Center for Teaching and Learning
Student FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions you may encounter regarding GovState Blackboard Support. While we aim to provide comprehensive assistance whenever possible, please note that some topics may fall under the purview of other university departments. In those cases, our goal is to guide you effectively by providing direct links to the appropriate resources and support personnel, ensuring you receive the most accurate and timely assistance for your specific needs.
You may log in to the NewLearn Blackboard environment in the following ways:
- 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
- By visiting the direct site: newlearn.govst.edu
Open the Blackboard Login text Tutorial to learn more.
You may log out of the NewLearn Blackboard environment by:
- Selecting the Log Out icon in the upper-right corner of the page
- Selecting the End Session and Log Out button
- Selecting the End Session button
- Closing the browser tab or window
Open the Blackboard Logout text Tutorial to learn more.
There is one username and password set up for your GovState account. This is managed by GovState’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 can select the Email button under Quick Links or go directly to the Microsoft 365 Email website.
To add your GSU 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.
Make sure you are signing in to the correct server. It is a common mistake for students to log in to the Intersession server instead of the eLearning Blackboard server.
Open the Blackboard Login text tutorial to learn more.
If you still cannot log in, please contact Blackboard Support at 708.534.4115 or email blackboard@govst.edu to further assist.
Courses are not available on the Blackboard Course List until the course opens. Courses usually open on the first day of the semester or on the alternate date provided in the GovState course schedule.
Blackboard tests require a constant internet connection. If the connection is interrupted, Blackboard will close the test. Students may be removed from tests due to internet connectivity issues, web browser problems, or similar factors.
Allowing an additional attempt is based on your instructor’s approval. If you are removed from a test and cannot return to complete it, please contact your instructor immediately.
If you would like to create a ticket, please contact Blackboard Support at 708.534.4115 or email blackboard@govst.edu.
Usually, instructors provide students with a single assignment attempt. This means that once you have submitted your assignment, you have reached the maximum number of attempts and will no longer be able to resubmit it.
If you need to resubmit an assignment, please contact your instructor to request approval for an additional attempt.
If you would like to create a ticket, please contact Blackboard Support at 708.534.4115 or email blackboard@govst.edu.
Accessibility: Your Instructor has the option to narrow the discussion board availability. Once the availability end date is past due, the forum will be hidden from students. If you would like to reopen the forum so you may post, please contact your Instructor.
Display: In each forum, you have a Display filter, which can show all threads, published threads, hidden threads, and draft threads. Make sure to select Show All, so you will be able to view all threads created by other users in the course. Open the Displaying Threads tutorial to learn more.
During the semester, you may check your Blackboard My Grades as a running total for the course. To view your final grades, please view the GovState Self-Service > Grades section in the myGSU student portal.
Once Students have completed their Blackboard course, it will be available to them until approximately two weeks after the semester ends. After that time, the course will become unavailable in Blackboard. Students will need to contact the Instructor for the course to be reopened to retrieve materials. It's recommended to save or archive submitted coursework, for personal records, prior to the course closure.
The certificate is offered at the graduate level. Students must have completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited, post-secondary 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 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 GSU, 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 will expect from you. For more information, please visit the GovState Student Handbook page.
Contact Us
- Center for Teaching & Learning
- Governors State University - C Building
- 708-534-4115
- blackboard@govst.edu