Center for Teaching and Learning
Faculty FAQs
The GovState Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) is dedicated to supporting faculty in their pedagogical endeavors and enhancing teaching and learning across the university. We understand that navigating institutional resources can sometimes be complex, and we aim to be a central point of information and guidance. Below, you will find a compilation of frequently asked questions that are often brought to our attention. While the CTL may not directly administer or support every topic listed, we are committed to directing you to the most appropriate department or resource that can assist you. Our goal is to ensure you can efficiently access the information and support you need to thrive in your teaching and development.
You may log in to the NewLearn Blackboard environment:
- From the Governors State University homepage under the Academics column near the bottom of the page
- Through the myGSU portal by selecting the orange eLearning Blackboard button
- Via the direct site newlearn.govst.edu
Open the Blackboard Login Tutorialto learn more.
You may log out of the NewLearn Blackboard environment:
- By selecting the logout icon in the upper right corner of the page
- By selecting the End Session and Log Out button
- By selecting the End Session button
- By closing the browser tab or window
Open the Blackboard Logout Tutorial to learn more.
There is one username and password set up for your GovState account. This is set up by GSU's IT Department. If you need to reset your password, you may proceed directly to the GovState self-service password portal.
If you require documentation on how to change your password, please access the IT Helpdesk website.
For further assistance with a password reset, please contact the IT Helpdesk at 708.534.4357 or email help@govst.edu.
If you are in the myGSU portal, you may select the Email Access – Faculty/Staff quick link or proceed to the Microsoft Email website.
To add your GovState email account to your mobile device, please view the Android tutorial or the Apple tutorial.
For further assistance with email, please contact the IT Helpdesk at 708.534.4357 or email help@govst.edu.
Instructors no longer have access to add other users to their course.
If you would like to add another instructor to your course, please email blackboard@govst.edu with the following information:
- Name and username of the instructor you would like to add to the course
- Course ID (NURS-1000-01_25SU)
- The role you would like to assign to the instructor (view the Course Roles page to learn more)
If you would like to be added to another course, please email blackboard@govst.edu. with the following information:
- Approval from the instructor of the course, dean, or chair
- Course ID (NURS-1000-01_25SU)
- The role you are approved to be added as (view the Course Roles page to learn more)
If you would like to add a student as a T.A.:
- The student and the instructor collaborate on the need for TA access within a Blackboard shell. The student must complete FERPA training to receive a certificate. Students must keep the certificate as proof and communicate with the instructor when training is complete.
- The instructor receives chair approval.
- The instructor provides proof of chair approval and the FERPA training certificate to blackboard@govst.edu.
Please view the Editing your Blackboard Course List tutorial to learn more. This tutorial is located on the Faculty Tutorials page under the Getting Started category.
FERPA: You may not have completed FERPA training. FERPA grants access to student records. Please review the material presented on the FERPA website, complete the onboarding process with HR, and then follow up with your department to ensure they have assigned you to a course.
Not Assigned a Course: Check the Course Schedule to see if you are listed as the instructor of the course. If you are not listed as the instructor, please contact your department to have them enroll you as the instructor in Colleague. The automated process will then add you to Blackboard. Please note that this process is not immediate and can take 1–2 hours from the time you are added in Colleague.
If you have questions, please contact Blackboard Support at 708.534.4115 or email blackboard@govst.edu for further assistance.
Check the Colleague Course Schedule to see if you are listed as the instructor of the course. If you are not listed as the instructor, please contact your department to have them enroll you as the instructor in Colleague. The automated process will then add you to Blackboard. to see if you are the instructor of the course. If you are not listed as the instructor, please contact your department to have them enroll you as the instructor in Colleague. The automated process will then add you to Blackboard. Please note that the process is not immediate and can take 1-2 hours from the time added in Colleague.
Blackboard courses are created from the Colleague course IDs. Once the Blackboard course creation script is run, all courses and instructors are added to Blackboard.
Cross‑listed courses are set up by your department. If you would like to request a cross‑listed course, please contact your chair or dean.
Faculty may use Blackboard to grade students; however, official grades are entered through the myGSU portal. Please reference the Faculty Guidebook (GovState login required) for more information.
The certificate is offered at the graduate level. Students must have completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited postsecondary institution. The Certificate in Online Teaching will be awarded to participants who complete the 18‑credit‑hour program with a “B” or better in each required course.
For more information, please visit the ONTL Certificate Program page.
Check the Colleague Course Schedule to see if you are listed as the instructor of the course. If you are not listed as the instructor, please contact your department to have them enroll you as the instructor in Colleague. The automated process will then add you to Blackboard.
At GovState, the academic year starts with the fall semester. For more information, please visit the GovState Academic Calendar page.
Our Student Code of Conduct, along with other university policies, will give you clear guidance on both what you can expect from GovState faculty and staff and what we expect from students. For more information, please visit the GovState Student Handbook page.
Curriculog automates the curriculum process to save time and promote greater consistency campus‑wide. For more information, please visit the Curriculum Management Processes page.
Policy 26, as approved on 11/15/2019, stated: “Section III.A. Determination of Final Grades: At the completion of the work for a course, a letter grade (which may include +/–) will be determined by the instructor.” The Interim Policy is now posted to clarify the use of plus/minus grades. For more information, please view the Interim Policy 26 FAQs sheet.
Violations of academic honesty include, but are not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly assisting other students in engaging in such conduct. Additional details are found in the Academic Honesty (24) and Fair Use of Copyrighted Works for Education and Research (62) policies. Individual instructors, in consultation with the appropriate department or division chair and/or college dean, may request that the Office of the Dean of Students retain copies of academic misconduct cases for record‑keeping purposes only by using the Academic Misconduct Reporting Form.
Contact Us
- Center for Teaching and Learning
- Governors State University - C Building
- 708-534-4115
- blackboard@govst.edu