Working closely with local merchants and students, Off-Campus Advantage and Millersville University in Pennsylvania have launched the school’s first off-campus payment program, Marauder Gold. Students even got to design signs to be placed in participating merchants’ establishments.

“Opening the on-campus discretionary account to off-campus merchants is a win for the students, the local merchants and the university,” said Ken Dearstyne, associate vice president of finance and administration for Millersville University. “We worked closely with the merchants in Millersville and our students to create a blueprint for a successful program.”

Partnering with OCA, Millersville gave locally owned businesses the opportunity to participate in the program before inviting merchants in neighboring communities and national chains to join. “The Millersville focus in launching Marauder Gold was to strengthen town relations,” said Shawn McCarthy, vice president of wide-area commerce for The CBORD Group, OCA’s parent company. “The local businesses in Millersville participated in the discussions about going off campus, enabling the university to launch Marauder Gold quickly, with a solid base of participating merchants.”

The program’s swift launch was also facilitated by Millersville University’s ability to fully integrate the off-campus payment program into its CS Gold card system by creating an addendum to its service provider’s contract. CBORD supplies Millersville University with a variety of compatible front- and back-of-house management solutions, which also includes Foodservice Suite® food service management software.

Millersville further personalized the off-campus program by inviting its 8,000 students to brand the discretionary account and create signage for participating merchants, as well as posters and mailers for the entire student body, educating them about the new Marauder Gold off-campus program.

“By including student ideas and designs in our marketing plan, we tapped into a valuable resource to help drive the awareness and usage of Marauder Gold,” said Elizabeth Braungard, marketing director for Millersville University. “From the beginning, this program has been a model of students, administrators, and the local business community working together.”

As universities move away from the Social Security number to identify students, how will those new student ID numbers be handled? For example, can they be publicly posted instead of the student’s name? Is that an invasion of privacy?

This was just one of the issues discussed at the recent Educause annual policy conference. Focus of the discussion was the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed changes to regulations governing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA.

Until now, the rules haven’t specified whether students’ Social Security numbers, and the proprietary ID numbers many colleges now assign to students, fall into the “directory information” category, items that normally aren’t considered harmful or an invasion of privacy. The proposed changes would ban the use of both numbers from that designation, but as this article points out, that could result in unintended effects.

Read more here.  

ID cards similar to those used on college campuses are making their way into the K-12 environment. The latest pilot, at a Florida elementary school on the state’s west coast, involves a badge students wear that can be swiped to pay for lunches or to check out books. As this story points out, the ID badges can also help substitute teachers familiarize themselves easily with students’ names.

However, looming budget cuts statewide could force postponement of this project, originally intended to be fully implemented next year. Read more here.  

Towson University in Maryland has joined the higher education institutions expanding their use of student ID cards off-campus. More importantly, the declining balance account on the student’s OneCard will not expose its users to overdraft fees or credit card debt, the university emphasizes.

Retail Points, Towson’s existing discretionary account, could already be used on campus to purchase textbooks, do laundry, purchase snacks from vending machines, and more. After students and local businesses proposed the enhancement, Off-Campus Advantage, a subsidiary of the school’s card provider, CBORD, expanded Retail Points to be accepted as a form of payment at businesses in the community.

“Towson University values the relationship between the university, students, and the town. Taking the OneCard off campus was important to the university, its students, and the local business community. The students requested to use the card off campus and identified which merchants they would like to see participating in the program,” said Robert Campbell, director of auxiliary services and finance, at Towson. “Going off-campus was the next step to making the Towson OneCard truly an all-in-one card.”

The Towson OneCard is powered by CBORD’s CS Gold card system. CBORD’s integrated solutions enabled Towson to increase its card functionality while meeting all of the State of Maryland’s standards for funds handling. Towson maintains control over its off-campus program’s operations and student deposits, as well as approval of each merchant before they can accept the OneCard. “Rather than reissuing the OneCard with a credit card or bank logo, Towson is strengthening its own OneCard brand,” said Shawn McCarthy, vice president of wide-area commerce for The CBORD Group.

“At a time when university ID cards are making headlines because of ties to debit and credit card companies, we provide an alternative that still expands the purchasing power of the card, without the associated risks,” said McCarthy. vice president of wide-area commerce for The CBORD Group, Inc. “Off-Campus Advantage operates closed-loop declining balance accounts. When a student swipes his or her OneCard at a local business, our UGryd™ Central Server checks that funds are available in the cardholder’s account. If not, the transaction is declined, with no fees or penalties to the student.”

CBORD subsidiary Off-Campus Advantage has added three more schools to its off-campus payment program that allows students to use their campus ID cards to utilize services of local merchants. Each of the schools were already using CBORD’s Odyssey PCS campus card solution.

Smaller Colleges outsource off-campus card payment services to maximize operations

Ithaca, New York — Off-Campus Advantage™, a leading provider of off-campus payment services for universities and colleges, announced it has launched off-campus payment programs with Suffolk University, Centre College, and Ohio Northern University. Off-Campus Advantage (OCA) enables smaller institutions without traditional card offices to extend their university ID cards’ purchasing power to surrounding communities, allowing local merchants to accept the IDs as forms of payment.

“Smaller colleges and universities often lack the resources to handle specialized auxiliary operations,” says Shawn McCarthy, Vice President of Wide-Area Commerce for The CBORD Group, Inc., the parent company of OCA. “Each of these universities had different reasons for partnering with OCA. Whether they want to improve town/gown relations, expand existing programs, or create more value for the university ID, OCA’s management expertise focuses and grows their programs.”

Each of these schools was already utilizing the Odyssey PCS™ campus card solution from CBORD® to power their card systems. Since OCA’s service offering is fully integrated with all CBORD card systems, each school was able to add the new features while managing its off-campus programs in a familiar environment.

<strong>*Suffolk University</strong> in Boston, MA contracted with OCA to establish an off-campus program as a springboard for building university-community relations. Once the program launched, students were transacting with their Suffolk Ram Card every day at participating merchants surrounding the campus in Beacon Hill.
<strong>*Centre College</strong> in Danville, KY wanted to expand its self-administered off-campus program. As a small, private institution, Centre was supporting one off-campus location; partnering with OCA has enabled the school to increase its base of participating merchants, providing students with more choices when using their Centre Bucks.
<strong>*Ohio Northern University</strong> in Ada, OH was interested in expanding the functionality of its Polar Card. OCA recruited merchants to accept Polar Dollars off-campus, giving students the ability to use their existing discretionary accounts at their favorite off-campus locations.

“We wanted to enable local businesses to accept the Polar ID Card as a form of payment; however, leasing equipment, negotiating merchant contracts, check cutting, and day-to-day management requires extensive manpower and overhead,” said Amber Carpenter, Bursar, Ohio Northern University. “Working with OCA simplified the process. OCA handles all program management while providing comprehensive reporting tools which allow our staff to stay on top of the program’s progress.”

About Off-Campus Advantage
Off-Campus Advantage, LLC, expands the functionality of the university-issued ID card by enabling merchants in the local community to accept it as a form of payment. With its suite of services, including UGyrd™ Central Server Technology, OCA creates fully customized programs for schools with existing off-campus vendors, as well as those migrating off-campus for the first time. OCA is a wholly owned subsidiary of The CBORD Group, Inc., and is fully integrated with CBORD campus card systems. The CBORD Group, founded in 1975, has served the campus-wide needs of higher-education facilities for more than 30 years. To learn more about Off-Campus Advantage, visit www.offcampusadvantage.com.

Leading campus card provider The CBORD Group has been purchased for $367 million by Roper Industries, a company that provides engineered products and solutions for niche markets, including water, energy, radio frequency and research/medical applications. “As part of Roper we will have the financial and strategic resources necessary to pursue a variety of new initiatives,” says CBORD president Tim Tighe. CBORD’s management team will remain intact, according to Roper.

SARASOTA, Fla.–Roper Industries Inc. announced that it has acquired The CBORD Group, Inc., the leading supplier of card systems and integrated security solutions to higher education, health care and other markets, in a transaction valued at $367 million, including $23 million in tax benefits that can be utilized over time. Roper expects the addition of CBORD to be immediately cash accretive. The acquisition is expected to add $0.02-$0.03 to 2008 diluted earnings per share and to increase 2009 diluted earnings per share by up to $0.10.

CBORD provides integrated transaction solutions to 750 colleges and universities, representing 4.5 million students; 1,700 major health care licensees; and large corporate campuses, leading supermarkets, theme parks and dining chains. In total, CBORD systems are used by more than 6,000 organizations in the U. S., Canada, Europe, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. The business will continue as CBORD and will operate within Roper’s RF Technology segment, and market its products and services under its current brand names.

“CBORD is an ideal acquisition for Roper that meets all of our key criteria,” said Brian Jellison, Roper’s Chairman, President and CEO. “The company enjoys leadership in its core markets with brand name recognition, long-term relationships with high customer retention, the broadest suite of integrated applications, and a reputation for quality service. Its financial profile is excellent with strong recurring revenue and EBITDA margins and low working capital requirements. In addition, CBORD has a prepaid annual subscription model that accelerates cash flow and reduces risk in many of its markets. There are a wide range of synergies between CBORD and our existing businesses. Most importantly, CBORD has extraordinary growth opportunities across its markets and in others it will be able to pursue as a part of Roper. The business will play a critical role as we develop solutions to extend our cash generation activities beyond water utilities and transportation to higher education, healthcare and other new end markets where CBORD has leading positions.”

CBORD stands out as a complete solutions provider in the higher education market. The company provides a wide variety of student and employee transactions under a single system, “one card” approach. Its card-based services also include security, onsite and off-campus commerce and student discounts. In campus food service, the company’s services include food management software and online ordering. CBORD’s health care business provides patient and employee food service enabling services that offer more choice and nutritious alternatives, streamline delivery and reduce costs, increase efficiency in order to allow more time and resources to be directed to patient care, and ultimately improve patient satisfaction.

CBORD’s management team, under the leadership of Tim Tighe, will continue to lead the business as part of Roper.

Jellison added, “We are very impressed by the accomplishments and talents of the CBORD management team, and look forward to working with Tim and his colleagues to enhance the value of those businesses through the application of their proven technologies to new end markets and expansion of their global reach.”

Tighe said, “Our management team is delighted that CBORD has found a great new home at Roper. Our customers will find that we will continue to provide the same excellent service and support, with full continuity of personnel, and that with greater scale, our customers will be able to expect even more from us. As part of Roper we will have the financial and strategic resources necessary to pursue a variety of new initiatives, and further improve our product offerings through collaboration with the other leading- edge businesses in the Roper family. Our future is very bright as part of Roper, which shares our vision and commitment to value creation.”

Jellison concluded, “We are pleased to enter 2008 with an outstanding cash-enhancing acquisition, and we are confident that our robust acquisition pipeline and strong balance sheet will yield other opportunities to build value for Roper shareholders during the year.”

If you’re a user of some HP multifunction printers and you’re seeking better print management capabilities, Equitrac Corportation may have a deal for you. Its Equitrac Embedded is now designed to work with those printers to provide print authorization, auditing, authentication and other print management solutions.

PLANTATION–Equitrac Corporation, the leader in intelligent cost recovery and print management solutions worldwide, has announced Equitrac Embedded–the company’s award-winning print tracking and cost management solution–can now be used with the latest HP multifunction printers (MFPs).

“Equitrac is pleased to be extending to our customers the total print management capabilities of our award-winning Equitrac Office(R) and Equitrac Express(R) solutions with this release of Equitrac Embedded designed for use with HP MFPs,” said Michael Rich, CEO, Equitrac. “Users of HP multifunction printers with Equitrac Embedded solutions will enjoy enhanced document security, protection of personal information and mobility and convenience in document output.”

The integration of the robust Equitrac print management workflow solution with HP multifunction printers simplifies Equitrac Office and Express utilization for an organization’s IT staff and employees using HP MFPs.

Customers are now able to use the HP Easy Select Control Panel on HP MFPs to access the industry-leading print, copy, scan and fax tracking capabilities of Equitrac Office and Equitrac Express, including Follow-You Printing(TM) and Secure Document Release.

Equitrac Office, designed for enterprise, government and general office environments, integrates seamlessly into an organization’s existing print server architecture, helping enterprises make informed decisions about designing and deploying network printers to increase their manageability, stimulate cost-savings and boost efficiency.

Equitrac Express provides universities, schools and libraries with print tracking and accounting capabilities for quota-system management of print and copy devices, while advanced campus-card technology eliminates free printing, provides central control and management of computer labs and integrates pay- for-print systems linked to the campus card system.

Advanced features available with Equitrac Embedded for use with MFPs from HP for Equitrac Office and Equitrac Express include:

–User authentication and access control, through pin, network login or use of cards (including Mifare, HID, Legic, magnetic stripe);
–User authorization according to pre-defined rights or account balance;
–Follow-You printing for release of confidential documents on one or any HP MFP;
–Tracking of all transactions per user, device or department for cost management or allocation and auditing;
–Enforcement of corporate print policy through a set of advanced configurable workflow automation rules;
–Tight integration with the corporate IT infrastructure, including network directories and various types of print server technologies and clustering environments;
–IT simplification through automation of user synchronization and report distribution;
–Active device monitoring for preventive or curative maintenance and automated redirection of print traffic to maintain print resources availability to users; and,
–Easy scalability from a single-site to a global, multinational deployment.

Equitrac Embedded for use with HP MFPs for Equitrac Office and Equitrac Express is available immediately for the HP LaserJet M3035 MFP, HP LaserJet M4345 MFP, HP LaserJet M5035 MFP, HP Color LaserJet CM4730 MFP, HP LaserJet 4345mfp, HP Color LaserJet 4730 MFP, HP LaserJet 9040mfp, HP LaserJet 9050mfp, and HP Color LaserJet 9500mfp.

Further information about Equitrac Office, Equitrac Express and Embedded for use with HP MFPs can be obtained by visiting Equitrac’s website at www.equitrac.com.

About Equitrac
Equitrac Corporation is the world leader in intelligent cost recovery and print management solutions. Backed by an unmatched R&D program and the largest team of cost-recovery experts in the world, Equitrac enjoys preferred technology partnerships with the world’s leading providers of hardware and software solutions for the office environment. From the Fortune Global 100 to college campuses, within the AMLAW 200 and in municipalities across the globe, Equitrac solutions are at work helping organizations recover costs, reduce waste, increase returns and maximize efficiency in printers, copiers and multifunction devices.

Looking for a one-stop campus card solution, CardSmith has chosen Ingersoll Rand as its preferred access control provider, enabling the campus card provider to offer Schlage locking systems to its college clients. According to CardSmith, campuses can now create any combination of offline, online and/or wireless access control systems.

CARMEL, IND.– Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies announced that the company has become the preferred access control and security provider for CardSmith, which supplies colleges and universities with complete one-card transaction management solutions. CardSmith not only supplies campuses with card system technology for a host of on- and off-campus applications but also manages the complexities of the resulting card system and program operations. To complement its card-based service suite, colleges and universities can now obtain Schlage access control solutions through CardSmith.

“Over the past four years, we’ve developed a working relationship with Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies and helped implement many Schlage access control and security solutions for colleges and universities in tandem with our own card transaction processing solutions,” emphasizes Jay Summerall, founder and president of CardSmith. “Our customers really appreciate knowing that they can come to us and get all of their one-card applications, from meal programs and library check-out to door access at residence halls, laboratories and elsewhere across campus.”

Summerall adds, “Just as we provide a complete card transaction processing solution, so does the Schlage security system. Campuses can create any combination of offline, online and/or wireless access control. As a result, our customers are now receiving the best of both worlds in both card-based transaction processing and security, all accessed by a single campus ID card.”

“We’re very pleased to be working closely with CardSmith,” reports Beverly Vigue, Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies vice-president, education solutions. “This relationship will be very beneficial to colleges and universities who can now get a single one-stop solution for all of their card applications. By working together, we can assure our mutual clients are getting card solutions created with the entire campus in mind.”

About CardSmith
CardSmith provides a complete transaction processing solution integrated with the most comprehensive management and operations support services in the industry. CardSmith’s national campus card processing center integrates easily with on-site card production systems and drives virtually any card application on or off-campus, including dining, bookstore, mobile POS, retail, vending, laundry, print/copy, verification and more. The program and campus community are supported 24/7 by an On-line Cardholder Account Center with Value Transfer and by the market’s only professional cardholder call center and merchant help desk.

About Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies
Ingersoll Rand’s Security Technologies Sector is a leading global provider of products and services that make environments safe, secure and productive. The sector’s market-leading products include electronic and biometric access control systems; time-and-attendance and personnel scheduling systems; mechanical locks; portable security; door closers, exit devices, architectural hardware, and steel doors and frames; and other technologies and services for global security markets. Website is www.securitytechnologies.ingersollrand.com.

With the recent addition of Texas A&M, Corpus Christi, bringing to 85 the number of schools utilizing Higher One’s OneDisburse Refund Management system, the company reports that some 328,000 students are now using Higher One services. In addition, account usage has increased by 37% since January, 2007.

New Haven, CT—Higher One, a technology-driven financial services company focused on higher education, announced that it now has more than 328,000 OneAccounts with a balance. In the last year alone, Higher One has increased its account usage by 37%, adding just over 122,000 accounts since January 2007 with more than half of those accounts added since August 2007.

“It is gratifying that more than 328,000 students from around the country have chosen to use for a free Higher One OneAccount. As one of the only companies focused on developing financial products that meet the needs of college students, we have been able to provide services that are convenient and easy to use,” said Dean Hatton, Chief Executive Officer of Higher One. “It is this commitment and focus on the higher education industry that has positioned Higher One as one of the fast growing companies in the nation and we are looking forward to our continued growth moving forward.”

Designed exclusively for college students, the Higher One OneAccount provides students with powerful tools to manage their finances including online bill pay, the ability to send money into another OneAccount, money wires, easily accessible online statements, and the ability to make purchases using the MasterCard® Debit Card which is tied to the account. Students can open this no minimum balance, no monthly fee account when they choose to have either their refunds or paychecks from their college or university direct deposited into the OneAccount. The students benefit from the easy to use online statements that help with financial management responsibility and 24/7 online and secure customer service.

Higher One also announced that Texas A&M, Corpus Christi has signed an agreement to utilize Higher One’s OneDisburse® Refund ManagementSM bringing the total number of colleges and universities in the U.S. working with Higher One to 85. The company has grown quickly by helping schools handle financial disbursements electronically making the process more efficient, convenient and easy-to-use. These include student refunds, on-campus and community purchases, and payroll and employee expenses. To date, Higher One has processed $2.7 billion dollars worth of payments on behalf of the schools that it works with.

About Higher One
Founded in 2000, Higher One provides higher education institutions and their students with efficient, convenient and easy-to-use solutions to handle financial disbursements including student refunds, on-campus and community purchases, and payroll and employee expenses. The company also offers a suite of online banking services through OneFinanceSM, which includes the OneAccount and OneCard, a Debit MasterCard® with exclusive features such as “Send Money”, Easy RefundSM, and Campus AutoLoad. Higher One recently ranked # 85 on 2007 Inc. 500 List of Fastest Growing Companies in the United States. The company is based in New Haven, CT.

HID Global has appointed two new installation channel sales representatives, signifying the company’s commitment to this key channel. The appointments are expected to “expand HID’s leadership in the market.”

IRVINE, Calif.– HID Global, the trusted leader in providing solutions for the delivery of secure identity, announced that it has made key appointments in its installation channel sales. These new hires help HID enact its strategic initiative to provide enhanced support for dealer integrators and customers in this critical access control industry channel.

“With their extensive access control industry experience, Lou and Steve perfectly complement and complete our North American team,” said Paul Kluttz, vice president, Installation Channel Sales, HID Global. “These key appointments will strengthen and expand HID’s leadership in the market and will enhance our ability to service our growing customer base.”

Steven J. Kroes, Midwest Regional Manager
Steven J. Kroes joins HID Global as its Midwest Regional Sales Manager, reporting to Mr. Kluttz. Steven brings over 16 years of electronic security solutions sales experience with channel partners and Fortune 500 accounts. With extensive tenure in regional sales and field service engineer roles, Steven most recently worked as Division & Channel Manager for Accutech. Steven is based out of Racine, WI.

“I look forward to working with customers and am excited about establishing new customer relationships,” said Mr. Kroes.

Lou Tunno, South Eastern Regional Manager
Lou Tunno joins HID Global as its South Eastern Regional Sales Manager, also reporting to Mr. Kluttz. With nearly two decades of experience in the electronic security manufacturing industry, Lou’s experience and knowledge base encompasses a variety of roles including Technical Engineer, Service Operations Manager and Regional Sales Manager. Most recently, he was Regional Manager with FCM in Pompano Beach, FL. Lou is based out of Boca Raton, FL.

“I’m very pleased to join a quality operation like HID Global and look forward to offering premium sales support to our installation channel,” said Mr. Tunno.

About HID Global
HID Global is the trusted leader in providing solutions for the delivery of secure identity, serving customers worldwide with proximity and contactless smart card technologies; IP-based networked access solutions; secure and custom card solutions; photo ID and ID card application control software; high definition printer/encoders and secure card issuance solutions. Headquartered in Irvine, California, HID Global operates international offices that support more than 100 countries and is an ASSA ABLOY Group brand.