SSO is Here: Seamless Access for Students and Staff at Your University

Students and staff can now log in to Gladstone Go using their existing university credentials. No new accounts to set up, no passwords to forget, no barriers to getting started, and fewer duplicate member records.

First, we tackled staff access to back-office systems. Now, it's time to simplify the journey for university students and staff, whether they're joining for the first time or booking a class. 

In my previous blog post, we looked at how Operator Single Sign-On (SSO) helps leisure teams reduce security risks and improve access to Gladstone's core systems. 

But students and staff face a different type of challenge. They expect quick, seamless access, the same experience they get everywhere else. When they're asked to create a separate account just to buy a membership or use your facilities, it creates unnecessary friction. And for many, that's enough to disengage entirely.

This isn't new to us. It's something we've heard repeatedly through our Higher Education Significant Interest Group, and it's exactly why Consumer SSO has been a priority on our roadmap.

What is Consumer SSO?

Consumer SSO allows university staff and students to log into Gladstone Go Join and Go Book using their existing university login. That means:

• No new usernames
• No additional passwords
• And a much quicker route to using your facilities 

Why it matters...

Student experience, system integration, and IT security are priorities across the sector, and Consumer SSO has been designed to support all three.

• Students can access facilities from day one, using the same login they already use for timetables, email, and course platforms.
• Staff and students get easy access to their bookings, without needing another account.
• IT teams manage access centrally in Microsoft Entra, with support for MFA and account deactivation.
• Your team spend less time on login issues and more time focused on the member experience.
• Duplicate member records are reduced, with one consistent identity across systems.
• Logins stay secure by reducing the risk of password reuse on third-party platforms, helping to protect institutional data from exposure or misuse.
• Authentication is centralised and trackable, so your university retains full control over how access is granted and used, strengthening your overall security posture.

Especially at the start of the term, SSO removes common access barriers and makes it easier for students to engage with your sport and fitness facilities early on.

What students & staff will notice

“I didn’t need an account, I just logged in like I normally would”.

That’s exactly the point. With SSO in place, booking a gym session feels as seamless as checking a lecture timetable. No separate sign-up, no extra credentials, just a quick, familiar experience that encourages participation and repeat use.

What your teams will notice:

• Fewer login-related support calls
• No need to create or manage separate member accounts
• Clear, consistent onboarding and offboarding through Microsoft Entra
• Improved audit control and visibility
• Better quality data and fewer duplicate records

It’s a simpler, more secure way to manage access, and a better experience for everyone involved.

Ready to get started?

If you’re ready to roll out Consumer SSO at your university, just fill out the activation form and your Account Manager will be in touch. Once activated, you’ll find the setup guides in our Knowledge Base to help you make the most out of your configuration.

Whether you’re managing campus-wide sports, a university gym, or student activity bookings, SSO provides a better way to connect your community with your leisure services, securely, smoothly, and without login headaches.