Currently, Gallaudet has an exclusive contract with Blackboard LMS which has cost Gallaudet over millions of dollars the past decade in the use of Blackboard in addition to training and tech support for faculty, staff and students.

Blackboard is NOT:
-bilingual friendly
-easy to use
-video friendly
-ASL friendly

Gallaudet’s recent push to move from Blackboard Learn to Blackboard Ultra has resulted in even more issues and challenges for students and faculty.  Students should not experience barriers in learning, especially with a LMS provider that clearly does not value video or multi-modal bilingual experiences, especially since Gallaudet University is a Federally Chartered institution of higher education that ensures the intellectual and professional advancement of deaf and hard of hearing individuals through American Sign Language and English.

Other universities in the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area (a total of 17 colleges and universities, including Gallaudet) have recently moved to Canvas Instructure, most prominently, Georgetown University, Marymount University, Northern Virginia Community College and the University of Maryland.  It is time for Gallaudet to wake up and move on to Canvas Instructure!  

Canvas is:
-bilingual friendly
-easy to use
-video friendly
-ASL friendly

We, the undersigned, ask Gallaudet to listen to the students, alumni, and potential future students and move from Blackboard to Canvas Instructure immediately.