Lehigh University Selects Campus Pipeline to Increase Retention and Build Campus Community

Business Wire, June 5, 2002

Business/High-Tech Editors, Education Writers

BETHLEHEM, Pa. and SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 5, 2002

Unparalleled Integration and Product Development Opportunities

Lead Lehigh University to Select Campus Pipeline Software

Lehigh University today announced that it will use Campus Pipeline(TM) software to build a complete digital campus for its nearly 8,000 students, faculty, and staff, by the end of the year.

The University also announced that it has joined the Campus Pipeline(TM) Pillar Institutions Program, a co-development relationship that will help guide the direction of future Campus Pipeline technologies.

"Lehigh prides itself on providing our constituents with enhanced information resources for a truly unique learning experience," said Bruce Taggart, vice provost for Library and Technology Services. "We envision the new digital campus as being a key technology resource, providing seamless information access to library resources, course materials and student support services. Lehigh has enthusiastically joined the Campus Pipeline Pillar Institutions Program and looks forward to implementing our shared vision of building a digital campus."

Lehigh developed a homegrown UNIX-based portal in the early 90s, but abandoned the project at the end of the decade due to staffing issues and a decision to use supported standards-based software for the campus portal environment. In 1999, Lehigh's information technology (IT) team set out to identify options for reviving the portal, enhancing access to student academic support services, and improving the academic environment by reducing the time demands administrative tasks place on faculty. Criteria for the new solution included:

-- Commitment to Open Standards -- Campus Pipeline's commitment to open
standards will ensure that Lehigh is able to maintain choice and control over
the applications, software, and contents of their digital campus. Lehigh has
worked extensively with JA-SIG's open source uPortal project and values Campus
Pipeline's involvement in that higher education technology initiative.

-- Extend Existing Investments -- More than 150 digital campus implementations
prove the integration capabilities of Campus Pipeline technologies. Initially
Lehigh plans to integrate its SCT Banner(R) student information system,
Blackboard e-learning course management system, and their own synchronous
communication and distance learning tools, into the digital campus. The
flexible integration infrastructure will expedite development of the digital
campus by integrating libraries, student services, admissions, university
development, alumni services, and other online services as institutional needs
evolve.

-- Influence Product Direction -- Lehigh welcomes the opportunity to help
direct the requirements and strategy behind Campus Pipeline's Luminis product
family and impact the development path of critical campus technologies.

Lehigh understands the value of a standards-based, well-supported solution. Following a two-year review of technology options, Lehigh selected the Campus Pipeline(TM) Web Platform and the Campus Pipeline(TM) Luminis(TM) family of platform, content management and advanced integration products. The Campus Pipeline products will provide the enterprise backbone for delivering the new digital campus -- a wholly integrated network of portals, course management systems, student information systems, calendars, and other applications -- under a single online roof.

Decision-makers at Lehigh cite three factors in trusting their digital campus development to Campus Pipeline technology:

-- Commitment to Open Standards -- Campus Pipeline's commitment to open
standards will ensure that Lehigh is able to maintain choice and control over
the applications, software, and contents of their digital campus. Lehigh has
worked extensively with JA-SIG's open source uPortal project and values Campus
Pipeline's involvement in that higher education technology initiative.

-- Extend Existing Investments -- More than 150 digital campus implementations
prove the integration capabilities of Campus Pipeline technologies. Initially
Lehigh plans to integrate its SCT Banner(R) student information system,
Blackboard e-learning course management system, and their own synchronous
communication and distance learning tools, into the digital campus. The
flexible integration infrastructure will expedite development of the digital
campus by integrating libraries, student services, admissions, university
development, alumni services, and other online services as institutional needs
evolve.

-- Influence Product Direction -- Lehigh welcomes the opportunity to help
direct the requirements and strategy behind Campus Pipeline's Luminis product
family and impact the development path of critical campus technologies.

"Campus Pipeline delivers a timely solution that will meet our immediate needs, make the most of our investment in uPortal development, and allow for future changes," said Taggart.

Lehigh is currently running a pilot program with the Campus Pipeline Web Platform enterprise integration software and will extend the functionality of its digital campus this fall by implementing the Luminis product family's content management and advanced portal technology software.