I have an older computer I want to use for classes. What are the system requirements for Blackboard?

I plan to attend at least some of my classes remotely. What do I need in order to do that?

Run the Device Compatibility Checker: https://www.uaccm.edu/enroll/online_learning/browser_check/index.html

My degree program makes heavy use of computing technology, and I'm not sure the minimum requirements will be enough. What would you recommend?

I'm needing to purchase a laptop for classes. What operating systems work best for classroom and online use?

Microsoft Windows – This platform offers the highest level of compatibility. All of the tools we use are 100% compatible with Windows. The only limitation would be the functionality of the device running Windows.

Apple Mac OS – This platform performs well in our environment. There are apps to access Blackboard and OneDrive. There is a version of Office for Mac computers with an Intel processor, but there does not seem to be much accommodation for iPads. While not 100% compatible, it would still be acceptable assuming access to another computer.

Android OS – This platform offers much the same functionality that would be found on Apple Mac platform While not 100% compatible, it would still be acceptable assuming access to another computer.

Google Chrome OS – Chrome OS is essentially the Chrome browser running in a separate device. Any website or web-based application that can run in Chrome browser will work in a modern Chromebook. In recent years, Google has expanded Chromebooks to accommodate Android apps, including the Microsoft Office apps for Android. If you are purchasing a Chromebook, make sure you get a modern one with full app support, not an older non-app model.

How do I get to the Blackboard login page?

If you are currently logged into the UACCM Portal, you can open the Blackboard tab, and then click on the link labeled Click here to go to UACCM's Blackboard login page

If you’re not logged in to the Portal, you can go directly to the Blackboard login page by navigating to https://uaccm.blackboard.com using Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.

I changed my network password, but Blackboard says my new password is invalid.

Blackboard is a third-party service provided by an outside vendor, so changing your password on the UACCM network does not affect your Blackboard password. It will remain the same until you change it yourself. We generally recommend that you do this when you change your network password just to make things simpler, but it is your choice.

If you want to change your Blackboard password, there are directions on the IT/Computer Info page of the Portal in the Handouts section under Password Management.

I am registered for classes next semester, but I can’t see my courses in Blackboard.

Individual course frameworks, or “shells” are added to Blackboard prior to the beginning of the semester. Once these shells are available, instructors can begin adding the course content that students will use, such as announcements to students, the syllabus, course materials, calendar, etc.

To avoid confusion, course shells for the upcoming semester’s courses are not added to Blackboard until the current semester’s courses are complete and final grades have been submitted. For the Fall semester, course shells should be visible by the first week of August. For the Spring semester, course shells should be visible by the first week of January. Summer session course shells should be visible by the last week of May.

I’m on a course page in Blackboard and needing to join a Collaborate session, but I can’t see my course menu.

What has most likely happened is that you have accidentally clicked on the border that runs down the right edge of the course menu. It is not labeled, but this border is actually the menu’s Collapse button.

If you look at the left-hand side of your desktop or laptop screen, you should see a gray bar. If you are using a tablet or phone, the bar will be blue and will only appear when the device is held in landscape mode. When you click or tap on this bar, the menu will expand so you can see and navigate your course options, including joining Collaborate sessions.

My instructor has posted a PowerPoint presentation with the slides they used during the class lecture, but I can’t open the file.

If you download the file to your computer, you will then be able to use the PowerPoint app to open the file, and to view and print slides from the presentation.

How do I upload a file in my course?

1. Open the assignment. On the Upload Assignment page, review the instructions, due date, points possible, and download any files provided by your instructor.
2. In the Assignment Submission section, select Browse My Computer to upload a file from your computer -OR- select Browse Cloud Storage to upload a file you have saved to your OneDrive account or other cloud storage account such as Google Drive.**
3. If desired, type a comment about the file in the Add Comments section
4. Click Submit. The Review Submission History page appears with information about your submitted assignment and a success message with a confirmation number. Copy and save this number as proof of your submission.

       **If you experience difficulty getting the Assignment Submission to accept a Word document, try re-saving the document as a .pdf and uploading the .pdf version.

What are the system requirements for the LockDown Browser?

Windows 10 version 21H2 or the latest version of Windows 11

Mac OS version 11.6 or higher

Chromebooks run the LockDown browser as a browser extension. The most current version of Google Chrome is recommended.

How do I install the LockDown Browser?

You can download the Respondus Lockdown Browser by using this link**:

Respondus Lockdown Browser Download

**Before you click the INSTALL NOW button, double-check the middle window labeled Version to make sure that the Respondus download page has correctly identified your computer’s operating system as Windows or Mac so you install the version your machine needs.

How do I take an exam using the Lockdown Browser?

1. Close all programs
2. Windows users: double-click the Respondus LockDown Browser icon on your desktop –

        Mac users: launch the Respondus LockDown Browser from the Applications folder

        Chromebook users: If you have installed the LockDown Browser extension, you can open a Chrome browser window, log into Blackboard, and navigate to your exam. LockDown Browser will run in the background while you take your test.

3. If prompted, close any blocked program feature, such as screen capture, instant messaging, etc.
4. Log into Blackboard
5. Open the course page, navigate to the exam, and select Begin Exam
6. At this point, the webcam feature Respondus Monitor will launch
7. You will first need to review and agree to the Terms of Use
8. The Webcam Check will confirm that your webcam and microphone are working properly
9. The remaining steps of the startup sequence will depend on settings chosen by your instructor. Follow the instructions and note your progress along the left side of the screen
10. If you encounter a problem, select the It’s not working link for troubleshooting tips.

Don't refresh the page, close the window, or use the browser's back button while you take a test. If you have problems during a test, contact your instructor immediately.

11. Once you begin an exam, you cannot exit until the Submit button is clicked

For more detailed step-by-step instructions on taking tests in Blackboard, please refer to the Tests and Surveys page of Blackboard Help.

I am supposed to take an exam, but I don’t see a test available.

Contact your instructor and let them know that you are having trouble finding the exam. There may be a setting that they need to enable, such as allowing the exam to be taken using an iPad.

I am trying to take an exam, but the browser has frozen/kicked me off. What do I do now?

Contact your instructor and let them know that you have encountered a problem taking the exam.

I am a new/re-enrolled student. I have registered for classes, but I can’t log into the Portal.

The UACCM Portal is made available to incoming (or re-enrolled) students who have already registered for classes three to four weeks before the start of the new semester. This would be the second full week of July for the Fall semester, or the second full week of December for the Spring semester. Students who register for classes after that time should be able to log into the Portal approximately two business days after they register.

How do I view my student information such as my contact information, course schedule, account balance, financial aid information, transcripts, etc.?

Navigate to the UACCM Portal homepage at https://portal.uaccm.edu Log in using your UACCM username and password, and then click on the Campus Connect tab to be taken to your account homepage.

I am an incoming/former student. How can I view my student information, since I don’t have an active UACCM network account?

Navigate to the UACCM Portal homepage at https://portal.uaccm.edu and then click on the Campus Connect tab. Sign into Campus Connect using your full student ID number as your login and the last four digits of your SSN as your PIN. If you have changed your PIN from the default and do not remember it, you will need to contact the Registrar’s Office to have it reset. The IT department does not have permission to change anything to do with your Campus Connect account.

How do I log into my student email account?

1. Open a browser window in Chrome, Firefox, or Safari and navigate to https://www.office.com to sign into your Office 365 account.
2. Enter your student email address in the first Sign in box. Your student email address consists of your network username followed by the domain @uaccm.edu
3. Enter your network password in the second Sign in box.
4. When you land on your personal homepage, click or tap on the Outlook icon in the list on the left side of the screen.
   

I changed my password the first time I logged in on campus/into Office 365, but now I can’t remember it.

Contact the IT Help Center by email at helpcenter@uaccm.edu or call at (501) 208-5312. Please have your student ID number handy to verify your identity.

After you contact the IT Help Center, your password will be reset to the default. This will take effect within two minutes of the reset if you are on campus, or approximately 45 minutes from the reset if you are logging in remotely. During this time, your student email will be unavailable until you log in with the default password and create a new one, so we recommend that you contact the help center using a personal email rather than your student account.

The password you create must meet the following criteria:

• 15 or more characters in length
• At least one capital letter
• At least one lowercase letter
• At least one number
• At least one special character such as #$%&?>+
• Password may not contain the word UACCM or the user’s first, middle, or last name

Previously used passwords will remain on the server log and may not be reused

For additional security, the new passwords will only remain in effect for 90 days. Once the 90 days is past, the user will be prompted to create a new password.

I changed my password to a new one, but when I tried to log in with it, I get an error message saying it does not meet the length, complexity, or history values.

Network passwords must be at least 15 characters long (length,) and contain at least one capital letter, one lowercase letter, a number, and a special character (complexity.) Passwords may not contain the word UACCM, the user’s first, middle, or last name or be a replication of a password the user previously used (history.)

At this time, the network will occasionally allow a user to change their password to one that does not meet the criteria listed above. This creates an unfortunate situation where neither the old password nor the new one is recognized as valid. If you experience this, please visit the IT Help Center in the Library Complex, Room 103, call us at (501) 208-5312, or email us at helpcenter@uaccm.edu.

What are the system requirements for downloading Office 365 to my device?

How do I download Office 365 to my device?

Refer to these step-by-step directions posted on the IT/Computer Info page of the Portal Install Office 365 to Your PC or Mac

I have a class that requires the Access database app, but it’s not included in the Office 365 package. Does that mean I have to purchase it?

No. Students are allowed to download a copy of the full Microsoft Office Suite for free to use as long as they are enrolled in classes at UACCM. The full version of the suite includes Access as well as many other apps that are not typically needed for most coursework.

What are the system requirements for downloading the full version of Microsoft Office to my device?

The system requirements for the full version of MS Office 2019 are the same as for Office 365.

How do I download MS Office 2019 to my device?

Refer to these step-by-step directions posted on the IT/Computer Info page of the Portal Install Microsoft Office Full Version to Your PC or Mac

Why do I need to clear my browser history/cache?

Every time you browse content on the Internet, that content must first be downloaded to your device for display. This downloaded information is stored locally on your device in an area called the cache. Your browser will check the cache first anytime you view Internet content.  If the page in question is already in the cache, your browser will go ahead and use that saved data instead of downloading the information again. This is designed to speed up Internet access and reduce the amount of data your device needs to transfer.

There is logic in place to determine whether the cached content can be used or if the page needs to be freshly downloaded. Unfortunately, this doesn't always work; sometimes the cache will load its older stored page instead, so you may not always get the newest version. But if you clear the cache periodically, then when you return to internet websites that you have been to in the past, your browser will “think” you have never been to that page before and load fresh, updated info from the website. 

Also, clearing your cache can fix certain types of common browser errors. You will often find that certain websites that have become slow to load, will not open, return an error message, hang up at a certain point, or otherwise refuse to respond as they should will return to working normally if you clear your cache before closing and reopening your browser.

Okay, so how do I clear my browser history/cache?

The IT/Computer Info page of the Portal has handouts for clearing the browser history for the most common web browsers and device types.