reduction of demographic performance gaps. Leveraging innovative Anthology solutions, the initiative streamlined administrative tasks for faculty and staff, reinforcing BU's leadership in adult learning. For students, this initiative translates to increased course success rates and newfound career readiness skills. Faculty benefit from reduced administrative burdens, allowing more time for teaching, mentoring, and providing personalized support to students, ultimately enhancing the overall learning experience.

The Jenison Innovation Academy (JIA) leverages Blackboard® Learn Ultra, alongside Blackboard Data Snowflake and REST API integrations, to create an inclusive educational ecosystem. Through custom dashboards, JIA actively engages parents, teachers, and staff advisors, tracking student progress and fostering effort. Rooted in the Educational Community of Inquiry framework, this approach enhances student success in hybrid learning environments. JIA's innovative model yields significant improvements in student outcomes, evidenced by graduates achieving higher success rates than peers in traditional settings. The initiative results in a remarkable two-letter grade improvement in student academic success compared to those only participating in asynchronous activities, showcasing its substantial impact.

Northern Border University transitioned from traditional education to competency-based learning through the High Impact Instructional Practices (HIPS) project, facilitated by Blackboard® Learn's Rubrics tool. Targeting digital literacy, citizenship, entrepreneurship, and more, the initiative enhances student competencies and encourages engagement with their communities, enriching their educational journey. Through systematic follow-up and support, faculty members implement HIPS effectively, ensuring students benefit from a well-rounded learning experience aligned with real-world demands.

The Shared Metacognition group aims to enhance student socio-cognitive learning by implementing a scalable, co-regulated approach using Blackboard® Learn Self and Peer Assessment. This innovative method fosters shared metacognition, empowering students to learn from and assist their peers, ultimately leading to academic success. By embracing co-regulation, students adapt to online learning conditions, becoming active agents in managing their own and their peers' learning experiences. This initiative underscores the pivotal role of co-regulation in supporting student success and highlights students' agency in navigating their educational journey within the parameters of online courses.

Beacon Red's Knowledge Management team has implemented an AI-based system to enhance learning through targeted written assessment feedback using the CEFR language framework. This system analyzes learner submissions, providing structured, level-appropriate feedback that instructors can review and enhance. Leveraging Blackboard® Ultra Learn and its APIs ensures consistent feedback across courses and cohorts, generating comprehensive statements for each student. Initially used with 250 students, it will expand to over 2,000 learners across the UAE. This system has improved data quality, instructor efficiency, and actionable insights, streamlining the feedback process and saving significant time while enabling quicker interventions and accurate student placement.

The Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) in KSA addresses labor market needs by enhancing practical skills training for over 200,000 trainees and 10,000 trainers across 143 technical colleges and 98 vocational institutes. Through the E-Learning Department's initiative, practical skill assessments were improved using the Rubric tool within Blackboard® Learn, impacting thousands of trainees and standardizing evaluation. This comprehensive project resulted in clearer evaluations for students, enhanced teaching strategies for faculty, streamlined administrative processes for staff, and a significant increase in engagement, benefiting over 12,172 trainees and enriching educational content across institutions.

The Center for Instructional Design (CID) responded to faculty concerns at UTEP by creating the Teaching with Artificial Intelligence Academy (TAIA) to integrate AI into course curriculum. Through self-paced modules within Blackboard® Learn Ultra, faculty learn to use AI tools for student engagement, discuss ethical implications, and ensure responsible AI use. The TAIA enhances skills development, enriches the curriculum, fosters research opportunities, prepares students for the workforce, and promotes ethical awareness regarding generative AI. This initiative addresses institutional needs, policies, and ethical concerns while empowering faculty and students with cutting-edge AI knowledge and skills.

The Universidad Abierta Interamericana (UAI) has developed an innovative competency-based curriculum model for software engineering, aligning with learning outcomes. This model integrates flipped classroom elements, 360 assessments, teacher mentoring, and collaborative work, grounded in constructive alignment and cognitive load theory. It employs rubric analytical descriptors and low-complexity activities to focus on specific skills before integrating them into complex tasks. Implemented at UAI, the model has significantly enhanced competency development, deep learning, and real-world readiness by organizing curricular content into modules, creating collaborative workspaces, and designing learning activities with various assessment tools through Blackboard® Learn. This approach enhances the educational experience for students and teachers, promoting active participation, collaboration, and improved learning outcomes and satisfaction.

The course development team leveraged Anthology® Ally and Blackboard® Learn Ultra to redesign the College and Career Development Seminar, an online, one-credit-hour course for high school students. This course helps students develop decision-making and self-efficacy skills as they explore post-secondary education and career pathways. By applying Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and utilizing various tools in Blackboard Learn Ultra, the team created an inclusive and accessible learning space. This redesign has empowered nearly 150 students to pursue their academic and professional goals and fostered cross-departmental collaboration at WKU, uniting expertise to create a transformative learning experience.

After William Paterson University completed its migration to Blackboard® Learn Ultra, over 900 faculty members transitioned to a new teaching and learning environment, revolutionizing course content creation and delivery methods. The Center for Teaching with Technology responded by offering comprehensive training sessions, including in-person, online, and individual consultations, totaling over 400 sessions. This initiative resulted in 91.54% of faculty effectively using Blackboard Learn Ultra functions during the fall 2023 semester, showcasing successful implementation. The diverse training options tailored to faculty preferences facilitated a smooth transition, enhancing teaching quality and student learning experiences. The project's impact is evident in increased faculty engagement, improved efficiency, and elevated institutional competitiveness, bolstering academic excellence and professional development support.

The Bootcamp for Course Design in Blackboard® Learn Ultra using AI introduces innovative teaching methods, empowering educators to create high-quality courses. With consistent participation from 80 educators over six weeks, the initiative has showcased the value of AI tools in enhancing teaching and learning experiences. Educators appreciate the simplicity of the virtual classroom and express interest in further exploring AI's ethical implications and practical applications in education. This transformative program marks a significant step forward in educators' preparation, promising richer and more personalized learning experiences for students. It sets the stage for a dynamic and adaptable future in higher education at UPC, aiming to continually evolve and improve.

The Digital Accessibility Coalition (DAC), led by the Darren Denham, Assistant Director of Digital Accessibility, at the University of Central Oklahoma, addresses the pressing need for digital accessibility support. The DAC implemented Anthology® Ally to ensure inclusivity in online and blended learning experiences. Since its inception, DAC has witnessed remarkable growth, with its Foundations micro-credential program now in its fourth cohort, boasting 63 Certified Digital Accessibility Experts. DAC empowers participants to disseminate their knowledge, impacting peer professional development, K-12 education, and inclusive teaching practices, ultimately enhancing accessibility in courses and resources for student benefit.

In alignment with institutional objectives, the University of Pretoria executed a phased Blackboard® Learn Ultra implementation strategy, leveraging data-driven insights to enhance pedagogical training and advance LMS usage. By integrating Learn Ultra training into staff development priorities, educators were empowered to reshape course designs effectively. Surpassing projected adoption rates, the initiative led to heightened student engagement and instructor involvement, even amid initial campus closures. Remarkably, all 207 first-year courses seamlessly transitioned to Learn Ultra, with students exhibiting notably increased engagement compared to the previous platform. Data analysis further validates the impact of training sessions on over 500 academic staff, catalyzing successful adoption and impactful modifications in course delivery methodologies.

Wichita State's Office of Instructional Resources (OIR) introduces impactful training initiatives across multiple platforms: the tri-annual Academic Resources Conference (ARC), the monthly newsletter 'Teaching Today,' and a vibrant Facebook group. These channels unite experts, foster dynamic learning, and encourage discussions on educational innovations like AI, enhancing faculty and staff's mastery of Blackboard® Learn and instructional strategies. Through continuous professional development and a supportive academic community, these initiatives contribute to a more engaged campus environment, elevating educational quality and student success.