Blackboard site charges for students’ devices
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Having free and accessible tools available on mobile devices is a convenient way for students at Grand Valley State University to check things such as their grades, schedules or student account balance. One service, the Blackboard site, has recently started charging students $1.99 per year for accessing their site through mobile devices.
Sue Korzinek, director of Information Technology, said Blackboard started the charge in September 2012.
“Blackboard is the vendor that controls all of the costs and marketing of the Blackboard application,” Korzinek said. She added that the decision for Blackboard to change its model of access for the mobile application was due to its contract being up.
“Blackboard originally partnered with Sprint and only offered the app for free on just Android phones,” Korzinek said. “Since a lot of people were using these free services, Blackboard didn’t want to give up on creating a new marketing plan.”
She said the mobile app that the company had in the beginning would have cost GVSU $50,000 per year for all students to use it with any cell carrier, and GVSU didn’t have the money to spend on this product.
“We (IT) were having conversations with Blackboard all along, especially in the beginning when they wanted to charge GVSU $50,000,” Korzinek said. “We told them that they needed to come up with a better marketing plan so that all cellular devices can use it, and that’s what came about with their solution to start charging individual students.”
While the Blackboard site charges students for using the app, Korzinek said GVSU IT doesn’t charge for any of its internal mobile apps, which students can find at the app store under myGV.
“We continue to develop applications like grades, schedules, campus dining balances, housing assignments and account balance transactions,” Korzinek said.
In addition, a free service that IT offers is the alert notification system, where students can be notified of closures, announcements, calendar items, assignments and grades.
“IT is always looking for other opportunities to provide free services to students,” Korzinek said.
Students who don’t want to pay $1.99 per year to access Blackboard can also purchase access for $5.99 for life.
Visit gvsu.edu/emergencycontact to sign up for alert notifications of calendar items, assignment, grades and closures via email and text message.
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Pictures of the Year 2012-2013
Courtesy Photo/Joe Kargula and Erik Peterson run the Marathon leg of the Ironman Triathlon
GVL / Robert Mathews Quarterback Heath Parling (12) leading the offense past Notre Dame College.
GVL / Eric Coulter Senior Jake Isaacson placed eigth in the Spartan Invitational. Isaacson's time of 25:04 was the highest among Division II athletes.
GVL/Jessica Hollenbeck Student Senate President Jack Iott speaks to the assembly during Thursday's meeting.
Courtesy / gvsu.edu President Haas and Montcalm Community College President Robert C. Ferrentino sign the transfer agreement
Courtesy Photo/ GVSU Athletic Department Sophomore Chris Cunningham lines up a putt at a past match.
Courtesy Photo / GVSULakers.com Andrew Darrell prepares to return the serve earlier this season.
GVL / Jessica Hollenbeck President Haas cooks pancakes during Family Weekend's "Pancakes with Presidents".
GVL / Jessica Hollenbeck President Haas cooks pancakes during Family Weekend's "Pancakes with Presidents".
GVL / Archive Forward Briauna Taylor (31) chases down a lose ball in a game last season
Courtesy Photo / Dean Breest Sophomore Allyson Winchester was named the GLIAC Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year after finishing first with a time of 20:48.8.
GVL / Archive GVSU's Breland Hogan rises and fires over three defenders last season.
GVL/Bo Anderson Briauna Taylor leads the fast break during a game earlier this season.
GVL / Robert Mathews Associate Vice President for Facilities Planning, James Moyer, leading a walk through of the Mary Ideam Pew Library
Courtesy Photo / GVSU DII Men's Hockey Jeremy Christopher chases down a puck during a matchup last season.
GVL / Bo Anderson Students and faculty danced under the spectacular light show in the Devos Place Ballroom
GVL / Robert Mathews Martin L�wenberg, holocaust survivor, speaking at the Genocide Awareness Night presentation in the Grand River Room.
Courtesy / Dean Breest Senior Sam Lockhart finishes her indoor career with two individual national championships in weight throw and shot put at the 2013 National Championships.
Archive / Robert Mathews Giancarlo Brugnoni (40) rounding the bases during a previous game.
GVL/Bo Anderson Seniors Christ Koppenaal, Bill Madsen, and Mitch Weber measure the exterior of the Wesley House as part of an energy audit.
GVL / Robert Mathews Senior Anthony Campanella pitching against Tiffin University during the Lakers double header.
GVL / Eric Coulter Brother Jed Smock, a member of Campus Ministry USA, speaks with fervor to a student. Many students, all with differing views, came to watch the Campus Ministry members speak.
GVL / Sean Mouton A passing walker stops to admire some recently constructed pieces of Art Prize 2012.
GVL Archive Senior Nick Gunthorpe follows through and watches his shot at the Ardenson last year. This weekend the team will be playing in South Haven.
GVL / Bo Anderson GVSU's Katie Martin points to her teammate after safely reaching second base.
GVL / Robert Mathews Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons under construction.
GVL / Archive The Grand Valley Rowing Team during Spring Training in Florida last spring.
GVL / Robert Mathews Judge Glenda Hatchett, keynote guest for Monday's King celebration, speaks in the Grand River Room in Kirkhof.
GVL / Robert Mathews Judge Glenda Hatchett, keynote guest for Monday's King celebration, speaks in the Grand River Room in Kirkhof.
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All day | GVSU Women's Golf at NCAA Division II Nationals
10:30 am | Team Hope Walk for Huntington's Disease
All day | The 5th Annual Scholarship of Teaching & Learning Academy
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6:30 pm | Broadway Theatre - Anything Goes
All day | GVSU Men's Golf at NCAA Div II Championship
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10:00 am | SAP Farm Stand
5:30 pm | MBA Information Meeting: PM Session
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