Bellevue Faculty Member Rebecca Barnes Earns Prestigious Blackboard Exemplary Course Award
Bellevue University faculty member and Program Director Rebecca Barnes has been recognized with a 2026 Blackboard Exemplary Course Award, honoring the design and delivery of her course, BMAL211: Business Communication in a Digital World. The award recognizes innovative, student-centered online courses that demonstrate excellence in course design, interaction and collaboration, assessment, and learner support.
Key Facts
- Award: 2026 Blackboard Exemplary Course Award 2026
- Recipient: Rebecca Barnes, Bellevue University
- Course: BMAL 211: Business Communication in a Digital World
- Awarded: May 2026
- Recognition Areas:
- Course design
- Interaction and collaboration
- Assessment
- Learner support
- Program: Blackboard Exemplary Course Program (ECP), a globally recognized peer-reviewed honor
Award Recognizes Comprehensive Course Design Excellence
Bellevue University announced today that Program Director and faculty member Rebecca Barnes has been named a recipient of the 2026 Blackboard Exemplary Course Award, a distinction that recognizes outstanding achievement in online course development. Barnes’ course, BMAL 211: Business Communication in a Digital World, is part of Bellevue’s bachelor’s program in Business Management and Leadership. The BMAL 211 course was selected for its demonstrated excellence across four core areas of online teaching: course design, interaction and collaboration, assessment, and learner support.
The Blackboard Exemplary Course Program (ECP) honors instructors and course designers whose courses exemplify best practices in online and blended learning environments. Submissions are rigorously evaluated through a peer-review process, with reviewers assessing how effectively courses are structured, how well they engage learners, and how clearly they support student success outcomes.
Awarded Course Focuses on Communication in Digital Workplaces
Barnes’ recognition places her among a select group of educators worldwide whose work advances the quality and impact of digital learning. According to Dr. Matt Davis, Executive Vice President and Dean of the College of Engineering, Technology and Management, the course focuses on communication in today’s digital workplace, blending business communication, workplace technology, and AI-assisted communication through meaningful, applied projects designed to mirror real professional environments.
Dr. Davis added that Barnes’ achievement underscores Bellevue University’s broader commitment to high-quality, career-relevant education delivered through flexible and technology-enabled formats.
As higher education continues to evolve, exemplary course design that helps ensure students connect, engage and learn in-demand skills is critically important.
Creating Engaging, Effective and Supportive Learning Experiences
“We are proud to recognize educators like Rebecca Barnes, whose work reflects the creativity, care and intention behind impactful course design,” said Dr. Lisa Clark, Associate Vice President of Academic Transformation at Blackboard. “Their efforts help create learning experiences that are more engaging, effective and supportive for students.”
Founded in 1966, Bellevue University is a non-profit university with more than 70,000 graduates worldwide. The University is a recognized national leader in preparing students for lifelong success with career-relevant knowledge and skills, while making college affordable. Routinely ranked among the nation’s top military and accessible institutions, the University serves residential students at its main campus in Bellevue, Nebraska, and everywhere online with more than 85 degree programs uniquely designed for working adults. The University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org).