Perfecting the payment process: many IHEs are adopting e-billing and e-payment solutions to cut costs and offer students more payment options

University Business, June, 2005 by Alana Klein

DEBIT CARD DELIVERS ONLINE DINING

Garrett Bean, a political science major at Duke University (N.C.) saw an opportunity to make money and provide a valuable service for his peers using the DukeCard and the Blackboard Commerce Suite. Next fall, Bean will launch the Gourmet Dining and Bakery online ordering system, which will allow students to order meals in real time and have those meals delivered from local restaurants via the internet. About four restaurants are expected to participate at this time. "He's promoting an initiative that not only appeals to vendors--it makes that live ordering phone call obsolete--but also greatly benefits students by giving them another avenue to get food," says Jim Wulforst, Duke's director of dining services.

The university itself, however, does not directly benefit from Bean's entrepreneurial endeavor. "We are just a third-party company whose job is to process transactions and advise," Wulforst says. The DukeCard office, after receiving the signed receipt, deducts its percentage from the order and sends the remaining money to Gourmet Dining, which then takes its percentage. The remaining funds get sent to the participating restaurants.

At this point Bean will only allow students to make transactions using their DukeCard, which all undergraduates on campus are required to have. "Perhaps he will expand the program and allow other credit cards too," Wulforst says. "I think his intent is to do programs like this at other colleges. That's probably his next career move."

--AK

Resource Box

Tuition Management Systems www.afford.com

TouchNet www.touchnet.com

Higher One www.higherone.com

Wells Fargo www.wellsfargo.com

InfiNET www.infinet-inc.com Provides billing, payment, and commerce solutions/or higher ed

Sallie Mae www.salliemae.com Education funding provider

Govolution www.govolution.com Service provider of electronic payment solutions