Case Study: Bridgewater State University achieves a modern, faster, more user-friendly online learning experience with Anthology's Blackboard (Ultra)

Why Bridgewater State University Chose Blackboard Learn Ultra to Enhance the Online Learning Experience

Bridgewater State University, a public four‑year institution in Bridgewater, Massachusetts serving about 10,000 students, faced an LMS decision after its longtime Blackboard (Original) installation began to feel outdated and less user‑friendly. After a campus‑wide review and input from faculty and students, the university selected Anthology’s Blackboard Ultra for its modern, faster interface and competitive pricing that fit the university’s budget constraints.

Anthology implemented a migration to Blackboard Ultra, allowing Original and Ultra courses to run concurrently while faculty transitioned, and supported adoption through the Anthology Idea Exchange, virtual office hours, and on‑campus and webinar training. The move produced measurable results: the university approved migration of all Blackboard courses to Ultra by summer 2024, over 100 faculty attended an Anthology‑led full‑day Ultra workshop, 13 customer‑voted Idea Exchange suggestions were implemented, and faculty have embraced new Ultra features (updated image‑enabled modules and an AI Design Assistant), improving course design and the overall online learning experience.

Bridgewater State University

Eric LePage

Executive Director of the Teaching and Technology Center