The Independent Blackboard Users Group (Ibug) is creating its own identity as a resource repository and "voice" for Bb users who currently feel voiceless. At the Bb Users Conference in Phoenix (Spring 2002), the group held a series of informal organizational meetings, formed a team to draft a group charter, and attracted the attention of Bb -- the Bb CFO and other staff attended the first organizational meeting. Ibug wants to create an alternative, rather than adversarial, entity empowered to bridge the divide between the big company and its many (and varied) users/licensees. The group is also interested in creating a MERLOT-like repository of support documents created by the Bb user community. Membership is free.

The Ibug site is hosted by Seton Hall at http://www.ibugunc.org.