Blackboard in collaboration with NXP Semiconductors, has now surpassed the one-million mark on NFC-compatible campus cards shipped since 2012. This milestone reflects Blackboard’s commitment to providing more secure, flexible and open-standard campus card solutions.

The credentials have shipped nationwide with destinations including UCLA, Quinnipiac University, Liberty University, University of Oklahoma and Central Michigan University all utilizing NFC-compatible cards. By aligning with the open NFC standard, these universities are able to provide students with a more secure, scalable credential while laying the groundwork for more native NFC mobile solutions.

“We see the campus card as a student service,” says Deb Nightingale, Liberty University Card Director. “At Liberty, we are very focused on the customer.”

“We wanted to choose a path and make decisions that would allow us to deliver enhanced student services in a highly-secure manner,” Nightingale adds. “We know that going forward, students won’t want to carry a card, so we are strategically moving toward a mobile credential and becoming NFC-capable sets us up for that nicely.”

“We are privileged to serve our community and the forward-thinking institutions that, by standardizing NFC technology, are ensuring a secure and innovative student experience,” says David Marr, SVP of Blackboard Transact. “Native NFC unlocks a world of ubiquitous possibilities for all Blackboard Transact enabled campuses, regardless of form factor be it card, wrist band, watch, mobile phone or tablet.”

“We have worked together for many years creating the best technology solutions for student credentials. Blackboards’ push to adopt NFC in addition to their existing MIFARE-based solutions, back in 2012 showed incredible insight into the potential of this technology,” says Matthias Poppel, general manager of secure mobility and retail at NXP Semiconductors. “The security, convenience and flexibility of NXP’s NFC and MIFARE solutions reflect the student lifestyle. Now access to campus services can be simply enabled via a smart watch or smart phone.”

Blackboard and NXP, together with Liberty University recently hosted a webinar on the topic to discus the need-to-know facts about NFC-compatible campus cards. If you’d like more information, view the recording of the event.