University seeks to expand prox functions with 'smart card'

Since last spring's proposal on possibly implementing "smart cards" — a system in which one card would serve as a prox, ID, copy card, bank card and credit card — the University has been moving cautiously toward a "one-card technology," according to Associate Treasurer John Yuncza.

Though the debut of the new cards was originally planned for this fall, Yuncza said the pace of transition has been reduced to ensure that "the cards have the potential to deliver services to the University that are broad-based and state of the art."

The current University prox and ID cards have magnetic strips that allow students to charge food and other selected items to their student accounts.

"Card technology has been identified as having potential for Princeton," Yuncza said. "It is important that any decision about cards recognizes the need for a system comprehensive enough to include a range of uses and also being expandable for the future."

There are many possibilities of the one-card technology, Yuncza said. Students could invest designated dollar amounts into their "smart cards" for use at vending and copy machines and the new Frist Campus Center.

"We want the campus center to be a cash-free environment — card-specific as much as possible," Yuncza said.

Stu Orefice, director of the department of dining services, said the construction of the campus center sparked an evaluation of the department's outdated technology.

"We wanted DDS to suit the needs of the campus. The one-card technology absolutely does this," Orefice said.

Website

Orefice explained that DDS plans to purchase computer hardware for the cards that will allow students to be linked to a Website where they can add value to the card electronically.

With the consent of local banks and phone companies, the new cards could function as ATM cards and saving cards for long-distance phone charges.

Yuncza said he believes that students will see "the opportunity to benefit" from one-card technology. "They're interested in technology and modernization and that has an appeal," he said.

Yuncza noted that one-card technology dominates campus business transactions at many institutions, such as Duke and Florida State.

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But while one-card technology at other schools reaches out to neighboring vendors, the University does not plan take similar action, according to Yuncza.

"There are a lot of issues with that," he said. "First, the vendors are not electronically connected to the University, and we would have to decide which vendors we would choose and why. This system is too new to us to take on that."

"In the near future we anticipate being able to identify first steps beginning with the 2000-01 academic year," he added.