Caribbean University Selects Blackboard Outcomes System(TM) to Assess Student Learning
University Is First in Latin America to Implement Comprehensive
Institutional Assessment to Meet Accreditation Standards
PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 11, 2007--Middle States
Commission on Higher Education 2007 Annual Conference: During the
annual conference of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education,
Blackboard Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBB), a leading provider of enterprise
education software and services, announced that Caribbean University
in Puerto Rico has selected the Blackboard Outcomes System(TM) to
assess student learning across its system of four campuses, and plan
for and measure continuous improvement in institutional effectiveness,
to help continue to meet the rigorous accreditation standards set by
the Commission.
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is a voluntary
and non-governmental membership association dedicated to ensuring the
highest levels of performance by education institutions through
accreditation via peer evaluation. The Commission accredits
degree-granting colleges and universities located in the Mid-Atlantic
Region, the Caribbean and several other areas internationally.
Caribbean University, a private university system that offers both
undergraduate and graduate courses, has partnered with Blackboard for
two years to provide faculty and students with a blended learning
environment that combines traditional classroom instruction with
innovative e-Learning opportunities. Caribbean has purchased hosting
for its system by Blackboard ASP(SM) Services to enable staff members
to meet other mission-critical objectives for the university while
ensuring system reliability.
With the addition of the Blackboard Outcomes System, Caribbean now
licenses the complete and hosted Blackboard Academic Suite(TM), a
standards-based product suite comprised of four enterprise software
applications which enable the university to teach using advanced
e-Learning tools; build community across its four-campus system; share
educational content between courses and programs; and improve student
outcomes and its institutional effectiveness.
"We are proud to be the first university in Latin America that
will install the Blackboard Outcomes System," said Caribbean
University's chief information officer, Dr. Gustavo Sanchez, Ph.D.
"This opportunity is a great privilege and enables us to serve as a
guide to our sister Spanish-speaking schools throughout the region who
seek to obtain or maintain accreditation from the Middle States
Commission and other agencies in North America."
"Caribbean University is leading the way in terms of using
institutional assessment as a tool for continuous improvement and to
meet accreditation requirements," said Juan Lucca, president of
Blackboard's international business group. "The public depends on
accrediting agencies like the Middle States Commission to ensure
higher education institutions meet their stated purposes, and the
Blackboard Outcomes System will enable Caribbean to demonstrate to the
Commission measurable links between the university's core competencies
and the abilities of its graduating students."
The Blackboard Outcomes System, launched last January, is a
comprehensive platform for managing continuous improvement processes
across a higher education institution or a multi-campus system. It
enables institutions to streamline the aggregation of assessment data,
make evidence-based decisions, and improve student learning outcomes.
About Blackboard Inc.
Blackboard Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBB) is a leading provider of enterprise
software applications and related services to the education industry.
Founded in 1997, Blackboard enables educational innovations everywhere
by connecting people and technology. Millions of people use Blackboard
everyday at academic institutions around the globe, including
colleges, universities, K-12 schools and other education providers, as
well as textbook publishers and student-focused merchants that serve
education providers and their students. Blackboard is headquartered in
Washington, DC, with offices in North America, Europe, Australia and
Asia.
Blackboard
Educate. Innovate. Everywhere.(TM)
Any statements in this press release about future expectations,
plans and prospects for Blackboard and other statements containing the
words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will," and
similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the
meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such
forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors,
including the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of
our Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2007 with the SEC. In addition, the
forward-looking statements included in this press release represent
the Company's views as of December 11, 2007. The Company anticipates
that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company's views
to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these
forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company
specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking
statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's
views as of any date subsequent to December 11, 2007.
CONTACT: Public Relations at Blackboard:
Blackboard Inc.
Brian Cooley, +1-202-463-4860 ext. 2377
brian.cooley@blackboard.com
or
Media Contact, Fleishman-Hillard:
Fleishman-Hillard Inc.
Amy Storey, +1-202-828-8819
storeya@fleishman.com
SOURCE: Blackboard Inc.