Life University Blackboard: A Comprehensive Guide

Life University (Life U) is committed to providing students with the resources they need to succeed. This guide explores various aspects of Life U, including Blackboard, student support services, campus resources, and opportunities for alumni engagement.

Blackboard Ally: Enhancing Accessibility for All Students

Life University uses Blackboard as its learning management system. Ally is a tool integrated within Blackboard designed to enhance the accessibility of course materials for all students. Blackboard is not always accessible for students with disabilities. Ally allows students to choose the format that is most accessible for them based on their learning needs. This includes students with disabilities and those who prefer different formats for studying. Ally increases flexibility with the simplest and most effective methods for interaction with course materials.

How Ally Works

When an instructor uploads course files and HTML content to Blackboard, Ally automatically generates eight alternative formats for students to download:

OCRed PDF: Automatically extracted text.
Tagged PDF: Structured PDF for assistive technology.
HTML: For browser and mobile use.
ePub: For reading on tablets and e-book readers.
BeeLine Reader: A machine-translated version of a document.
Translated Version: Machine translation in 50 different potential translations.

BeeLine Reader puts the text through a gradient of colors, which helps the eyes. It chunks the text instead of it being just this big, long wall of black on white.

Enabling these tools is another way that Life U helps students to succeed. This tool also includes backend features that provide instructor feedback to assist instructors in creating the most accessible educational content possible. Some faculty members have already asked for more training on how best to utilize Ally, which CETL plans to offer in the near future.

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Academic Support Services

The Academic Learning Center supports the academic growth of students by providing assistance through a variety of services aimed to promote their success while at Life U. These services are designed to highlight course content and to emphasize good study habits.

Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) Program

The Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) program helps undergraduate and Doctor of Chiropractic students help themselves and assist them to become independent learners. The PAL program utilizes student leaders, who have succeeded in historically challenging courses, to facilitate collaborative review sessions each week. PAL leaders assist students with improving their learning strategies to promote independence and empowerment inside the classroom. PAL leaders can also directly be involved in facilitating review session activities and discussions. The PAL program is a free service offered to all students in a targeted course.

PAL Leaders are students who have earned an A or B in the course they will lead. Student participants will learn how to study effectively - both independently and collaboratively. They will also develop a deeper understanding of course material and how it applies to their world. PAL leaders can help students learn how to study both independently and collaboratively. It also helps students learn from one another, verify actual course knowledge, challenge them to teach material back to the PAL leader and prepare them for future courses. The PAL leader cannot replace the professor’s lectures or in-class assignments. PAL leaders will never cover material in their sessions that has not been already covered in class. Attending PAL sessions does not guarantee that a student will be successful on their exams and other assignments.

Success Coaching

Success coaching is an available resource for all students at Life University! The student success coach is not a counselor or academic advisor. Instead, their focus is on bridging the gap between your current situation and your future academic aspirations. All appointments are made online. Navigate to the Academic Learning Center homepage and select Book a 1:1 Consultation, this will bring you to our Bookings page. If you’re working regularly with a student success coach, contact your coach directly and ask about any possible openings. You can also contact the Academic Learning Center at 678.331.4570. Success coaching sessions are recorded for recordkeeping and can only be accessed by the Life University Academic Learning Center. This allows coaches to evaluate and offer suitable services and recommendations.

Academic Writing Support

Academic writing support is available Monday through Friday from 8:30am until 5:00pm. I specialize in citation formatting, essay organization, sentence variety, and coherency, but I can help with any aspect of writing that you need. When scheduling an online appointment, please note that these are video calls through Blackboard. Discussion is flexible and focused on you.

Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL)

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) is committed to providing Life University faculty and staff a safe and confidential environment to discuss issues related to teaching and learning.

Faculty Spotlights

The CETL organizes and promotes Faculty Spotlights, sessions led by Life University faculty members.

Consultations

Individual consultations (1-on-1 meetings with a CETL staff member) focus on a variety of teaching and learning topics, including developing course assignments, integrating a new tech tool into your classroom, analyzing course evaluation results and more.

Teaching Observations

CETL staff are available to conduct teaching observations for face-to-face and online courses. Teaching observations are useful to a faculty member’s professional growth and development as they document teaching activities, encourage reflection, foster constructive dialogues and strengthen teaching.

CETL eCenter

The CETL maintains an online repository of helpful, on-demand resources, including pedagogical, course design and instructional technology resources.

Center for Online Learning & Educational Technology

Life University’s Center for Online Learning & Educational Technology offers workshops and online courses cater to faculty and students eager to explore the practical applications of technology tools within the college classroom. These workshops feature real-world examples of how our own faculty members at Life have successfully integrated these tools into their teaching. Our commitment to staying current means we refresh our workshop offerings frequently to align with evolving technology trends and the evolving needs of instructors. To self-enroll in our online training courses visit the Blackboard Course Catalog and select the College of Online Education category. The OFCP is a self-paced program that will provide faculty with the knowledge and tools needed to teach online courses and manage the many facets of online learning. In addition to the OFCP, Life University offers a variety of other faculty training resources. These resources are designed to help faculty better understand the various aspects of online learning, such as using technology for course delivery, grading and assessment, and more. These resources include webinars, interactive tutorials, and online discussion forums to help faculty stay current on the latest online learning trends. The resources are updated regularly to ensure that faculty have access to the most recent information.

Campus Resources

Library

The library is located in the Learning Resource Center (LRC) building and is open 7 days a week during the quarter. Please check online or at the library for special hours during midterms, finals and break. Life University student ID is required to check out library materials, to pay for printing and photocopies and to use other library services. Reserve items have a check out period of three hours to be used within the library only. Lost or damaged materials are billed at replacement costs plus a $10 processing fee. Photocopies and prints are 5 cents per side. Each student is given a $7.50 printing and copying allocation loaded to University IDs. Book bags, briefcases, purses, etc. General reference service, research assistance and library technology support is available at the reference desk. Individual and group library instruction is available by appointment. Requests for articles on microfiche can be submitted online or at the reference desk. Requests for items not owned by the library may be requested through interlibrary loan (ILL) from other libraries. Patron computers within the library are available during regular library operating hours.

Socrates Café and Plato II Go

Socrates Café is a gathering place for all members of the LIFE community. Menus in the Cafe are seasonal, regional, with items freshly-made, ingredients and sourcing from local and regional organic farmers and vendors as much as possible. Pizzas and Calzones are a Café specialty; fresh with creative toppings and fillings. Each week the menus change, highlighting guest and chef favorites, sustainable seasonal specials, and can accommodate many preferences: dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, locally grown, vegan, vegetarian, etc. Our Entrée line and salad bars offer are a pay by the ounce price, allowing for each customer to choose just the right portion based on their individual desire. We also offer a daily value meal at a different station each day. Join us for themed meals and cook outs that are in regular rotation at Socrates as well. Plato II Go operates as Fresh Mex concept offering selections of salads, burritos, Nachos, & quesadillas. The Cafe was constructed to a LEEDS Gold Standard according to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, a third-party certification program used by architects, engineers, interior designers, construction managers and other officials to effectively build according to environmental sustainability. The Life U Shop is located in the Socrates Café in the College for Undergraduate and Graduate Studies building, and is operated by Life University. The store is closed Saturdays and Sundays.

Bulletin Boards

All bulletin boards in classrooms are for approved items only. Items may not be posted on these bulletin boards without the approval of the Office of Student Affairs or the University department hosting the event. Posting or distributing non-approved material on campus is a violation of the policies of Life University and will be referred to the Director of Student Conduct. All bulletin boards located throughout the campus that have been labeled for a specific use, such as the clinic bulletin board, various student club bulletin boards, etc., are to be used for the designated purpose only. Presently, bulletin boards for general student use are located in the vending areas of the Center for Graduate and Undergraduate Studies and the Center for Chiropractic Education. All announcements concerning seminars, local lectures, and private advertising must be reviewed and approved by the office of Student Affairs or the host university department. Only approved notices may be posted as directed.

Student Business Cards

Life University takes steps to ensure that you are not overrun with messages from us. Whitestone Marketing is the vendor used to print LIFE University student business cards. Once the information has been entered into the template, click on “Preview” to verify all information. Then click “Generate PDF” to print out/download a copy of your proof. Click “Next” to review your order and submit. A student’s failure to receive and read University communications in a timely manner does not absolve that student from knowing and complying with the content of such communications. The effective date of this policy is July 11, 2005. Life University is not responsible for delivering messages to students. Students should refrain from using 1269 Barclay Circle as their return address unless it is for official school business (i.e.

Fundraising

All fundraising on behalf of the University, including funding requests for individual departments and student clubs and organizations must go through the Office of Development, University Advancement Division before being approved.

Campus Center for Health and Optimum Performance (CC-HOP)

The Campus Center for Health and Optimum Performance (CC-HOP) is where all Life University students, their spouses, dependent children and parents can receive chiropractic health care services under faculty supervision at no charge.

Accident/Injury Policy

The student should report to Human Resources (HR) immediately after completing the incident report, no later than 24 hours after the accident/injury, with the Accident/Incident Report from Campus Safety. HR will complete a claim form and submit a claim to the insurance carrier. If the student has primary insurance, HR will require a copy of the student’s insurance card(s) to forward to the insurance carrier along with the claim.
Student(s) with primary insurance must seek medical care/treatment from their primary care physician or any provider of their choice and submit bills directly to their insurance carrier. The student will provide HR with a copy of all status reports for filing purposes until discharged. Student(s) without insurance may seek medical care/treatment from their doctor of choice.
The Accident/Injury Policy has a $10,000 limit with a $250.00 deductible (deductible paid by Life University).

Student Property Insurance

While Life University is a very safe place to attend school we occasionally experience crimes of opportunity in the form of thefts of electronic devices. Also, we may experience dropped, lost or damage to our personal electronics (phones, tablets or laptops). Life University has made arrangement with Arthur Gallagher & Co. as a preferred insurance provider to offer a specialized property protection insurance policy. This optional coverage fills the gap between homeowners insurance and no insurance at all. Specific information about the policy, its coverage and restrictions can be found at www.CollegeStudentInsurance.com.

Alumni Association

Drs. Sid E. & Nell K. Alumni are an invaluable resource for Life University. The Alumni Association is an organization of graduates who foster a continuing relationship with Life University. You are automatically a member when you graduate.

Scholarships

The Alumni Relations Department disperses three scholarships each year -undergraduate, masters, and chiropractic. First quarter students will have the opportunity to apply for a partnership from their home (participating) state. Application for the $7,500 scholarship is only available during first quarter and is paid out evenly 2nd through 12th quarters.

Mentorship Program

The Department also offers a mentorship program for students through the State Networking Association on campus. Students attending club meetings will enjoy speakers from the state association. Speaker topics may be requested ahead of time, and speakers will likely bring their own topics as well. All speakers’ expenses are paid by the speaker or the Alumni Relations Departments. Students may choose one or more chiropractors to be their mentor. At each club meeting, the list of mentors will be distributed for students to choose.

Benefits for Graduates

When a state club student graduates, they will receive from LIFE a special discount rate through Scrip Hessco to purchase equipment and supplies to get started in their chiropractic career. The offer is good for one year following graduate. For new graduates who become licensed in a partner state, a Nuts and Bolts “getting started” seminar will be offered by the state association and/or LIFE.

Slice of LIFE

Slice of LIFE is an invitation to and extension of everything happening at LIFE University. Whether you are a current student, a potential freshmen, or a proud alum, Slice of Life can help keep you connected to your academic community.

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