Blackboard’s BbOne program will now be managing the University of Pittsburgh’s off-campus merchant network, which allows students to use their campus cards to make cashless purchases at shops and restaurants approved by the university. 

The SmartCity® multi-application smart card system that drives campus card programs, corporate sites, military installations and other programs now includes a contactless option. Previously based on contact chip cards only, the newest version supports both types and thus, according to CEO Kieran Timmins, “means greater card choices, less hardware and simpler and hence cheaper card deployments.” 

TCF Bank has been the banking partner for Northern Illinois University’s campus card for a decade and with the new contract award just announced, that relationship will continue for another ten years. 

Change could open floodgates for contactless and other payment cards in vending, transit, unattended locations
by Chris Corum, Editor

Regulation E, the rule outlining consumer rights with regard to electronic financial transactions, can make things tough on new payment offerings – but many argue that is its mission. Electronic payment providers have to make a slew of disclosures, they have to guarantee against fraudulent usage, they have to provide periodic statements, and they have to provide receipts for transactions. But this receipt requirement may be loosening. The Federal Reserve (Fed) is considering a change that would exempt transactions under $15 from the need to provide a receipt. Big deal you say? Read on. 

The pay-for-print solution stands alone or integrates with Blackboard, CBORD, Nuvision, more

By Andy Williams, Contributing Editor

Forty years ago, a new automobile cost about $3,500 and a printed page–at that time using a daisy wheel, dot matrix, or copying machine–cost about 10 to 15 cents. Today, the price of cars has more than quadrupled, but that same printed page of much higher quality–costs the same.

GoPrint Systems’ Steve Haber’s point–that he makes when visiting with college students–is simply that the pay for the print and copying process has evolved tremendously over those 40 years but the price has not. “When I was going to college, paying a dime or 15 cents for a printed page was the single biggest bargain you could ever come across,” he said. “I ask students to tell me one thing they can still pay the same thing for 40 years later. And I have little trivia contests in our company to find something that costs the same.” 

A new Liska Biometry ID system pilot project under way in an unnamed public school system will help safeguard students and schools by allowing administrators to identity every student as well as determine individuals who are not authorized to be on campus. 

Former HID Global Managing Director David Sullivan has been named the new president of Fargo Electronics, secure card identity systems provider. Mr. Sullivan will be responsible for setting the strategy and development of business objectives for the Minneapolis, Minn.-based company.