How to Access Blackboard

Welcome to the Independent Study in Idaho (ISI) program. For most courses, you may purchase your course guide in print format from the University of Idaho Bookstore or access the course guide online via Blackboard by following the directions below. If you have questions, please call the ISI office and we will transfer your call to ITS (Information Technology Services). You may contact ITS directly at (208) 885-6721 or its@uidaho.edu.

First-time students: click here for easy setup directions, or read the text below for first-time users.

Current University of Idaho students:

First-time Blackboard users, follow these instructions to access your course:

  • To log into your course, you need a username and password.
  • Username: An online account with a username was created for you when you registered for this course. The Username will be e-mailed to you in an automatic e-mail notification letter. (The username is the first four letters of your last name (Smith) and the last four digits of your V number (V00001234). Example: smit1234.)
  • Password: After you receive your Username, create a PIN number and a password in the VandalSetup Web site according to the instructions below.
1. To access VandalSetup, follow these directions:
  • Go to Vandalsetup at www.vandalsetup.uidaho.edu/.
  • Enter in your V number for your Student ID.
  • Enter the temporary PIN (Personal Identification Number), which is your birth month, birthday, and two zeros: MMDD00. (For example, the PIN for the birth date January 5 is 010500. In the next step, you will change it to your own secure PIN.)
  • Select the Login button at the bottom of the page.

2. Create a new VandalWeb PIN on the VandalSetup page:

  • You must set up your VandalWeb PIN before proceeding to change your password if this is your first online course through ISI or the University of Idaho.
  • First, enter the current PIN (the PIN you just used). Now, create and enter a new PIN of your choice. This must be six numbers and/or letters. Mixed numbers and letters are preferred. Write your new PIN down for future use and keep it in a secure location.
  • Now, create a security question and answer (i.e., What city were you born in?).
  • Select the Submit button at the bottom of the page.
3. Create your password on the VandalSetup Web page:
  • Note: You will see your username on this page.
  • You may select the computer-generated password,
  • OR you may create your own password by entering 6 to 14 characters of your choice in the field provided.


    • Password guidelines:
      • must be between 6 and 14 characters long
      • must contain characters from three of the following categories:
        • English uppercase characters (A through Z)
        • English lowercase characters (A through Z)
        • base 10 digits (0 through 9)
      • NO dictionary words allowed

  • Write the new password down and keep it in a secure location with your username and PIN.
  • Select the Set New Password button at the bottom of the page.
  • The new password may take 15 minutes to be activated.
You now have the option of setting up your VandalMail e-mail address. If you have given ISI another address and prefer to keep it, you may ignore this step.

4. Log into your course on Blackboard: