If you are using the Blackboard system as a student or instructor, your computer must meet certain requirements. Below you will find information published by Blackboard that shows what works with Blackboard and what doesn't. It is the responsibility of the student to make sure that these requirements are met with both the operating system and web browser. It is especially important that you are prepared to meet these requirements if you are taking an online course. 

Also, it is important that our Blackboard server, blackboard.niagara.edu, is not blocked out by any of your security settings and that it is exempt from any pop-up blocker you may have on your computer. The virtual classroom and chat functionaties use Java technology (see below for those requirements) and also open up the application in a new window. If your computer is blocking this pop-up window, you will not be able to use the virtual classroom or chat functions. Please verify that this works prior to entering the virtual chatroom and if needed, contact our help desk during regular help desk hours for assistance. We can often help troubleshoot your issues quickly. Please also note that it is very easy on Windows computers to end up with multiple pop-up blockers, so disabling one doesn't disable them all. Also, many spyware programs include pop-up blockers that can interfere with or redirect pop-up windows. Please make sure your computer meets these requirements and is in working order with the proper configurations prior to any scheduled online class.

One last thing that should be mentioned is that the virtual classroom uses ports other than standard web ports, and if you are using a firewall like Windows Firewall or are behind a corporate firewall, you will need ports 80, 443, 1433, 1376, 8000, 8007, and 8443 open for use.

Microsoft® Windows® Operating System

 Apple® Mac OS® Operating System

• Blackboard strives to make all its products as accessible as possible. JAWS for Windows 9 and 10 were used during accessibility testing of Service Pack 3
• Blackboard Learn requires the latest version of Sun JRE 6. The JRE can be downloaded from http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp.
• deprecation
  • Internet Explorer 6
  • Firefox 1.x and 2.0
  • Safari 2.0
  • Mac OSX 10.4 "Tiger"
  • Java 5
• Internet Explorer 8 is tested in Standards Mode. Some known issues can be resolved by using Compatibility Mode (emulates IE7 behavior). MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU ARE USING INTERNET EXPLORER 8, YOU ARE USING IT IN COMPATIBILITY MODE! You can do this by going to the Tools menu, and selecting compatibilty view.