Bobcat Card network will expand over the summer
GCSUnade.com
By Vanessa Voigt
Fall 2005 will bring significant changes to the Bobcat Card system.
One change that will take place is that the Bobcat Card will become useable for purchases off campus, Kyle Cullars, Director of Auxiliary Services said.
"We plan to make CatCash an accepted form of payment with a multitude of local merchants, including everything from fast-food and sit-down restaurants to gasoline to groceries," Cullars said.
No contracts have been signed, but Cullars said he has ideas of what businesses will be involved.
"I would imagine most every downtown restaurant will sign up and we hope to have at least one major grocery store and gasoline merchant. I think we'll have at least one drug store as well. Also, Zaxby's has already expressed interest, as has Chick-fil-A on North Columbia and Quizno's," Cullars said. "I can't name any specific stores or merchants for sure."
Cullars said he is also developing discount deals as a part of using the card outside of campus.
"We want merchants to provide incentives for students, faculty and staff to use their cards, either through discounts on purchases or frequent-buyer programs," Cullars said.
According to Cullars, students will be able to use Bobcat Cards for printing and copying as well.
"The current card system utilized for computer lab printing will be replaced by the Bobcat Card system, allowing use of existing CatCash funds for printing," Cullars said. "Copiers in the library will be converted to the Bobcat Card as well this summer."
Dr. Rachel Schipper, university librarian, said she is pleased the library will be more convenient to use next semester.
"We are happy to make the students content with the library in any way that we can. The one-card system makes it much simpler on everyone," Schipper said. "We just found out about the cards a little bit ago actually. We knew it was going to happen someday but the beginning stages are just now starting to be planned."
One change that will take place is that the Bobcat Card will become useable for purchases off campus, Kyle Cullars, Director of Auxiliary Services said.
"We plan to make CatCash an accepted form of payment with a multitude of local merchants, including everything from fast-food and sit-down restaurants to gasoline to groceries," Cullars said.
No contracts have been signed, but Cullars said he has ideas of what businesses will be involved.
"I would imagine most every downtown restaurant will sign up and we hope to have at least one major grocery store and gasoline merchant. I think we'll have at least one drug store as well. Also, Zaxby's has already expressed interest, as has Chick-fil-A on North Columbia and Quizno's," Cullars said. "I can't name any specific stores or merchants for sure."
Cullars said he is also developing discount deals as a part of using the card outside of campus.
"We want merchants to provide incentives for students, faculty and staff to use their cards, either through discounts on purchases or frequent-buyer programs," Cullars said.
According to Cullars, students will be able to use Bobcat Cards for printing and copying as well.
"The current card system utilized for computer lab printing will be replaced by the Bobcat Card system, allowing use of existing CatCash funds for printing," Cullars said. "Copiers in the library will be converted to the Bobcat Card as well this summer."
Dr. Rachel Schipper, university librarian, said she is pleased the library will be more convenient to use next semester.
"We are happy to make the students content with the library in any way that we can. The one-card system makes it much simpler on everyone," Schipper said. "We just found out about the cards a little bit ago actually. We knew it was going to happen someday but the beginning stages are just now starting to be planned."
Keeno Weaver, manager of the Bobcat Card Office, said the changes that will take place in the upcoming months have been planned for some time.
"These are not actually changes," Weaver said. "These are just parts of the Bobcat Card plan that haven't been implemented yet."
The Bobcat Card was introduced in August of 2004, so the system is still being expanded, Weaver said.
According to Cullars, the Bobcat Card will also be used for the Laundry Machines in the Resident Halls within the next six months.
"Rather than hunting for change to do laundry, students will be able to activate washers and dryers utilizing funds directly from their Bobcat Cards," Cullars said.
There are also plans to add more vending machines that accept Bobcat Cards, Cullars said.
"We plan to continue expanding card usage to more and more snack and beverage vending machines," Cullars said. "Currently, all snack and beverage vending machines in Atkinson Hall and the Arts & Sciences Building accept the Bobcat Card."
Many students said they have been waiting for changes in the card system.
Freshman Bridgett Pidel said she is looking forward to being able to use her card in the laundry machines.
"When I went to go visit my sister at Belmont Abbey, I noticed she used her student ID card for the laundry machines and I came here expecting the same thing. When I saw we didn't have that service I was disappointed. I'm really excited about not having to go to the change machine anymore," Pidel said.
Sophomore Andrew Gay said he has been inconvenienced a number of times from the existing print system in the library.
"I've been late for class before because I added length to my paper and I ended up not having enough money to print it out," Gay said. "Using the Bobcat Card for printing is something I've been wanting for a while and it's good to know it's going to happen."
"These are not actually changes," Weaver said. "These are just parts of the Bobcat Card plan that haven't been implemented yet."
The Bobcat Card was introduced in August of 2004, so the system is still being expanded, Weaver said.
According to Cullars, the Bobcat Card will also be used for the Laundry Machines in the Resident Halls within the next six months.
"Rather than hunting for change to do laundry, students will be able to activate washers and dryers utilizing funds directly from their Bobcat Cards," Cullars said.
There are also plans to add more vending machines that accept Bobcat Cards, Cullars said.
"We plan to continue expanding card usage to more and more snack and beverage vending machines," Cullars said. "Currently, all snack and beverage vending machines in Atkinson Hall and the Arts & Sciences Building accept the Bobcat Card."
Many students said they have been waiting for changes in the card system.
Freshman Bridgett Pidel said she is looking forward to being able to use her card in the laundry machines.
"When I went to go visit my sister at Belmont Abbey, I noticed she used her student ID card for the laundry machines and I came here expecting the same thing. When I saw we didn't have that service I was disappointed. I'm really excited about not having to go to the change machine anymore," Pidel said.
Sophomore Andrew Gay said he has been inconvenienced a number of times from the existing print system in the library.
"I've been late for class before because I added length to my paper and I ended up not having enough money to print it out," Gay said. "Using the Bobcat Card for printing is something I've been wanting for a while and it's good to know it's going to happen."
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