Blackbaud Integration Overview

Instructure supports a SIS integration with Blackbaud Student Information System (SIS). The integration uses APIs made available from OneRoster 1.1 where the SIS is the OneRoster data provider, and Instructure is the OneRoster data consumer. Learn more about OneRoster and the Instructure OneRoster implementation.

The Instructure Blackbaud integration allows Blackbaud to sync rostering data to Canvas and for Canvas to post assignments and assignment grades back to the Blackbaud gradebook.

As an admin, you can review the integration functionality and limitations and request the integration for your institution.

Integration Overview

The OneRoster integration works bi-directionally:

  • Blackbaud to Canvas Provisioning: When you make changes in Blackbaud (to users, courses, enrollments, etc.), those changes are reflected in Canvas after a nightly, one-way transfer from your SIS's OneRoster 1.1 API to Canvas.
  • Canvas to Blackbaud Grade Passback (GPB): When instructors make changes or updates to course assignments and student grades in Canvas, those changes are sent to your SIS using OneRoster 1.1 API. Learn about syncing grades from Canvas to the Blackbaud gradebook.

Note: OneRoster provisioning is required for GPB functionality.

Supported Objects

The following data is included in any provisioning or GPB transfer.

Provisioning:

  • Courses
  • Enrollments
  • Sections
  • Staff
  • Students
  • Sub-accounts
  • Terms

GPB:

  • Course Grades/Gradebook Scores
  • Graded Assignments
  • Graded Discussions
  • Graded Quizzes

Blackbaud Integration Prerequisites

Please review the following prerequisites to implement the Instructure Blackbaud integration:

  1. Request your institution's OneRoster 1.1 credentials from Blackbaud (API URL, client key, and client secret), and send them to the Instructure SIS team using a secure Instructure-provided link. The Instructure SIS team will verify the integration connectivity.
  2. If your institution is converting from one SIS to another or transitioning from a different integration, the SIS team must perform an evaluation of the integration against your data. The SIS team will contact you with any concerns about converting to the Blackbaud integration.

Next Steps

If you are interested in enabling the Blackbaud Integration for provisioning, please contact your Instructure Customer Success Manager (CSM).

Additional Resources