CITOL Open Office Hours: Virtually by request by appointment
Center for Instructional Technology and Online Learning
The Center for Instructional Technology and Online Learning (
CITOL) at UMES supports the development, design, and delivery of online and hybrid programs, classes, and workshops with a focus on flexibility, equity, accessibility, privacy
and safety (FEAPS). CITOL assists faculty, staff, and students in all aspects of digital teaching and learning with regard to pedagogy and technology, including in the use of the Blackboard Learning Management System, Blackboard Portfolio, Blackboard
Collaborate Web Conference, Enterprise Surveys, Echo360, G-Suite, Respondus 4.0, and Respondus LockDown Browser. Founded in 2006, CITOL is funded by a grant awarded through Title III. The Center is located in Suite 3071 Engineering Aviation Science
Complex and is open Monday through Friday during normal business hours. For additional information, please call (410) 651-6557.
Our staff is happy to help you in any way possible. Our services include:
- Support Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS) and other instructional software which can be found on our website: New Resources
- Provide ongoing professional development through Virtual Workshops
- Design courses which are in alignment with Quality Matters standards.
- UMES Online Teaching Certification
- Develop Assessment materials for classes
- Develop Interactive materials for classes
- Training & Development for ePortfolios
- Training & Development for Surveys
- Help troubleshoot student problems on LMS
For Blackboard Help open a Help Desk Ticket Select Blackboard as the inquiry type.
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement
At UMES, we are committed to continually improving our online courses. UMES participates in “The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement.” Some of the benefits for students of our institutional participation in SARA include greater access
to online programs, better quality of distance education, and reduced institutional costs (which keeps everyone’s costs lower),
Currently, 47 states and the District of Columbia participate in SARA (Florida, Massachusetts, and California do not participate). “The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement is a voluntary agreement among its member states and U.S. territories
that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance-education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based
in another state” (NC-SARA.org). For more information, you can visit NC-SARA Student Support.