Respondus

Description: Respondus is a powerful tool for creating and managing exams that can be printed to paper or published directly to Blackboard. Create a pool of questions in Respondus, then select which ones to use for tests, exams or other assignments.

Respondus helps students "master the basics" of course material through learning activities, self-assessments, and games. A dozen activities – such as flashcards, crosswords, and quizzes – engage students with course content in an individualized way. Students can access Respondus activities using computers, smartphones, and tablets.

Platform: Windows
Cost: No charge

Use the tabs below to download and start using Respondus today!

Respondus Software and Licensing Requirements

Cost: None. All VCU faculty and staff are licensed to use the product at no cost.

Conditions Of License

Use of the Respondus products included in this license is subject to all of the following conditions:

The products may be installed on VCU owned PC's and on privately owned PC's.
The use of the products under this license is restricted to VCU-related purposes ONLY. (Note that this applies regardless of how the installation media is obtained and who owns or uses the PC on which the products are installed.)
The products may be used for VCU academic and administrative purposes.
When you leave VCU you lose the right to use the products, and you must immediately uninstall them from all PCs on which you had installed them and on which you had authorized their installation.
You may NOT resell this license and/or the products it covers.

System Requirements

Operating System: Windows 7 or higher
Memory: 32mb RAM minimum
Hard Disk Space: 10 MB of free hard disk space for program files
Monitor: 1024x768 or 1280x720 minimum

Download and Install Respondus

Important Reminders: It is recommend that you accept the default settings for the installation location on your computer. Also, please note that the Respondus software cannot be downloaded directly from the vendor’s website. The VCU-licensed download file is acquired by following the instructions below.

You must first login to Blackboard with your eID.
Return to this page and click on each button below to automatically download the installation file (Respondus4Campus.exe) and the setup instructions (Respondus License Information.docx).

Download Installation File Download Setup Instructions
These downloads usually appear at the bottom of your screen.
Screenshot of downloaded Respondus installation files. [View Image]
Open the setup instructions by clicking on the downloaded file.
Locate the installation key (in red) and other setup values. These will be needed to configure the software after installation.
Click on the downloaded installation file.
Click "run" and follow the prompts to install the software.
When prompted, enter the installation key and other details from the setup document.

Retrieve and Apply Respondus Updates

When an update is available from the vendor, use one of the methods below to acquire the update.

Check for Respondus updates in the application. Open Respondus, navigate to the "Help" menu and select "Check for Update". If an update is found, follow the steps provided to install it.
Download the full Respondus application, following the directions above.

Annual Licensing Renewal

The VCU license is renewed annually. When you use the application after July 31st, you should check for updates, or accept them if prompted. If your license key does NOT automatically update, please download the Respondus licensing information document using the buttons above, and manually enter the updated license key.

Using the Respondus Publish Wizard

Publish Exams Directly to Your Blackboard Course(s)

1. From the Preview & Publish menu, select Publish and then click the Publish Wizard button.

2. To publish the exam to a single course, select the Publish to single course option.

3. If a server has not yet been set up, click the dropdown menu beside Blackbaord Serve and select "add new server."

Select "No, I want to enter the server settings meanually" and click Next.

[View Image]

If a server has already been set up, then simply select that server from the Blackboard Server dropdown menu and click Next.

4. A screen will appear that looks similar to the one below:

Enter the following server setting.
Enter your own User Name and Password for your online course.
Select the Remember my User Name and Password box if it isn't a shared computer.
Click the OK button to close the window and click Next to continue to the next page of the wizard.

[View Image]

5. The wizard will display a screen that looks similar to the one below:

Choose the course from the pull-down list.
Enter a name for the exam or quiz.
Select additional options for the exam or quiz.
Click Next to continue.

[View Image]

6. The exam will now be published to the specified course. When the publishing process is completed, click the Finish button.

Patch Information

Since migrating to SaaS (December 2019) users may be getting the following error:

[View Image]

To bypass this error follow these steps:

1. Go into Respondus >> Help >> Get update
2. Enter Insallation Password - Found in the "Set up Instructions"
3. When ready to publish test to Bb follow the instructions above to add a new server.

Faculty Resources

Respondus Knowledge Base - provides answers to frequently asked questions.
Respondus User Guides - provides detailed information on all aspects of the software
Respondus Quick Start Guides - a good reference for new users
Respondus Test Bank Network - contains thousands of test banks for the leading textbooks in higher education
Instant, context-sensitive help is available from within the Respondus application by pressing the F1 key. From here you can also select Help from the menu bar and choose a topic.

Request Assistance

For Licensing Issues: email blackboard@vcu.edu
Submit a Request Directly to Respondus Support: Respondus/Respondus Technical Support
Contact the VCU IT Support Center:
- Phone: 828-2227
- Web: IT Support Center