AI Initiatives

UMBC Shield and the black text UMBC Artificial Intelligence

The Division of Information Technology’s AI site will help the UMBC community with information on using artificial intelligence (AI), especially generative AI (GenAI), to support UMBC’s Administrative, Instructional, and Research efforts. This site has been created to help employees advance their use of GenAI.

We recommend that our UMBC community begin by visiting GenAI Tools, a page that highlights free resources and provides guidance on using GenAI while safeguarding UMBC institutional data safely.

For staff seeking support, we encourage people to look at Administrative AI, as a starting point. Our goal is to save folks time, improve the quality of their work, and increase productivity. We showcase tools that DoIT provides to support these objectives.

We have launched myUMBC Answers, an AI-supported search bar. We are seeking partners to expand this tool. The key to leveraging myUMBC Answers is providing validated and accurate content, such as annual FAQs or handbooks.

Faculty, are encouraged to explore Instructional AI and Research AI. The UMBC Center for AI in the College of Engineering is an excellent resource for AI-related research and innovation.  Stay informed by following the center’s social media chnnels on LinkedIn, BlueskyX, and Facebook.

Members of the UMBC community can subscribe to the UMBC AI Group to receive email about AI-related news and events. If you have news to share with the UMBC AI community or suggestions or comments on the site, please send them to umbc-ai@cs.umbc.edu.

AI News

Showing items tagged blackboard. Show All

More than 40% of UMBC Blackboard Courses Using Ultra

Ultra adoption continues to grow as UMBC faculty shifted to online learning in response to COVID-19 safety precautions. More than 40% of all active Blackboard courses are now using Ultra in the...

Posted: October 9, 2020, 1:33 PM

Chromebook Extension for Respondus Lockdown Browser in Beta

Currently supports Original courses only

The beta release of a new Chromebook extension for Respondus LockDown Browser is currently available for assessments in Original Blackboard courses. This version of the Chromebook extension also...

Posted: September 25, 2020, 10:23 AM

New Batch Group Management Tool Available in Bb Ultra

Custom solution works in both Ultra & Original courses

Group management is one of the most important tools in a Blackboard course. For large courses, group management is a critical component of assigning students to groups and managing engagement or...

Posted: September 18, 2020, 12:25 PM

Use Blackboard's Ally Tool to Provide Accessible Content

Attend a product overview and demo on 9/30 from 2 - 3 p.m.

Overview and Demo: Using Ally to Provide Accessible Content Wednesday, September 30 from 2:00 p.m.  - 3:00 p.m. Please attend an overview of Ally, Blackboard’s accessibility software...

Posted: September 14, 2020, 4:07 PM

Password protection & automated test feedback come to Ultra

Enhancements to Collaborate, gradebook & announcement tools

Password protection and automated feedback are two assessment tools coming to Ultra in September. These valuable features enhance the instructor's ability to secure assessments and provide...

Posted: August 31, 2020, 1:28 PM