Blackboard Partners with Uber

Blackboard has partnered with online transportation network Uber Technologies to let students pay for rides on their campus card account using the Uber app.

Uber lets people in hundreds of cities around the world find a ride using an app on their mobile phone and pay the driver automatically using an on-file payment account. With this new partnership between Blackboard and Uber, colleges and universities can provide students with the ability to pay for their ride using the campus payment option in Blackboard Transact, directly from the Uber mobile app.

"A dedicated 'specific use' purse can be established in the institution's Blackboard Transact campus card system, enabling deposits and payments by the institution, parents or the student," according to a news release from Blackboard.

The goal of this partnership is to make it easier for students to access safe transportation when they need it. "We believe this program provides students with reliable transportation options at any time — particularly when it may be unsafe for that student to get behind the wheel," said David Marr, senior vice president of Blackboard Transact, in a prepared statement. "We hope this innovative partnership will encourage responsible transportation decisions by ensuring availability of funds and ease of access."

The Uber mobile app is available on Apple, Android and Microsoft mobile devices.

About the Author

Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].

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