SHSU Receives 2026 Catalyst Award for Adoption & Engagement

SHSU Receives 2026 Catalyst Award for Adoption & Engagement

Sam Houston State University has been recognized as the recipient of the 2026 Blackboard Catalyst Award for Adoption & Engagement, an international honor recognizing institutions that demonstrate exceptional leadership in driving institution-wide adoption through strategic implementation, proactive support and continuous improvement. 

Presented annually by Blackboard, the Catalyst Awards celebrate institutions and individuals around the world who leverage technology to create innovative, impactful and student-centered educational experiences. Since 2005, the awards have recognized organizations that are advancing teaching, learning, accessibility, engagement and institutional success through meaningful innovation. 

SHSU Online was recognized for its implementation of the deep embed strategy, a framework developed by Ruth Chisum, assistant vice president for SHSU Online Operations, that positions learning technologies as essential institutional infrastructure integrated into teaching, learning, student support and operational workflows. 

The strategy extends beyond traditional technology deployment and training by intentionally embedding Blackboard into teaching and learning, faculty development, student support services, accessibility initiatives, governance processes and institutional operations. Through this approach, Blackboard has become a central environment where instruction, collaboration, communication and student engagement occur. 

"This recognition reflects years of intentional work by our SHSU Online team and our campus partners," Chisum said. "Our goal has never been simply to deploy technology. Our goal has been to integrate technology into the fabric of how the institution operates so that it becomes a natural and indispensable part of the student, faculty and staff experience." 

The deep embed strategy has been implemented not only at SHSU, but also across the Texas State University System through SHSU Online's role as a shared services provider supporting five institutions and more than 209,000 Blackboard users. Through a system-wide Blackboard master agreement, participating institutions benefit from a common platform, shared expertise, consistent support structures and economies of scale that enhance both efficiency and user experience. 

Among the measurable outcomes of the strategy are: 

• System-wide alignment of Blackboard licensing and services across five institutions 

• Consolidation of multiple institutional contracts into a single enterprise agreement 

• Expanded use of Blackboard beyond traditional course delivery into academic and administrative operations 

• Dedicated faculty development, instructional design, accessibility, media production and 24/7 support services designed to sustain adoption and engagement 

• Improvement of institutional accessibility scores from 23 percent in 2016 to 85 percent in 2026 through the strategic use of Blackboard Ally and data-informed interventions 

"We're inspired by the institutions and educators recognized through this year's Catalyst Awards," said Bruce Dahlgren, CEO of Blackboard. "These winners represent the very best of innovation, collaboration and commitment to learner success. Their work is helping shape the future of education in ways that are more accessible, engaging and impactful for learners around the world." 

Founded in 2005, the annual Blackboard Catalyst Awards recognize and celebrate innovation, leadership and excellence across Blackboard's global community of practice. Winners are selected by a cross-functional team of Blackboard experts and represent organizations that are helping define the future of education worldwide.