SCT® and Microsoft® Look to Provide Market-Leading Higher Education Solutions on .NET Technology
MALVERN, Pa., October 1, 2002 – SCT (Nasdaq: SCTC), the leading provider of e-education solutions for colleges and universities, announces plans for a global relationship with Microsoft to provide administrative, academic, personal, and community applications utilizing Microsoft .NET technology. These applications are expected to help higher education institutions increase collaboration and lower operating costs by providing personalized end-user access to integrated data. Under terms of the agreement contemplated by the letter of understanding recently signed by the parties, SCT would work with Microsoft to incorporate .NET capabilities into certain SCT solutions to provide a rich user experience for clients across a variety of data sources, applications and devices. Today those capabilities are available through several integrated Microsoft products including Microsoft MapPoint®, Microsoft Business Solutions?, and Microsoft PocketPC.
SCT offers two solution suites built and deployed on the Microsoft platform and utilizing Microsoft SQL Server 2000. SCT PowerCAMPUS® is targeted for smaller institutions who demand an affordable, easy-to-manage solution. SCT recently introduced a second Microsoft solution, SCT Matrix. SCT Matrix is a best-of-breed student management solution designed for institutions with complex business and organizational requirements. It provides highly flexible and adaptable functionality that was once associated only with custom-built systems. It is built on proven Microsoft technologies and is ready to leverage the power of Microsoft .NET and XML Web Services. SCT Matrix provides the powerful and dynamic business infrastructure required to support today’s education process through the delivery of collaborative services, automated communication, constituent self-service, and operating choices.
“Institutions are choosing SCT and Microsoft to transform the way business is done within and across the institution. By integrating and pushing relevant information to students, faculty, staff, prospective students, alumni, and other constituents, the complementary technologies allow for more self-service similar to that in their consumer Internet interactions,” said Bob Moul, president of SCT global education solutions. “We see adoption of .NET technology as one way of facilitating the transformation of how higher education conducts business and provides technology-based education. Institutions need a way to leverage their technology infrastructure to deliver on the demands of the 21st-century learner and faculty.”
Sherri Bealkowski, general manager, Microsoft Education Solutions, said, “Empowering educators, educational organizations and industry partners to expand the world of learning through technology is a top priority for Microsoft. We are very excited about SCT’s decision to build solutions based on Microsoft .NET technology. Web services will integrate data and make vital content regularly available, giving colleges and universities access to a new world of information.”
About SCT
SCT, the global e-education solutions leader with over 34 years of native higher education experience, is the only company to offer higher education a choice in both technology and products that best fit the unique needs of institutions of any size and complexity. The company provides end-to-end solutions that include applications, technology, and services that support higher education’s administration of teaching and learning. SCT works collaboratively with clients and partners to provide an e-education infrastructure that enables institutions to serve 21st-century learners. SCT has more than 1,300 higher education clients worldwide, representing more than 8 million learners. SCT also provides leading technology and business solutions for utilities. SCT’s global headquarters is located in Malvern, PA and the company has several offices around the world. For more information, visit
http://www.sct.com/Education/index.html.
The matters discussed in this press release that are forward-looking statements are based on current management expectations that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the ability of SCT and Microsoft to negotiate and sign a definitive agreement acceptable to both parties to undertake the activities contemplated by the letter of understanding; the ability for SCT solutions based on .Net to increase collaboration and lower operating costs; the ability of SCT and Microsoft to incorporate .Net technology in SCT solutions; the impact on SCT of areas such as the Internet, online services and electronic commerce; continued market acceptance of SCT’s and Microsoft’s products and services; the ability of SCT and Microsoft to market innovative products and enhancements cost-effectively and on a timely basis; competitive and pricing pressures in the markets that SCT serves; SCT’s ability to develop and market innovative products, enhancements and services cost-effectively and on a timely basis; the ability of SCT to attract and retain highly skilled technical, managerial, sales and marketing personnel; general economic conditions; and other risks and uncertainties more specifically set forth in SCT’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SCT and SCT PowerCAMPUS are registered trademarks, and SCT Matrix is a trademark, of Systems & Computer Technology Corporation. The names of other actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
CONTACTS:
Katie Kilfoyle
SCT
Global Education Solutions
Marketing
315.524.7640 phone
315.524.9169 fax
www.sct.com
kkilfoyl@sct.com
