Transition Process
Over the next few terms, College of DuPage will be migrating courses to the Ultra platform. Here, we share more about our expected timeline for this transition, the progress we’ve made so far, and faculty and student feedback on Ultra.
WHAT TO EXPECT
ULTRA
TRANSITION
TIMELINE
The transition to Ultra will extend from 2024 through the end of 2025.
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Ultra Spring 2023
Ultra Base Navigation Launches
In Spring of 2023, the LMS was updated to Ultra Base Navigation.
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Spring 2024
Ultra Course Pilot
In Spring of 2024, faculty from a wide range of disciplines piloted Ultra to provide valuable feedback and information on the process.
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Summer 2024
Ultra Use Expanded
All courses for adjuncts and new faculty are created in Ultra.
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2024 Through 2025
Course Migration Begins
Faculty are transitioning courses to Ultra on a voluntary basis.
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Spring 2026
Migration Complete
The Ultra transition concludes. All courses and organizations will need to utilize Ultra Course View.
Spring 2024 Ultra Pilot
During the Spring 2024 term, 15 faculty volunteers piloted Ultra in 43 different courses from a wide range of disciplines. While there were some pain points and some difficult hurdles, the response was largely positive. Students were able to navigate without any major issues and faculty learned how to utilize the new features and organizational structure.
While some things in Ultra take some getting used to (gradebooks, flattened course structure, using integrations) most users reported that the LMS was a much more user friendly, simple, and intuitive.
LT will be developing targeted training to assist with the most difficult parts of the Ultra transition based on the feedback from this pilot.
“Like anything, it will take some time to adjust to, but, in the end, it will be worth it. The interface is much more user friendly.”
“It’s a much more modern interface, with simplified processes to create course content and navigate a course.”
“I like how much easier it is to move content around and add content. I also like that you announcements can be drafted and posted later.”
“I was surprised by how much easier the interface was. I still have one class in the old blackboard and it feels clunky now.”
Ultra Adoption Numbers
As we move along in the adoption process, more and more courses are being taught in Ultra! Check out our progress term by term below!
Spring 2024 (Ultra Pilot)
- Courses In Ultra: 50 (25 from Massage Therapy)
- Instructors Using Ultra: 15
Summer 2024
- Courses In Ultra: 84
- Instructors Using Ultra: 31
Fall 2024
- Courses In Ultra: 438 (13% of total courses taught) plus 436 Dual Credit Courses
- Instructors Using Ultra: 166
Spring 2025
- Courses In Ultra: 673 (13% of total courses taught) plus 436 Dual Credit Courses
- Instructors Using Ultra: 166
