Blackboard is a course management system for professors to put class materials on the Internet. It provides a variety of tools to facilitate teaching and learning. All online courses at MxCC use Blackboard course management system. All “on-ground" credit courses and some non-credit courses also use Blackboard as a supplemental tool to enhance face-to-face teaching. The basic features used in a Blackboard course include syllabus, folders, discussions, messages, announcements, grade book, tests, assignments, and calendar.  More information about Blackboard can be found at Blackboard Overview.

***** Starting Fall 2025, CT State community colleges will begin upgrading Blackboard to Ultra environment. Some courses at MxCC will be using Ultra interface.  Click on What is Blackboard Ultra on the left panel for further information. 

1. System Requirements
- For browsers that are compatible with Blackboard, click here.

2. Your NetID and password

• • Open a web browser (ex. Google Chrome) and go to my.ctstate.edu. You may need to clean out your browser history to access the site. Enter your NetID and Password.
  • NetID: firstname.lastname@ctstate.edu - Your NetID does not work? Click here to look it up.
  • Password: The same password to log on to a campus computer at any of 12 Connecticut community colleges.
  • If you have never logged on to a campus computer, on the Password page, click on "Forgot my password".  Enter your NetID and the verification characters and click on Next. You will be reminded that a verification code is sent to your personal email (or your phone).  Log on to your personal email (or check the text message on your phone) to retrieve the verification code. Enter the verification code to create a new password.  Follow the new password rule to create a new password. Then follow the prompts to create a new password.  The new password MUST have 8 or more characters and satisfy 3 of the 4 rules as follows:
    • • Upper case
      • Lower case
      • Numbers
      • Special characters
  • One example of a new password is RedFlower2025! (case sensitive). Remember; do not use your name or birthday in the new password.
  • You will use the new password to access my.ctstate.edu or log on to a campus computer, or access the Campus Wifi.
  • Click here for more information about NetID and password
  • If you are not able to log in to the site, visit "Not Able to Log On" to have the issue resolved.

3. Inability to access to the Blackboard course site

Within 7 days before the first day of a class starts, if you do not see your course listed on the Blackboard Courses page and you have officially registered the course more than 24 hours, contact the Distance Learning Department (Chapman College Library area), (860)-343-5756 or mxccdistance@ctstate.edu with your Name, student/Banner ID, course Title, Course Name, Course CRN you registered.

If your course is listed on the Blackboard Courses page, but when you click on it, you see the following message:

"Your instructor has denied access." You are currently denied access to your class by your instructor.

You should contact your instructor. To know who your course instructor is, log on to MyCTState at my.ctstate.edu. Click on Access Registration Dashboard under Student Self-Service. Click on View Registration Information. Click on your course title and select Instructor/Class Meeting. You will see your instructor's name. Highlight the instructor's email and select Copy. Log on to your college email - link in MyCTState. Create a new message. You will then paste the instructor's email to the "To" box. Type the message and send it to your instructor.

4. Reset your password
If you have trouble logging in with the NetID and password, you may reset your password using the following methods:

1. Reset on your own at https://passwordreset.microsoftonline.com.
2. Call the MxCC IT Department at 860-343-5711 (Monday - Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm).
3. Visit MxCC IT department in Wheaton Hall, Room 304 with your photo ID (Monday - Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm).
4. Call the 24/7 technical help desk at 860-723-0221.

Starting Fall 2025, CT State community college will begin upgrading Blackboard to Ultra environment. In Fall 2025, 44 MxCC courses will be using Blackboard Ultra.  Students enrolled to Ultra courses will have access to Blackboard Ultra Orientation for Students where students can learn basic features of Ultra. The following videos may also help students learn Ultra basic tools.

Brief Overview of Blackboard Ultra

Video Tutorials of Blackboard Ultra  

Upgrade to Blackboard Ultra

Live - real time Blackboard Ultra based Orientation for New Online Students will be offered in the beginning of Fall 2025. Click here for schedule.