Cash back, points toward scholarships promote card usage

More and more universities are launching loyalty programs that encourage students to use their cards beyond the dorm and dining hall. From LoboPerks to airline-style loyalty programs, program administrators are searching for ways to give students more mileage from the student ID.

LoboPerks, named after the University of New Mexico’s wolf mascot, is a discount program featuring more than 100 Albuquerque merchants. That’s quite a feat, considering the program started with just 19 in August 2011. 

A nationwide survey reveals college students have an overwhelming preference to receive financial aid funds on a debit card over traditional check disbursements.

Heartland Campus Solution, a division of Heartland Payment Systems, surveyed more than 6,000 college students, questioning their preference regarding debit cards, and of that surveyed approximately 92% said they were in favor of receiving financial aid on debit cards over checks.

As college administrators debate student preferences for receiving financial disbursements, this research provides evidence that students favor debit cards, as checks become widely unpopular with an increasingly cashless generation. 

Federal prosecutors expect more charges to be placed against the three Charlottesville, Virginia residents charged with selling fake IDs to thousands of college students across the country, according to the Washington Post.

According to reports, authorities seized more than $2 million in a May 6 raid including $1.3 million in a safe and funds in four bank accounts. From a home located at 920 Rugby Road, the feds also uncovered $800,000 in additional money and confiscated an arsenal of 18 handguns, shotguns and assault rifles. 

Natural Security is piloting its biometric and mobile payments system at San Jose State University. The system uses biometrics and mobile devices for secure payment transactions. Brian Mitchler, the services systems manager for Spartan Shops at the school, spoke with Regarding ID’s Gina Jordan about the pilot and how it will work.

Listen to the podcast here.  

Multicard, a supplier of identity management and a business unit of Identive Group, announced an integrated smart card solution for student ID verification and administration based on the latest NFC and MIFARE DESFire EV1 contactless card technologies.

The new student ID solution enables schools, universities and other educational institutions to verify student identities, track and report attendance, manage access to campus services and validate students’ exam papers; among other things. 

Big plans are in store for the Purdue University Identification (PUID) Card, the official university identification that serves as a student and employee key to gain access to various facilities and services on campus.

Earlier this week, the Purdue Card Services Office commenced Phase One to upgrade the Purdue ID Card system software. Administrators and software technicians affirmed the upgrade was a necessity, as the old software is now 20-years-old and no longer supported by the vendor. 

USA Technologies (USAT) has kicked off its “Fifth Vend Free” mobile payment and loyalty program for the United States vending industry, this week at the NAMA OneShow in Las Vegas.

The mobile payment and loyalty program will integrate USA Technologies’ installed base of over 100,000 NFC-enabled cashless payment terminals with Isis’ SmartTap mobile commerce technology, for rewards acceptance and redemption.

Under the promotion, announced by USAT and Isis, customers would be eligible to receive free products from vending operators based upon loyalty rewards earned by using the Isis Mobile Wallet to pay for a purchase at a qualifying terminal.