Ottawa University Selects Blackboard Education Services for Major Expansion of its Blended and Online Programs

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Ottawa University has partnered with Blackboard Inc. to support a major expansion of its blended and online degree programs, the company announced today. Under the multi-year deal, Kansas-based Ottawa, which currently operates six different campus locations nationwide, will grow and scale existing and future residential, hybrid and online undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

The effort marks one of the largest institutional online education initiatives to date as schools traditionally focus on only a handful of online programs at a time. Ottawa's plan to grow all programs across its catalog is a central part of the institution's strategy to significantly expand its student population by 2020, while remaining focused on delivering high quality academic programs.

Officials selected Blackboard as a strategic partner in the initiative for its expertise in online program management and design and for its broad portfolio of proven education services and technologies supporting all aspects of the student lifecycle, including marketing, recruiting, enrollment, and learning analytics. Blackboard will also provide training and guidance to Ottawa faculty to support effective approaches to teaching online.

"We are excited to work with Blackboard, an industry leader in terms of resources and reputation, in pioneering innovative approaches to disintegrating the often artificial barriers between online and on ground educational delivery methodologies," said Kevin Eichner, president of Ottawa University.  "This partnership marks a huge step toward reaching our Vision 2020 strategic objectives and to building new and effective models of service for all of higher education. We are very proud to be working with Blackboard at the forefront of change on behalf of students worldwide."

In addition to reaching more learners, the initiative will help current and prospective students complete degree requirements more quickly, conveniently and affordably by allowing them to choose the delivery modality that is right for them.

"We are excited to work with Ottawa University, an institution positioned to lead the industry with a strong vision for online education," said Katie Blot, president of Blackboard's Education Services division. "We're looking forward to working with Ottawa's staff and faculty to build on their standard of excellence, create new learning modalities for learners of all types, and develop more high quality and affordable programs that will reach new student populations."

For more information about Ottawa University, please visit http://www.ottawa.edu/.

For more information about Blackboard's online program management services, please visit http://www.blackboard.com/services/blackboard-online-program-management.aspx.

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.

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.

CONTACT
Matthew Maurer, Blackboard Inc.
(202) 463-4860 ext. 2637 or [email protected]

SOURCE Blackboard Inc.