WebCT expands service and support offerings for enterprise-class e-learning technology

LYNNFIELD, Mass., May 12, 2004 – WebCT, provider of higher education’s most flexible and widely used e-learning technology, today expanded its service and support options, introducing the new WebCT Vista(tm) Standard Hosting Solution and 24 x 7 Student and Faculty support for all customers.

The WebCT Vista Standard Hosting Solution enables customers to take advantage of the industry’s premier academic enterprise system without supporting the technology infrastructure themselves. Students and faculty at institutions subscribing to the WebCT Vista Standard Hosting Solution need nothing more than Web browsers to use WebCT Vista’s advanced pedagogical, content management, branding and reporting features. To further support student and faculty needs, WebCT now offers affordable new options for 24 x

7 Student and Faculty Support for both WebCT Vista and WebCT Campus Edition(. These options are available both to hosting solution customers and those who are managing their own e-learning technology.

The WebCT Vista Standard Hosting Solution is an ideal alternative for institutions looking to quickly launch e-learning initiatives and leave hardware and software management to WebCT, either indefinitely or for an initial launch period. For institutions with limited enrollments, hosting can be a particularly cost-effective way to provide faculty and students access to world-class e-learning technology. Hosting also helps any institution keep pace with the technical aspects of rapidly growing e-learning initiatives. WebCT Vista Custom hosting solutions are available for institutions, consortia and for-profits that plan to grow very large, require custom software development, and are fully committed to an outsourcing model.

Santa Barbara City College, one of California’s premier community colleges, selected the WebCT Vista Standard Hosting Solution to obtain the best available teaching and learning technology without dedicating staff to purchasing, implementing, managing and supporting it.

“We wanted WebCT Vista, but we didn’t want to deploy an enterprise infrastructure to support it,” said Mike Gallegos, dean of educational technologies at the institution. “We wanted our faculty to focus on the things we’re best at and the things that benefit our students the most, the teaching and learning. We’ve always been impressed with WebCT’s service and support, and we’re confident we’ll enjoy more of the same with the WebCT Vista Standard Hosting Solution.”

The WebCT Vista Standard Hosting Solution features:

• software and hardware management;
• certified Oracle DBA database management;
• comprehensive backup services;
• a secure, state-of-the-art hosting facility;
• guaranteed uptime for Internet connectivity; and
• monitoring 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Customers can also use their own authentication and student information systems and have them interoperate seamlessly with WebCT Vista.

“The WebCT Vista Standard Hosting Solution and extended support options are just our latest efforts to be a one-stop, full-service e-learning partner for software, services and support to our education institution customers around the world,” said Carol Vallone, WebCT president and CEO. “These options make it easy for institutions to specifically control how much of their e-learning programs they wish to manage and how much they wish to offload. Providing choices like these affirm our commitment to providing the industry’s most flexible – and therefore, effective – e-learning solutions.”

WebCT continues to offer both standard and dedicated hosting services for WebCT Campus Edition.

About WebCT
WebCT has set the standard for e-learning systems in higher education. Based in Lynnfield, Mass., WebCT provides a highly flexible e-learning environment that empowers institutions across the educational spectrum with the ability to achieve their unique objectives. Thousands of colleges and universities around the world – from community colleges to large university consortia – are using WebCT to expand the boundaries of teaching and learning. For more information, please visit www.webct.com