Missouri State chooses Blackboard for NFC-based contactless card system
15 May, 2012
category: Contactless, Education, Smart Cards
Missouri State University has selected Blackboard Transact to implement a contactless student ID card. This enables the new system to integrate student identification, door security, commerce and campus payment into a single contactless card.
The new BearPass ID card uses Sony’s FeliCa contactless technology and works with Blackboard-enabled smart card readers–which also support magnetic stripe technology–for faster and more secure transactions.
More than 25,000 students, faculty and administrators will now be able to pay for purchases and enter buildings with a tap of their ID card.
Students can add money to their student ID account, view transactions online, immediately stop activity on their account if their card is lost or stolen, and use their smart phone to manage their account. MSU can use the cards to operate electronic access control devices for academic, administrative and student buildings, ensuring that only authorized persons are able to gain entry.
Missouri State is the latest institution to upgrade its campus card system using Blackboard’s NFC-compatible contactless system, said Blackboard. School officials said they selected Blackboard Transact following an evaluation of major providers.
“It’s our mission to provide a safe and secure campus, and with Blackboard we’re truly future-proofing our system,” said Kent Thomas, special assistant to the president at Missouri State.
