This isn’t normal behavior. Clicking on the Blackboard link from within myUSI should automatically log you into the Blackboard website. If you are not logging into the Blackboard site automatically, there is a problem that needs to be addressed.

A Recent Name Change

If you recently submitted a name change request with the Registrar’s Office and followed the username change instructions in the email that you received shortly afterwards, your records might not be synced up with the Blackboard system yet. Contact Instructional Technology Services at online@usi.edu or 812-465-7182 for assistance in getting your myUSI and Blackboard account information properly synchronized.

Time of the Semester

Blackboard courses are not usually available until at least the first day of classes each term. If you are a new student and have registered for a class and try accessing its Blackboard counterpart before this time, you might encounter a situation where you don’t have access to the system. Try again after classes start and see if the situation improves. If not, check with your instructor to make sure that there is a Blackboard area for the specific course you’re attending.

Web Browser Configuration

With the recent increase in worm and virus activity, many people have tightened up their browser security to the point that it breaks some of the functionality of myUSI.

If you are receiving a login screen when you are trying to access Blackboard using the myUSI link, please perform the following steps in Internet Explorer:

1. Go to the Tools menu; select Internet Options,
2. Click on the Privacy tab,
3. Click on the Advanced button,
4. Check the box for Override automatic cookie handling,
5. For both First party cookies and Third party cookies, check Accept,
6. Click the Apply button and then OK button,
7. Restart the browser. If that doesn’t fix it, try temporarily turning off your anti-virus and/or firewall to see if that is causing the problem.

To change your name with the university, you need to fill out paperwork with the Registrar’s Office. The paperwork begins the process that changes your name on your student records.

After the paperwork filters through various offices, you should notice your welcome message at the top of myUSI change to your new last name. When your welcome message changes, it means that your name change has occurred within the university’s main student record system. However, this will not change your login name.

About the same time, you should see an email message in your email inbox asking if you would like to change your myUSI username. The choice is up to you. If you would like your email address (and login username) to match your new last name, then follow the instructions in the email to request a username change.

If you do request a username change, you will be issued a new username and your old email will be forwarded for 10 days. You will be able to login to both accounts for those 10 days so that you can forward old mail messages to your new account (sorry, but you have to do these one at a time), make backups of your address book, etc. However, you have to login to your new account using your original PIN number (at least until you change it if you want).

Also, Blackboard is notified when you change your name and its administrators will move your courses from your old login to your new login (you will only be able to login to Blackboard with your new account at that point).

After 10 days, your old myUSI account will be deleted. Any mail that is still left in your account will be deleted as well.