Frequently Asked Questions

The following frequently asked questions have been provided to support distance learning via Blackboard during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Can I access and use Blackboard Learn from my iPad or Chromebook device?
Yes, as long as you are using a supported web browser on your device and disable pop-up window blocking settings:

• Students can visit Blackboard’s student Browser Checker to confirm that they can use Blackboard Learn from their device’s web browser.
• Instructors can visit Blackboard’s instructor Browser Checker to confirm that they can use Blackboard Learn from their device’s web browser.

Does Blackboard Collaborate work on a Chromebook?
Yes, see Access to Blackboard Collaborate on Chromebook for instructions.

What kind of help is offered through After Hours Blackboard Support?
After Hours Blackboard Support only provides assistance to students and faculty new to Blackboard and requiring assistance in using Blackboard features and functions. Much of this information is already available to students and faculty in the Blackboard User Guides provided on this site.

Contact your campus help desk or Blackboard help/support for technical support issues, such as those involving your CUNY Login, difficulty accessing Blackboard, network connectivity or performance issues, or incorrect personal and course information in Blackboard.

What file formats work best when uploading my work to Blackboard?
Standard Microsoft Office 365 file formats and Adobe Acrobat PDFs work best when adding content to Blackboard. If your device is running some version of Microsoft Office 365, you should be able to save the file on the device and then upload to Blackboard.

If you are not running Microsoft Office 365 on your device, you may need to take additional steps to avoid uploading blank files into Blackboard:

• For files created in Google Drive or Google Suite — download the file to your device using either a Microsoft Office or PDF file format (see Download a file on the Google Drive Help site), then upload that just-downloaded file into Blackboard
• For files created in native iPad Pages application — export the file to either a Microsoft Office or PDF file format (see Convert Pages documents article on Apple support site) , then upload that file into Blackb oard

See Supported File Types on the Blackboard site for the full list of supported files.

Can I run Microsoft Office applications on my iPad or Chromebook?
Yes, Microsoft Office mobile applications can be downloaded to your iPad from Apple App Store and to your Chromebook from Google Play Store. See your college web site or the Microsoft Office 365 for Education pages for more information, including any licensing restrictions.

Why are the files I uploaded to Blackboard empty?
You likely uploaded a file that was not either in a Microsoft Office or Adobe Acrobat PDF file format. See the “What file formats work best when uploading my work to Blackboard?” FAQ for more information.

Can I use Dropbox or OneDrive cloud storage to add content to Blackboard?
Yes, students and instructors can add Dropbox and OneDrive cloud storage content to Blackboard.

Can I submit Dropbox, OneDrive or Google Drive content to Turnitin?
No. You must download content from Dropbox, OneDrive or any other cloud service to your device before submitting to Turnitin.

How do I change my email address in Blackboard?
Users have only one email address in Blackboard. If your current Blackboard email address is not the one you use, you can change it, but you must use a CUNY email address. See Changing Your Email Address in Blackboard for instructions.

Where do I find information on taking an exam with Respondus LockDown Browser?

Student guides (Windows, macOS, iPad and Chromebook) and FAQs on using Respondus LockDown Browser are available in CUNY IT Help.