Seattle Pacific University Selects Blackboard to Support Mobile Access to Campus Services

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Seattle Pacific University (SPU) has selected Blackboard to develop a mobile app to provide on-the-go access to critical student services and campus information, the company announced today. After thorough review, officials at SPU found that partnering with Blackboard was more cost and time efficient than developing an application in-house, and better positioned the university to establish a long-term mobile strategy to increase and sustain student engagement.

In their review, SPU officials found that they lacked the internal staffing and financial resources to build and maintain a mobile app over time with continuous development and improvements. The decision to work with Blackboard, recently identified by the 2011 Campus Computing survey as the leading provider of mobile applications to higher education institutions, was driven in part by the company's commitment to delivering high quality products, the ability to deploy an application quickly, and to easily update its functionality.

Funded by an existing student technology fee, SPU focused the app design and features on the day-to-day needs of students, including GPS-enabled campus maps, library databases, full course catalogs and access to the student information system where students can register for classes directly from their mobile device.

"Like most colleges, our students spend so much time on their smartphones – text messaging, accessing social networks and enjoying multimedia," said David Tindall, assistant vice president for technology services at Seattle Pacific University. "Giving them access to key campus information on the devices they use most often is the most effective way to engage them. Blackboard is the industry leader in this field and working with them on development and strategy was the most logical use of our resources."

SPU Mobile launched in just over three months on all major mobile platforms, and has already been downloaded by more than half of the campus community. The university also issued a second version of the app in just under four months to include a self-guided campus tour, access to student payroll and the ability to schedule advising appointments. The university's marketing and communication teams also incorporated mobile access to publications and printed materials such as admission packets and alumni magazines.

"We not only want our students to download our app, but use it regularly and frequently over time," continued Tindall. "The ability to control the graphical interface, leverage attributes already embedded in mobile devices, and use distinct functionality to deliver tailored, engaging content, ensures a strong user experience and repeated log ins. We have also created a foundation for long-term growth that easily allows for successive app versions that grow as we do."  

Blackboard Mobile™ Central is used at over 100 campuses and districts worldwide and is available as native applications for Android™; BlackBerry; iOS® for the iPhone® and iPod touch®; Palm webOS, and on all Web-enabled devices. When enabled by their institution, users can download both mobile apps, at no cost, directly to their device from their respective app stores.

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

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.

SOURCE Blackboard Inc.