The majority of campuses across the United States are still using mag stripe card technology for their university IDs. However, some schools are gradually switching to smart card systems, and for good reasons.
According to CR80News, “A smart card, by virtue of its integrated chip, provides more space, or memory, for additional functions. For this reason, smart cards can have multi-function capabilities that go beyond just opening doors.” Students can utilize smart cards to pay for their meals at the cafeteria, access transportation services and be used to purchase a late-night snack from the vending machine. Another beneficial application, which is commonly overlooked, is using smart cards for laundry services.
Many students, especially millennials, do not carry cash. They grew up purchasing with debit cards and completing transactions online, so they have no need for a pile of quarters laying around. A smart card laundry system is easy to implement and could offer students numerous “Add Value” stations across campus where they can add funds to their smart card. This would provide students a convenient and efficient way to pre-pay for their laundry.
For universities that already use a campus-wide card payment system, the transition to smart cards can be relatively seamless. If your college wants to implement a gradual transition to smart cards, there are locks that are able to read both mag stripe cards and smart cards. That way, current students can continue to use their regular IDs and all incoming freshman and future students can be issued smart IDs.
As CR80News says, “Every campus is unique and while no one-size-fits-all solution exists, smart card technology opens up exciting new possibilities for improving the implementation and effectiveness of campus security.”