Thank you for your interest in the Fitchburg State College OneCard program. This opportunity could link your business with 6,000 potential customers.
There are two programs available to local area merchants here at Fitchburg State. Merchants can choose to participate in one or both programs. The first is the BbOne program that allows merchants to accept OneCard Fitchburg Gold funds as a form of payment at their store.
The second program is the One Card Discount program. The discount program allows merchants to provide the college community with a discount.
Both programs involve marketing opportunities through various publications and college events. For more information please contact Stefan Dodd, Manager of OneCard Operations at (978) 665-3374.
About the OneCard
The Fitchburg State One Card is essential to students faculty and staff, serving as their college identification, an access pass to campus buildings, and a means of payment for a variety of on-campus purchases, including dining, photocopies, printing, vending, laundry, and tickets to shows and events. Fitchburg State College joins a growing list of schools that are utilizing Blackboard’s expertise in enhancing campus ID card programs and creating local merchant networks.
BbOne Off-Campus Program (Fitchburg Gold)
| What is the BbOne Off-Campus OneCard Fitchburg Gold Program? |
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Fitchburg State College and Blackboard, the campus’ online software vendor, have teamed up to bring Blackboard’s BbOne program to the Fitchburg community. Through the partnership, BbOne builds an off-campus merchant network where students, faculty and staff can utilize their Fitchburg State One Card to pay for goods and services. BbOne is a transaction–based outsource solution that enables students and faculty to use the college ID card as a form of payment off campus.
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By utilizing an existing student discretionary account at the college, BbOne provides the college community with a safe, secure, cashless and convenient way to transact on and off campus, while assuring students and parents that their funds will be spent within a college–approved merchant network. Blackboard develops a comprehensive off–campus merchant network on behalf of each college and manages every aspect of the program from merchant acquisition and funds settlement, to transaction terminal support.
Annual deposits to college Fitchburg Gold accounts have reached over a quarter of a million dollars and we expect that amount to continue to increase as the program grows.
Merchant Benefit
Benefits:
- Generates revenue
- Provides solution compatible with existing popular student accounts, no need to introduce a second financial account
- Delivers fast and efficient program launch
- New marketing venues
- Provides parents/students with budget control
- Enhances community/college relations
Support:
- Merchant set-up and training
- 24-hour merchant support Help Desk
- Sophisticated, automated daily and monthly settlement process
- Monthly merchant statements and biannual performance reports
- Robust solution for transaction dispute work-flow management and resolution
- Management and reconciliation reporting
- Program marketing & support materials
Getting The Word Out
Fitchburg State College and BbOne will develop marketing materials to promote the BbOne program in the community via local newspaper ads and public relations publications. In addition, a campus campaign will involve college publications, the residence hall cable network, and the fsc.edu Web site.
How it Works
Contact Blackboard to see if your business is eligible (business that principally sell tobacco, alcohol, firearms, obscene material will not be allowed to enroll). Blackboard will then discuss with you in detail how the program works and the costs to you. Once you sign a contract with BbOne Blackboard will send you a terminal (similar to a credit card terminal) and window decals in the mail (merchant must provide a phone line for the OneCard terminal). Blackboard will then contact the merchant and setup the device to communicate to the college OneCard system. Blackboard will also work with you to setup revenue transfers to your account from the BbOne program. During this time someone from the college will be in touch with you to include you in future marketing publications to the college community.
What it Costs
Fitchburg State has been working with Blackboard for the past two years to reduce the overhead costs to local vendors. The college’s main goal is to provide another service to the college community and not to make a profit. Fitchburg State College was able to reduce these costs to the vendor by forfeiting any shared revenue from the program. Please contact us for more information.
How to Sign Up
Local area merchants interested in participating in the BbOne Fitchburg Gold program can contact Brant Yerman at (800) 424-9299 ext. 2341 at Blackboard. The Fitchburg State College contact is Stefan Dodd in Fitchburg State College’s OneCard Office at (978) 665-3374 or at sdodd@fsc.edu.
OneCard Discount Program
“One Community, One College…OneCard”
| What is the OneCard Discount Program? |
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Fitchburg State College works with merchants to provide the college community a discount. In exchange for this service the college will include your business information in OneCard publications and sponsored marketing events.
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| Merchant Benefit |
- Generates revenue
- Enhances community/college relations
- Provides additional marketing exposure for your business
Participating merchants will also be listed in multiple OneCard advertisements and marketing materials. Additionally, merchants will be listed on the OneCard Web site, which is updated regularly with new merchant information.
What it Costs
There is absolutely no cost to the merchant to join the program. The only cost to the merchant is the cost incurred by the discount itself.
How to sign up
In order to participate in the program, the merchant must take the following steps:
- Complete the merchant application and be approved for participation by the college. Businesses that principally sell tobacco, alcohol, firearms, and/or obscene material will not be allowed to enroll.
- Agree to the terms set forth by the college.
- Provide the college with detailed information about your business in order for the college to promote your company though various marketing campaigns.
If you have questions about the program please contact Stefan Dodd Manager of OneCard Operations at (978) 665-3374 or at sdodd@fsc.edu.
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