Required Minimum Presence
Guide Files
Below are links for printable copies of the Blackboard RMP Guidance for staff:
Introduction
Blackboard is the Aberystwyth University (AU) virtual learning environment. Each AU module has its own course site in Blackboard. The Required Minimum Presence (RMP) provides consistency so that students can find the content that they need.
The RMP does not apply to AberOnline courses which have their own standards and requirements. For more information on AberOnline courses, please contact aberonline@aber.ac.uk
For help using Blackboard, see our staff guide for Blackboard. If you have any questions about Blackboard, contact the Digital Education Team (elearning@aber.ac.uk).
Accessibility
All content uploaded and generated in Blackboard should be as accessible as possible to ensure equality of access for all students. See AU Guidance on Creating Accessible Learning Materials for more information. Blackboard Ally is available in all courses and staff should use the course report and fix any issues as part of the maintenance of the course site.
The RMP standard is an Ally score of 70% or above in all courses.
Template
All AU Blackboard course sites use an agreed template with areas for core information along with agreed content for university-level policies. The course template is agreed by the Quality and Standards Committee annually. Module Co-ordinators have responsibility for the organisation of materials in their courses. Staff should not delete template content.
Module Information Area
The module information area should contain the following:
- Module outline, aims and learning outcomes. A separate downloadable module handbook may be provided that contains this information.
- Induction materials to help students familiarise themselves with module requirements, organised into a single folder. Provide clear instructions for students on how to engage with the module and learning activities.
- Link to any relevant health and safety information for studying on the module, including risk assessments where relevant.
- Information about staff teaching the course, including contact information and availability, how to arrange a meeting (in person or online), and when students can expect a response to a query.
- Details about how students can provide feedback on and ask questions about the module.
- A link to the All Panopto Videos Course tool
- Upload the SES action plan (see the Module Evaluation Policy)
An organised location for Learning Materials
A Learning Module or folder should be created for Learning Materials. To allow staff greater autonomy over content organisation, we have not specified a structure.
Staff should ensure that:
- Content is organised clearly using Learning Modules / folders by weeks or topics (see guidance on creating content for further information).
- All content, including Learning Modules / folders are named clearly and consistently.
- All relevant learning materials are uploaded to the Blackboard course site – this includes PowerPoint slides, handouts, notes or other supporting materials.
- All materials relevant to a teaching session are uploaded 1 working day before the session takes place. Note that some students will have a record of support provision (RSP) which requires earlier upload of materials – the timescale set out by the RSP will always take priority.
- Material should remain available after students have seen them. Materials should only be hidden to ensure assessment integrity and should be made available again once the assessment process has completed.
- Learning activities are added alongside the relevant supporting materials (learning resources).
- Clear instructions for students on what to do with each resource.
- All learning materials must be as accessible as possible. If some items cannot be made fully accessible, explain why link to guidance on using Blackboard Ally. See AU Guidance on Creating Accessible Learning Materials for more information.
- Links to individual Panopto recordings should be included alongside the relevant learning materials / activities. For guidance on recording live lectures, see the AU Lecture Capture Policy. For guidance on pre-recorded lectures, see How to make asynchronous recordings engaging and interactive
- All content used complies with copyright legislation
- Assessment and Feedback Area
The assessment and feedback folder should contain:
- Assignment briefs before the start of teaching. These should include a description of the assignment, marking criteria, and deadlines
- A statement on the acceptable level of use for Generative AI in each assignment. These can be copied from the Learning Object Repository or created by colleagues.
- Assignment submission points with full information including the date and time of the assignment deadline.
- Who to contact if students have difficulties submitting assignments. Direct students to Digital Education Team for technical assistance (elearning@aber.ac.uk).
External Examiners (hidden) Area
This folder should include:
- Items that you want the External Examiner to view
- Downloaded marked assignments for moderation
- Evidence of moderation processes
- This folder should never be made visible to students
- Copy of Turnitin rubric (for Registry staff setting up extension submission points)
Aspire Reading List
The Aspire reading list to be added as a standalone item (rather than in a folder) and to be located on the Content tab as one of the top six items (see Reading List Policy).
Merged Courses
Where English and Welsh courses have been merged with the English course as the primary, the following should be uploaded in Welsh:
- Module handbook (if English module handbook is used)
- Assignment briefs, including a description of the assignment, marking criteria, deadlines and statement on acceptable level of use for Generative AI.
- A link to the reading list for the Welsh course (or use the English list for Welsh resources see the FAQ for guidance). See the Coleg Cymraeg guidance on Welsh medium provision for information on requirements for Welsh-medium courses.
Any Welsh-medium learning resources produced for the course should be uploaded. Staff are encouraged to use the bilingual Welsh template for merged Welsh / English courses
This Policy is maintained by Information Services, was last reviewed by Quality and Standards Committee in February 2026 and is due for review in February 2027.