Transition to Single Concurrent Blackboard Session
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Effective December 9th 2026, the Blackboard Ultra Learning Management System settings will be updated to restrict user accounts to one (1) concurrent session at a time. Previously, Blackboard permitted unlimited simultaneous active logins across different browsers or devices per account.
This change will apply universally to all Blackboard users (faculty, administrators, and students). Users will still be able to use multiple tabs within a single browser session, but simultaneous logins across different browsers or separate devices will no longer be permitted.
This change was previously planned for September 7th, 2026. In consultation with Faculty Senate leadership and the Office of the Provost, the implementation is being postponed to avoid disruption of faculty course design/work practices during an active semester.
Why The Change?
This change is being driven by recent reports and investigations into academic integrity concerns across course modalities. Multiple investigations identified significant vulnerabilities tied to multiple simultaneous logins, including:
- Account Sharing and Coordinated Test-Taking: Unauthorized collaboration where multiple individuals accessed the same student account simultaneously during assessments.
- Subversion of Assessment Controls: Bypassing security parameters by opening assessments in one active session while accessing course materials or third-party resources in another session on a secondary device or browser.
Transitioning to a single login model directly mitigates these vulnerabilities.
Does It Have to Impact Everyone?
Blackboard’s core system architecture controls concurrent logins at a global, system-wide level. There is no technical mechanism or setting in Blackboard that allows administrators to restrict concurrent sessions for specific users, user groups, or courses.
Can Someone Help Me Think Through the Impacts to My Courses?
Yes. Consultants at the Delphi Center for Teaching and Learning will be happy to meet with you to discuss how to mitigate any negative impacts this change may have for you or your students. Please use our consultation link, and we’ll schedule your consultation as quickly as possible.
What’s Actually Changing?
| Scenario or Workflow | Status Under Change | Detailed Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Tabs or Screens in One Browser | ✅ ALLOWABLE | Faculty and students can open multiple browser window/session. For example, you could open course notes in Tab 1 and an assignment submission page in Tab 2. You can even drag a tab to another screen. Exception: Respondus Lockdown Browser prevents this functionality, thereby increasing exam security. |
| Simultaneous Faculty View and Student View | ✅ ALLOWABLE | You can open Blackboard in one browser or window to access your class in Faculty View and then open the course in another tab in the same browser to preview as a student. |
| Multiple Browsers Simultaneously | ❌ NOT ALLOWABLE | You cannot maintain active sessions in two different web browsers (Chrome/Firefox) at the same time. Logging in on the second browser will trigger termination of the session on the first browser. |
| Multiple Physical or Virtual Devices | ❌ NOT ALLOWABLE | Users cannot log into Blackboard on one device and simultaneously log into Blackboard on another tablet, secondary computer, or virtual machine. |