2025 Winners

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University transformed its assessment framework by replacing disparate systems with Anthology® Planning, Outcomes, Accreditation, and Program Review, streamlining continuous improvement for over 100 programs across two campuses and 114 sites. By designing custom templates emphasizing impact over compliance, integrating the PDCA cycle, and shifting focus from measures to outcomes, ERAU increased faculty engagement, improved data-informed decision-making, and tripled administrative participation. These innovations fostered a collaborative culture where assessment drives meaningful improvements, aligning academic and strategic goals. This approach has elevated institutional effectiveness by ensuring assessment serves as a tool for progress, not bureaucracy.

Using Anthology® Planning, Forsyth Technical Community College transformed their program review process from an 18-month cycle to nine months, fostering a collaborative, data-driven culture of continuous improvement. Previously, self-studies were completed for accreditation but lacked engagement, feedback, and actionable follow-up. Now, the process includes midpoint check-ins, industry-related peer reviews, data-driven SWOT analysis discussions, executive leadership presentations with structured feedback, and closing-the-loop sessions with the CAO to develop program-specific action plans. This shift ensures programs are evaluated for quality, effectiveness, and sustainability—driving data-informed decisions and institutional improvement. The process is engaging and consistently achieves a 100% on-time completion rate.

In the Department of Student Affairs at Stockton University, there has been a lot of transition of staffing in the last several years. That has not deterred Dr. Jamael Harrison, director, Student Affairs Assessment & Communication and Dr. Ashlee Roberts, executive director, Student Affairs Strategic Planning & Initiatives. In fact, they are using this change as an opportunity. In the last 18 months they have been campus champions in using Anthology® Baseline to connect all the dots back to the institutional values and goals. As new members join the department, they are being brought into this thoughtful culture of assessment. By using Baseline, they can connect events, workshops, rubric scoring, and activities back to their identified outcomes.

The Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy’s training model was transformed by shifting from passive, lecture-based instruction to an interactive, problem-centric online learning approach. This change reduced lecture time by over 50% while significantly improving knowledge retention, critical thinking, and real-world application. By integrating active learning strategies, competency-based assessments, and adaptive learning tools, a more engaging, efficient, and effective training program was created that better prepares officers for real-world challenges.

Aspire Academy’s Anthology® Blackboard LMS implementation has transformed student-athlete (SA) education, ensuring academic success while balancing sports commitments. By utilizing Blackboard , AI tools, and an extensive e-content library, the Academy provides a flexible and inclusive learning environment. This initiative fosters diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, offering equitable opportunities for all SAs including SEN and overage athletes. Addressing the unique challenges student-athletes face, it supports holistic development, personalized learning, and stakeholder engagement. By ensuring academic excellence without compromising athletic commitments, Aspire Academy exemplifies innovation in education, making it a deserving recipient of the Catalyst Award.

The Learn Foundations Internship (LFI) programme forms part of The University of Edinburgh’s (UoE) Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Excellence programme. The VLE Excellence programme (VLEE), launched in 2017, supports UoE’s Strategy 2030 by ensuring that the university’s teaching is diverse, inclusive, and accessible to all by making the VLE (Blackboard®) more user-friendly and inclusive. The LFI is an annual 12-week summer programme which started in 2019. Each year, students from across UoE are employed for this period to improve the Blackboard experience for the student body moving into the upcoming academic year. As part of this, the LFI programme conducts annual audits of the contents of Blackboard courses, looking at compliance with WCAG standards to ensure usability, consistency, and accessibility.

Higher Colleges of Technology has pioneered ethical AI integration within Blackboard Ultra, transforming digital pedagogy through Anthology’s Digital Teaching & Learning Series (Course B) principles and the competency-based education model. By embedding AI tools into course design, the initiative personalizes learning pathways and automates actionable feedback, while rigorously prioritizing transparency, equity, and data privacy. Faculty training programs empowered educators to use AI as a collaborative tool, not as a replacement for motivating critical thinking and inclusivity. Student engagement rose by 35%, with 95% of learners reporting AI-enhanced fairness in assessments. This ethical, competency-driven approach positions Higher Colleges of Technology as a leader in balancing innovation with integrity.

Universidad Mayor stands out as a leader in ethical AI implementation within higher education. Through the strategic adoption of Blackboard AI tools, the institution has successfully enhanced course design, faculty efficiency, and student engagement, all while maintaining a commitment to ethical AI use. The structured approach ensures that AI is utilized transparently, inclusively, and responsibly, setting a benchmark for responsible AI adoption in digital education. This exemplifies innovation, academic integrity, and continuous improvement, making Universidad Mayor a deserving recipient of the Catalyst Award.

Across seven courses, Dr. Lee has integrated Blackboard’s AI tools to create transparent, inclusive, and engaging learning experiences rooted in ethical AI use. She has used auto-generation features to develop rubrics, lectures, prompts, and quizzes that maintain instructional quality while supporting diverse learners. With access (as of Spring 2025) to the new conversational AI tool, she designed chatbot personas, like a small business owner, that students consult for a real-world e-commerce project. She also created Sage, a personalized course tutor that fosters critical thinking and deeper concept mastery. These tools are introduced as learning supports, helping students navigate content confidently while modeling responsible, human-centered AI integration that elevates teaching and learning.

Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing (BSMCON) has demonstrated a strong commitment to student success through the innovative use of Anthology® Ally and data analytics. By leveraging course and institution-level scores, BSMCON has systematically improved course design and alignment to ensure high-quality, consistent learning experiences for all students. This initiative has significantly enhanced accessibility, fostered more inclusive learning environments, and helped remove barriers to success. The college’s strategic, data-driven approach underscores its dedication to continuous improvement and exemplifies the mission of the Catalyst Awards.

The Assistive Technology and Accessibility Center (ATAC) successfully launched Anthology® Ally across all Indiana University campuses in the spring of 2023. Since that time, the institution has seen an increase in the accessibility of Canvas course content as well as an increased interest in accessibility best practices. In addition to the improved accessibility of content in the learning management system, by leveraging the ServiceNow integration and Ally’s built-in help feature, ATAC has been able to provide instant support to both students and faculty who have accessibility questions or concerns. It is this Service Now integration that has allowed ATAC to provide the support the Indiana University community needs during and after the deployment of Ally across all campuses.

Mapua MCL’s Learning Environments and Innovations Office (LEIO) enhances teaching and learning in traditional and virtual settings. LEIO creates innovative educational materials, manages Blackboard®, E-Portfolios, Learning Spaces, Analytics, and Learning Content Capture technologies, and fosters a Professional Learning Community (PLC). The four-member team supports over 7,000 students and 200 faculty members. Despite their size, they’ve gained significant recognition nationally. Led by Ramachandra Torres, a Catalyst awardee for 2023 and 2024, they excel in outcomes-based education and AI tools, initiating projects that improve training and support using AI and smart classrooms.

Sinclair College’s Accessibility Champion Micro-credential Program is a pioneering initiative designed to foster a campus-wide culture of accessibility. It empowers faculty, staff, and community members with essential skills to create inclusive learning environments. The program, now in its fourth iteration with over 165 completers, enhances accessibility awareness and integrates best practices across classroom, student support, and community engagement areas inclusive of the Anthology® Ally tool. By leveraging digital learning tools and fostering institutional change, this initiative ensures equitable access for all. Its scalability, sustainability, and measurable impact make it a model for other institutions.

After weeks of tense buildup, war erupted in Lebanon on September 17, 2024. It lasted for more than two months. The American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) received more than 190 seriously injured patients within just the first several hours. On September 29, 2024, the American University of Beirut (AUB) launched the AUBMC Emergency Response to support the care of patients at our medical center and for urgently needed medical supplies and equipment. In subsequent weeks and months, due to the war on Lebanon, 50% of our students were displaced from their usual place of residence. To assist our students, we expanded the Emergency Response to include student financial assistance. The total amount that we received for the Emergency Response, including funds raised at a November 21, 2024, fundraising dinner in New York City, exceeded $12.4 million.

The Colorado School of Mines Foundation leveraged Anthology’s Encompass solution to build two impactful giving microsites to support the institution's crowdfunding and giving day programs. By deploying blueprint microsite templates, scoreboards, and news listings, both platforms were successfully launched within a six-month period, improving donor engagement, expanding revenue, and seamlessly integrating these key programs with the organization's existing communications and engagement ecosystem. These initiatives redefined the constituent and donor experience, driving significant increases in donations and donor participation.

The Intermediate AFFOR Leader Course-Virtual (IALC-V) development team revolutionized Air Force education by developing the IALC-V, a scalable, technology-driven training model that enhances operational readiness. Leveraging the Blackboard LMS, Articulate Rise 360, Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft Clipchamp, AI tools, and Zoom.gov, the team transformed professional military education, increasing accessibility, efficiency, and engagement. The IALC-V expanded student capacity by 50% and set a replicable standard for Air Force training. This high-impact innovation exemplifies excellence in instructional design, collaboration, and scalability, making the Intermediate AFFOR Leader Course-Virtual (IALC-V) development team a deserving Catalyst Award winner.

The New Mexico Court Education Institute (CEI) transformed statewide court education by implementing Anthology products. Charged with creating a new education division from scratch that would result in a sustainable, scalable, and accessible statewide court education program, CEI transitioned from an event-based education model and paper-based student information system into a high-tech integrated solution in less than one year. CEI established an eLearning culture and robust infrastructure in the courts by integrating Blackboard® and Genius to automate a high volume of manual administrative processes and deliver unified training for new judges and leadership. Overall, creating this program allowed for cohesiveness, vision, and long-term strategy, enhancing the quality of the administration of justice in New Mexico.

Fueled by the new possibilities of its Blackboard® modernization, Marshall Online embarked on a year-long journey of human-centered innovation in online learning. MU leveraged Ultra’s dynamic, intuitive platform to drive innovation across three pivotal areas: empowering faculty with a humanistic online teaching framework that prioritizes connection, crafting a concierge-style student experience that fosters belonging and success, and pioneering targeted micro-credentials that enable lifetime achievement. These initiatives, powered by Ultra, have forged stronger campus and community partnerships and earned national recognition, proving that Marshall Online is not just adapting, but reshaping the landscape of online education to serve all learners.

South Plains College’s Industrial Technology Program is revolutionizing technical education by integrating Blackboard® to enhance hands-on learning, assessment, and student engagement. Faculty have developed OERs, structured learning modules, AI-driven industry simulations, and automated feedback tools, ensuring students master both theory and practical skills. By leveraging progress tracking and digital skill evaluations, student retention has increased by 20%, and job readiness has improved. Sharing these OER resources statewide, South Plains College is leading industry-wide change, making technical education more accessible, affordable, and innovative across Texas.

University of the West of England Bristol’s transformative transition to Blackboard Ultra, a shared initiative with expertise spread across the institution, is driving innovation at UWE, shaping a new era for digital learning. The goal is to create a unified digital environment, through re-establishing inclusive decision-making processes and strengthening stakeholder groups. Success is evident through the implementation of a single baseline template and the positive feedback from early adopters regarding the training and learning design support they have received through the institution’s partnership with Anthology. The impact extends beyond UWE, with the institution’s senior education consultant using this project as a benchmark to showcase best practices to other institutions.

Previously, the University of Leeds had implemented several measures to enhance the student experience within Blackboard® to create an inclusive experience, including institutional templates, ending automated rollovers, and further training for staff . However, feedback showed that course quality still varied due to institutional complexity. To address this challenge, the team partnered with staff, students, and Anthology to better utilize data from Illuminate. They created meaningful reports to prioritize students, improve the learning environment, understand course quality and challenges, and target staff training. Student feedback indicates significant improvements, helping to ensure each student can reach their potential.

“Café owners are tired of seeing us studying at their places daily—they’re about to kick us out!” students joked as they sought spaces for peer learning. Launched in 2023, the Learning Communities Initiative at the University of Tabuk is a pioneering model in Saudi universities. It creates collaborative learning environments using Blackboard tools, and transforms education through peer learning, flipped classrooms, and leadership development while improving academic performance. By preparing students for the job market and fostering innovation, creativity, and teamwork, it exemplifies impact and excellence. With high participation and satisfaction rates, this initiative demonstrates innovation in digital learning and deserves recognition to expand across universities and schools worldwide.

The Office of Student Organizations at the University of Texas at Arlington has leveraged Anthology to drive a transformative, high-impact initiative that enhances student engagement, streamlines processes, and improves outcomes. Through data-driven strategies and innovative technologies, the office has redefined the co-curricular experience while actively sharing best practices via connection teams across the UT System and beyond. Its groundbreaking work has been successfully adopted and scaled at peer institutions, setting a new benchmark in educational technology. This dedication to innovation, collaboration, and industry leadership makes the Office of Student Organizations a deserving recipient of the Catalyst Award.

Through the implementation of the NewLeaf project, Penn Foster Group achieved a 12% increase in learner completion rates in 2024. Leveraging the flexibility of the Anthology® Student system API and real-time service bus topics, NewLeaf enabled a seamless learner experience and real-time data synchronization, integrating student workflows. Since its launch in February 2024, NewLeaf has served over 500,000 learners, resulting in a 10-point increase in Learner NPS scores. Furthermore, the out-of-the-box integration between Anthology® Reach and Student has empowered learner support teams to address learner needs more efficiently. Flexibility of APIs enabled integration of sales tax solution AvaTax as well as an integrated custom payment gateway to facilitate high volume financial transactions.

The Deanship of Information Technology and E-Learning at Umm Al-Qura University has launched a smart initiative to enhance student success and personalized learning. It classifies students into three groups based on grades, Blackboard activity, interactivity, and academic history or through VARK Learning Styles (Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, Kinesthetic). Deployed weeks before final exams, it enables early intervention and improvement through early risk identification, customized learning paths via adaptive release, and continuous monitoring and adjustment. With a 98.86% success rate, the initiative aims for 100% by refining AI-driven prediction models and intervention strategies.

The implementation of Anthology® Adopt transformed the student experience at UPN in Blackboard®, facilitating the onboarding of 30K new students per intake on how to use the platform and access key tools such as the AI-powered chatbot for resolving academic and administrative inquiries, as well as SUMADI (proctoring) for assessments. Through interactive guides, students enhanced their digital autonomy, reduced the learning curve, and strengthened their engagement in virtual environments. This initiative optimized student support services, increasing platform interaction and access to academic resources. Its impact goes beyond the LMS, providing a more integrated, accessible, and student-centered experience.

The Blackboard LMS has revolutionized training delivery for government and military clients, significantly reducing course durations while enhancing learning outcomes. This digital-first approach has led to substantial time and cost savings, enabling faster skill acquisition while maintaining high standards of competency. Through Blackboard, training efficiency has been optimized, delivering scalable and impactful learning experiences. This allows the team of Phil Burgess, Sean McGuinness, Jimmy Joseph, Salma Al Nuaimi, and Ayush Garg to provide best-in-class training solutions for government and military clients.

The 'New Era of Histology Education' initiative at School of Paramedical Sciences in Tunis - Université Centrale is transforming education by integrating an innovative framework with the Blackboard and Lecturio platforms. This hybrid, interactive approach compensates for the lack of a physical lab by combining AI-driven pre-tests, post-tests, adaptive formative assessments, high-definition histological slide videos, and critical discussions in class and via Blackboard®. It enhances learning, improves understanding of histological structures and their functional implications, and increases flexibility, especially for international students and professionals. This model promotes autonomy, encourages active engagement, and can be adapted to other disciplines, creating broader pedagogical impact.

The Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico (PUPR) has been awarded a five-stars rating on Teaching, Academic Development, and Online Learning from the globally recognized rating system, QS-Stars. This prestigious recognition highlights the institution's commitment to excellence in education and its success in integrating technology to enhance the learning experience. The excellent rating reflects the high-quality services provided by the Virtual Education and Innovative Learning Center (VEIL) and the positive impact it has had on faculty, students, and the overall educational community. VEIL has successfully integrated an advanced and strong support system for faculty and students, ensuring the effective use of technology in education.

Bond University's integrated micro-credential ecosystem represents a fundamental reimagining of academic development in higher education. Through the strategic integration of Anthology technologies (Blackboard, Catalog, Milestone, and Ally), our team has created 35+ specialised courses across five streams in under two years. This integration enables a flexible approach where ongoing engagement and teaching achievements are recognised and celebrated. This innovation has fostered a vibrant university-wide community of practice, directly enhancing student experiences through evidence-based pedagogical approaches and reinforcing Bond's distinguished reputation for teaching excellence.

The Educational Technology Program in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Public School System (PSS) has empowered over 1,200 educators with essential digital skills, transforming instruction and student engagement. In a region where geographic isolation limits access to professional development, this yearlong initiative equips educators to effectively integrate technology into their teaching. By leveraging Anthology solutions and a hands-on approach, the program has become a model for innovative staff training and professional development, cultivating a digitally proficient and collaborative learning community in the district. This initiative has bridged critical technology gaps, enhancing student learning outcomes and empowering educators to confidently use digital tools.

In 2024, the University of Cumbria developed a new Learning, Teaching & Assessment Plan through a process of co-creation across the university community, involving 30 design events with over 360 participants to transform pedagogic practice. As a foundational step in this new strategic approach, the university migrated to Blackboard Ultra and implemented a comprehensive and values-led staff development programme. This programme utilised the migration as a catalyst for wider strategic transformation of pedagogic practice, focusing on unlocking innovation and creativity. The success of this development programme has proven particularly beneficial in enhancing accessibility, reducing pressure on professional services, and delivering a step change in digital learning.