Get ready to be 'card'ed
All-in-one approach to student cards is finally here
Kathleen Vissichelli
Issue date: 4/26/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 3 next >
Fairfield University has it. A lot of colleges have it. Now it's our turn.
That's right. Forget spending down your meal card money with FLIK. Starting next semester, meal card money has a new use (and a new definition).
"Starting next semester, students will be able to purchase other things beside food with their meal cards," said Larry Wielk, Dean of Students. "This has been a project waiting to happen for six years. We [Sacred Heart] have the software to be a 'one-card' system.
"Right now, Sacred Heart uses the one card as an ID and a meal card. Last September, we put laundry services on the card and this September, the use of the student ID and meal card is expanding." Michael Moylan, director of the Student Union, explains that the card will be able to be used at the bookstore as a debit card, among other things.
"Students will be able to use their cards at the on-campus vending machines,and throughout the next year, more services will be added, like off-campus stores," said Moylan. "The way the system will work is that you will have separate accounts on your card. The accounts will consist of a general account, a bookstore account, a laundry account and the meal plan."
Student cards will act in the place of "FOB's" to gain entry into residence halls, as well. Also, students will be able to pay parking tickets and purchase new ID cards with the cards.
So many uses in one card. So are all the assets on the new and improved student card really a good idea?
Wielk thinks so for all aspects of college life.
"Parents can give students money and make it easy for students to keep track of and have some control over," said Wielk. "It's a good tool for both students and parents to manage the cost of education."
According to Wielk, both students and parents will be able to track where the money goes via the Internet. Also, a machine will be located near the ATM where students will have the ability to add money to their card.
That's right. Forget spending down your meal card money with FLIK. Starting next semester, meal card money has a new use (and a new definition).
"Starting next semester, students will be able to purchase other things beside food with their meal cards," said Larry Wielk, Dean of Students. "This has been a project waiting to happen for six years. We [Sacred Heart] have the software to be a 'one-card' system.
"Right now, Sacred Heart uses the one card as an ID and a meal card. Last September, we put laundry services on the card and this September, the use of the student ID and meal card is expanding." Michael Moylan, director of the Student Union, explains that the card will be able to be used at the bookstore as a debit card, among other things.
"Students will be able to use their cards at the on-campus vending machines,and throughout the next year, more services will be added, like off-campus stores," said Moylan. "The way the system will work is that you will have separate accounts on your card. The accounts will consist of a general account, a bookstore account, a laundry account and the meal plan."
Student cards will act in the place of "FOB's" to gain entry into residence halls, as well. Also, students will be able to pay parking tickets and purchase new ID cards with the cards.
So many uses in one card. So are all the assets on the new and improved student card really a good idea?
Wielk thinks so for all aspects of college life.
"Parents can give students money and make it easy for students to keep track of and have some control over," said Wielk. "It's a good tool for both students and parents to manage the cost of education."
According to Wielk, both students and parents will be able to track where the money goes via the Internet. Also, a machine will be located near the ATM where students will have the ability to add money to their card.
Be the first to comment on this story