Newark, NJ, August 29, 2019 – Edge, the region’s nonprofit research and education network and technology partner, announced the award of a contract for concierge support services to Blackboard, a leading provider of help desk and student support services for the education community. These services will be fulfilled by the Student Services decision of Blackboard, and will be available to all Edge members via the organization’s New Jersey Department of Community Affairs-approved cooperative pricing system, EdgeMarket.
At the conclusion of a competitive bid process, Student Services by Blackboard was selected based on their capabilities and track record in delivering IT Help Desk, Enrollment Management, and One Stop Student Services support. The organization’s approach to delivering services when and where end users need it most, and ability to work alongside of and augment an institution’s existing staff, were critical factors in their selection as the ideal support services partner.
This award will give Edge members the ability to leverage Student Services by Blackboard’s services to deliver dedicated support to faculty, staff, and students as part of ERP and business systems modernization projects. As part of Edge’s “Business Systems Modernization Program,” these call center services will play a pivotal role in delivering knowledgeable, on-demand resources to troubleshoot the new business systems and enable a seamless experience and ease of use for end users.
“Providing excellent service to faculty, staff, and students is more important for higher education institutions now than ever before. Our communities expect, and deserve, a high level of service to enhance the education experience,” said Dr. Samuel Conn, President & CEO of Edge. “This level of service is especially important in support of large enterprise systems migration projects. To get the most out of the transformational capabilities of modern software platforms, the campus community needs to buy-in. One way to encourage that buy-in is to provide excellent service during the rollout of the new system.”
“We’re thrilled to be awarded this contract and look forward to partnering with Edge to deliver concierge support services to their member community. At Blackboard Student Services, we’re committed to partnering with colleges and universities to address their most critical support challenges, and this new partnership with Edge enables us to broaden our impact across the state of New Jersey and beyond.” – Ed Tola, Vice President of Blackboard Student Services.
Edge members will also have the unique advantage of access to the rest of the organization’s EdgePro solution set, which includes services designed to ensure the success of digital transformation projects involving ERP/SIS implementations. Available services such as readiness assessments, organizational change management training, business process review and optimization, and project management training for institutional staff will equip them with the tools they need to achieve a successful business systems modernization project.
About Edge
Founded in 2000, Edge, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, serves as a purpose-built research and education wide area network and technology solutions partner. Edge connects members with affordable, easy access to high-performance optical networking, commodity Internet and Internet2 services, and a variety of technology-powered products, solutions, and services. The Edge member consortium consists of colleges and universities, K-12 schools and districts, government entities, healthcare networks, and businesses spread throughout the continental US. The group is governed by New Jersey’s Presidents’ Council with offices in Newark, Princeton, and Wall Township, NJ. For more information, please visit: www.njedge.wpengine.com.
About Student Services by Blackboard
For over 15 years, Blackboard has developed capabilities to help institutions grow enrollment and improve retention. Blackboard Student Services offers institutions a set of connected capabilities to make measurable and sustainable impacts on the student experience. Our portfolio encompasses the full student lifecycle including supporting strategic planning efforts, full-service recruitment marketing and enrollment management, student support and retention coaching. Student Services has partnered with leading institutions on their marketing, enrollment and student success execution including the University of Miami, NYU, Yale University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, American University and Texas Tech University. We also provide comprehensive student support services to some of the largest institutions in the country including Ivy Tech Community College, Virginia Community College System, Kentucky Community and Technical College System, Maricopa Community Colleges and Wichita State University. For more information, please visit: https://bbss.blackboard.com
