Datatel+SGHE and Blackboard Partner to Integrate Colleague and the Blackboard Learn Platform Through the Intelligent Learning Platform

WASHINGTON and FAIRFAX, Va., March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Datatel+SGHE and Blackboard Inc. today announced a strategic partnership to integrate Colleague with Blackboard Learn™ 9.1 through Datatel+SGHE's Intelligent Learning Platform (ILP). The planned integration will make it easier for institutions to manage information from their administrative and academic systems to improve the overall learning experience.

The partnership extends Datatel+SGHE's vision for the Open Digital Campus to give clients more power to choose the technologies, delivery models, and solutions that fit their unique needs, and Blackboard's work to establish a more open, interoperable platform that includes full support for the IMS Learning Information services (LIS) standard. The companies also currently offer a standards-based integration for the Blackboard Learn platform and the Banner administrative system.

The planned integration would help to create significant time and cost savings and greater ease of use for clients. Bringing together information from administrative and academic systems makes it easier for them to access data, manage information across campus systems and connect with constituents to improve the overall education experience.

"We are happy that two key partners are working together to bring the benefits of an integrated solution to our students, faculty, and staff and anticipate that adoption and depth of usage for Blackboard will reach new heights as a result," said Janice Wachtarz, Associate Vice President for Information Services, at Quinnipiac University.

"This partnership is an example of the good that can come when companies put clients first and work together on integrations rooted in open standards," said Ray Henderson, Chief Technology Officer at Blackboard and President of Blackboard Learn. "We're highly committed to supporting greater interoperability between systems and advancing those efforts through partnerships like this one and support for industry standards that help to make it happen."

"As our customers work to realize the full potential of academic technology, they have asked us to provide them with greater flexibility to achieve their goals," said Mark Jones, chief product officer, Datatel+SGHE. "Expanding our relationship with Blackboard provides our Colleague clients with more options to grow and evolve their digital campus to better serve constituents." 

The planned integration leverages the ILP to unify essential teaching and learning functions such as grades, collaboration, and course management. Datatel+SGHE surveys show that institutions that have leveraged ILP to integrate Colleague with their learning management system (LMS) have experienced increases in LMS adoption among their users by up to 48 percent, while eliminating time spent on administrative tasks by up to 33 percent and saving faculty hundreds of hours on grading and administration.

About Blackboard Inc.

Blackboard Inc. is a global leader in enterprise technology and innovative solutions that improve the experience of millions of students and learners around the world every day. Blackboard's solutions allow thousands of higher education, K-12, professional, corporate, and government organizations to extend teaching and learning online, facilitate campus commerce and security, and communicate more effectively with their communities. Founded in 1997, Blackboard is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

About Datatel+SGHE

Datatel+SGHE is a global leader in services, technologies and expertise to help educational organizations succeed in a dynamic environment. Collaboration with our clients and the broader education community helps drive innovation across the student lifecycle. Around the world 2,300 colleges, universities and foundations in 40 countries use Datatel+SGHE solutions to strengthen the education experience for new generations of learners, improve efficiency and accountability, and forge lifelong relationships with the people and communities they serve. Visit us at www.datatel.com and www.sungardhe.com.

Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for Blackboard represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release. Actual results may differ materially as a result of various important factors. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company's views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so.  

Trademark Information: Datatel, Open Digital Campus, and Colleague are trademarks or registered trademarks of Datatel+SGHE or their affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other trade names and trademarks used herein are owned by their respective holders.

SOURCE Datatel+SGHE and Blackboard Inc.