Blackboard Acquires Perceptis

WASHINGTON, July 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackboard Inc. today announced the acquisition of Perceptis, an industry-leading help desk and student support services provider. Through the acquisition, Blackboard extends its capabilities to provide integrated services to support students at every step of their education pathway. 

Based in Greenville, South Carolina, support specialists at Perceptis' two U.S.-based operation centers simplify the enrollment, financial aid, administrative processes and technical support for over 1.4 million students, faculty and staff members annually. Together, Blackboard and Perceptis will support millions of campus community members at over 500 institutions, through support teams located at five operation centers nationwide.

Today's announcement marks Blackboard's latest investment in providing more value directly to learners, delivering on student expectations, and offering institutions relevant solutions that extend far beyond a single technology. By delivering a consistent and unified experience to students, Blackboard's Student Pathway Services help improve not just outcomes for learners but an institution's overall operating efficiency.

"Over the past three years, Blackboard has helped us provide exceptional services and support that has positively impacted the success of our students' college experience," said Gloria McCall, vice president at Kentucky Community & Technical College System. "The acquisition of Perceptis demonstrates Blackboard's commitment to being first in class for 24/7/365 virtual services."

Blackboard has offered these services to higher education institutions for several years, including providing support to campuses using a wide range of technology solutions – not just Blackboard's. In addition to providing support for enrolled students, Blackboard also provides marketing, recruiting and enrollment services to help institutions grow their overall enrollments and academic programs.

"With the many touch points students have to an institution, we are starting to see an increasing desire from students for more immediate access and greater personalization across all aspects of their education experience," said Jay Bhatt, CEO of Blackboard. "By combining the Blackboard and Perceptis teams, we will enhance a service model that the industry needs: one that fully supports students from the first moment they are interested in a school to the day they graduate."

"Student expectations around how they are supported by their schools is drastically changing," said Trevor Allen, president and CEO of Perceptis. "I couldn't be more excited for Perceptis to become a part of Blackboard and work in unison to help drive change and innovation in the way education and education services are delivered."

For more information about Blackboard, please visit www.blackboard.com or follow @Blackboard on Twitter.

About Blackboard Inc.
Blackboard is the world's leading education technology company that is reimagining education by challenging conventional thinking and advancing new learning models. We rapidly deploy relevant and meaningful technologies and services to meet the needs of the modern day learner and the institutions that serve them, driving success and growth for both. In partnership with higher education, K-12, corporate organizations, and government agencies around the world, we help every learner achieve their full potential. For more information about Blackboard follow us on Twitter at @Blackboard.

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.

SOURCE Blackboard Inc.