Press Release

EnrollmentVerify Integrated Into STA Travel Nationwide POS System

Enables Automated, Real-Time Enrollment Verification for All ISIC Cards Issued in the US

HERNDON, VA, June 27, 2003 - The National Student Clearinghouse, the nation's largest and most trusted source for post-secondary student degree and enrollment verification, today announced that STA Travel, the world's largest student travel agency, has successfully integrated the Clearinghouse's EnrollmentVerify service into its nationwide point-of-sale (POS) system. This enables STA Travel representatives at any of its more than 125 offices nationwide to instantly verify enrollment, using real-time data, for the issuance of International Student Identity Cards (ISIC) within the US. The ISIC is the only internationally recognized proof of full-time student status. It provides cardholders with access to worldwide benefits and services. More than 4.5 million cards are issued annually.

Students must verify their full-time enrollment before an ISIC card can be issued. The current process is manual and time-consuming for both students and schools, requiring an official transcript, tuition receipt or enrollment verification certificate bearing the school seal to be issued by the registrar's office.

EnrollmentVerify automates the process by enabling real-time enrollment verification. More than 2,700 US colleges and universities -- representing 91% of the nation's enrollment -- outsource their enrollment verification to the Clearinghouse.

"Since it was introduced more than 30 years ago, the ISIC card has helped open the world to tens of millions of students," said Nick Thomas, President of STA Travel, "Teaming with the Clearinghouse enables us to instantly verify enrollment for card applicants, eliminating another barrier to student travel."

"The Clearinghouse actively seeks ways to enhance the service we provide to our participating schools and their students. Working with STA Travel allows us to further reduce the administrative burden within registrar offices, while making a valuable learning and travel resource, the ISIC card, more readily available to students," said Daniel R. Boehmer, president of the National Student Clearinghouse.

STA Travel manages the US distribution of the ISIC card, which is recognized in over 110 countries. Cardholders receive services and discounts available only to students. The ISIC card is endorsed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and recommended by established student travel guidebooks. The ISIC card is governed by the International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC), an international non-profit organization that promotes affordable travel for students.

About The National Student Clearinghouse

The National Student Clearinghouse is the largest enrollment and degree verification service in the US. A non-profit organization established by the higher education community in 1993, the Clearinghouse serves as a central repository and single point of contact for the collection and timely exchange of accurate, comprehensive enrollment, degree and certificate records on behalf of participating institutions. 

More than 2,700 colleges, representing 91% of the nation's enrollment, participate in the Clearinghouse. Student loan providers, employers, student credit issuers, student health insurance providers, the federal government and others access the Clearinghouse's registry over 100 million times annually to conduct electronic student record verifications.

For more information, visit www.studentclearinghouse.org.

About STA Travel 

STA Travel is the world's leader in student travel offering discount student airfares, budget hotels, and a host of travel products designed specifically for young travelers. STA Travel operates over 130 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada and over 400 globally. To learn more, visit www.statravel.com.

About the ISIC and the International Student Travel Confederation 

The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is governed by the International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC), based in Amsterdam, a non-profit international association of specialist student travel organizations active in 110 countries. Through more than 5,000 offices, these organizations serve 10 million students each year. The ISIC card has been the only proof of full-time student status accepted worldwide for more than 30 years. Since its inception in 1968, over 35 million young people have relied on the ISIC to provide access to a global network of affordable and specialized student services. For more information on the ISIC card or the ISTC, visit www.aboutistc.org. For more information on the ISIC card in the United States, please visit www.ISICus.com.

National Student Clearinghouse Contact:
Kathleen Dugan
Marketing Director
703-742-4208
dugan@studentclearinghouse.org

STA Travel Contact: 
Christina Cox 
Cox Communications 
cmcox7@aol.com