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Institutional Hierarchy: How To Search Courses in Blackboard

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The Institutional Hierarchy in Blackboard organizes courses into nested categories like divisions, departments, and programs. This structure allows users to quickly filter and search for courses based on where they belong within the college — making it easier to locate what you’re looking for without digging through the full course list. The institutional hierarchy is only available to Deans and Department Heads.

  1. Log into Blackboard and select the Admin button on the bottom left corner of the screen.
Screenshot of the Blackboard Ultra base navigation menu for Catawba Valley Community College. The menu displays icons and labels for Institution Page, Activity, Courses, Calendar, Messages (with 38 notifications), Grades, Assist, Tools, Admin (highlighted with a red box), and Sign Out. The CVCC logo appears at the top.
  1. In the Top-Left corner of your screen look for the section header that states “Courses,” and then click Courses.
Screenshot of the Blackboard Learn Administrator Panel interface, specifically showing the expanded “Courses” section. The "Courses" header and the clickable “Courses” link beneath it are outlined in red. The Blackboard Learn release version is 3900.121.0-rel.27+4e78b06.
  1. In the search area, you can filter under the Course Name and Contains dropdown menus.
Screenshot of the Blackboard Learn Administrator Panel under the "Courses" section. The search interface includes dropdown filters for "Course Name" (other options shown include Course ID, Description, Instructor, etc.) and matching criteria such as "Contains", "Equal to", "Starts with", and "Not blank." A date filter is set to "Before 07/31/2025," and the course scope is set to "All Courses."
  1. In the blank search bar, type in the course you are in search of and click Go.

Please note that you will only be able to view the courses that you have been permitted to see. Also, unless for a specific reason do not modify the “Date Created, the Date in the “Date Created”, or the IN columns.”.

Screenshot of the course search section in the Blackboard Administrator Panel. The search is configured to find courses where the Course Name contains the keyword “soc.” The date filter is set to find courses created before July 31, 2025. The “Go” button on the far right is highlighted to initiate the search.
  1. After clicking GO. Based off of what was searched, you will be able to see the courses that match the entered parameters. Click the Course ID to enter and view the course.
Screenshot of a course search result table in the Blackboard Administrator Panel. Three courses are listed: 25-SU-SOC-242-800 – 2025SU Sociology of Deviance 25-SU-SOC-234-800 – 2025SU Sociology of Gender 25-SU-SOC-220-800 – 2025SU Social Problems Each course shows a Course ID hyperlink, Course Name, Date Created (5/15/25 around 9:35–9:36 AM), and all use the “Original” Course View.
  1. When accessing a course that you are not the instructor in, you will see the option to Quick Enroll at the bottom of the navigation panel. Clicking this button will automatically make you an instructor in the course, allowing you the full rights to make changes to the course, perform a course copy, etc.
  1. Once you’ve performed any necessary processes, click the same button which now reads X Quick Unenroll.
Close-up of the “❌ Quick Unenroll” button in Blackboard, featuring a red X icon followed by bold white text on a dark background.

Important: If you do not use Quick Unenroll or change your role in the course, you will automatically be included as an instructor on the student course evaluations for that course.

  1. If you wish to remain in the course, click the Users and Groups heading in the navigation bar
  2. Click Users
  3. Click the chevron by your name in the list
  4. Click Change User’s Role in Course
  5. Select Teaching Assistant on the page that appears and click Submit.
Screenshot of the Blackboard Users panel showing how to change a user's course role. The left sidebar highlights the navigation path: Control Panel > Users and Groups > Users. In the main window, the user's row is selected, and a tooltip reads “Change User’s Role in Course.” On the right, the “Change User’s Role in Course” panel is open, showing available roles such as Dean, Grader, Instructor, and Teaching Assistant, with “Teaching Assistant” selected.
  1. Once you are finished with the course, click the big red X in the top left-hand corner of the screen.
  1. To exit the Administrator Panel, click the “Close Administrator Panel” button in the top right-hand corner of your screen, and you will be taken back to the main menu.

Need Help?

If you need assistance, the best way to get support is to submit a ticket or email the HelpDesk at . Additionally, you can call us at (828) 327-7000 ext. 4444.

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