![Carroll University Pioneer Card Office](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Carroll_University_Pioneer_Card_Office.jpg)
A campus credential, more commonly known as a campus card or a campus
ID card is an
identification document certifying the status of students, faculty, staff or other constituents as members of the institutional community and eligible for access to services and resources. Campus credentials are typically valid for the duration of a student's enrollment or an employee's service.
History
In 1993, th
National Association of Campus Card Users (NACCU)board held its first board meeting at Duke University. The board was composed of thought leaders from
Loyola College,
Duke University,
SUNY Geneseo
The State University of New York College at Geneseo (SUNY Geneseo, Geneseo State College or, colloquially, "Geneseo") is a public liberal arts college in Geneseo, New York. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. The colle ...
, and
Florida State University. Their vision was to create an organization with the purpose of educating college and university administrators charged with the responsibility for developing card systems by apprising them of newly installed applications, vendor performance, technology platforms, and other matters relating to the marketplace for card systems (National Association of Campus Card Users, n.d.).
Toda
NACCUconsists of campus credential professionals from colleges and universities around the world. NACCU provides its members with opportunities such as webinars, annual conferences, a resource vault, listserv, program assessment resources, and the CampusIDNews publication (formerly CR80News). Membership and activities for NACCU have continued to grow over the years.
Purpose
In today's complex campus environment, delivery of critical services such as building access, financial transactions, and privilege-based functions (i.e. meal plans, library and recreation facility services, etc.), is dependent on campus credential programs which bring together multiple constituencies, systems, hardware, services, and applications spanning the entire campus community using a single identity (Lv, 2013). Many institutions utilize access control paradigms that assign and revoke access based on structured, reproducible rules tied to their identity management systems (McKee, 2021). The functions of a campus credential program are complex and touch many parts of the campus beyond just the provision of the credential.
Campus credential programs are part of a complex regulatory environment and help institutions comply with laws and policies. Staff who lead these centralized efforts must be knowledgeable of and adhere to multiple institutional/state/provincial/federal regulations such as
FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA or the Buckley Amendment) is a United States federal law that governs the access to educational information and records by public entities such as potential employers, publicly funded e ...
,
HIPAA
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA or the Kennedy– Kassebaum Act) is a United States Act of Congress enacted by the 104th United States Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton on August 21, 1 ...
,
GDPR
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a European Union regulation on data protection and privacy in the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA). The GDPR is an important component of EU privacy law and of human rights law, in parti ...
,
PCI DSS
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is an information security standard used to handle credit cards from major card scheme, card brands. The standard is administered by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council a ...
/
EMV
EMV is a payment method based on a technical standard for smart payment cards and for payment terminals and automated teller machines which can accept them. EMV stands for " Europay, Mastercard, and Visa", the three companies that created th ...
compliance, Red Flag Rules, federal or provincial data privacy laws (Thomas, 2020). Campus credential programs are subject to internal financial and technology audits and internal control assessments.
Campus credential programs can influence and reinforce a sense of belonging for students and other stakeholders. Campus credential professionals need to recognize the impact that a credential and the policies surrounding the credential and its usage can have in shaping a user’s experience. This impact can be particularly salient in helping historically marginalized identities feel a sense of connection and affirmation to a campus environment. For example, the campus credential can play a role in creating a supportive environment in working with the
LGBTQ+ community and transitioning students, international students and other populations. Policies dealing with names-in-use/chosen names, pronouns, or other identifying information have an impact on how users navigate the institutional environment, as well as how and where a credential can be used outside of the institution.
Campus credential programs play a supporting role in student health and well-being by enabling university administrators to understand if students are attending class, using dining services, and remaining active with campus academics and campus activities (Kruger et al., 2017). New legislation is pending in the US Senate to require physical credentials (campus cards) to print mental health resources, including the
National Suicide Prevention Hotline number, on the back (Hudson, 2021).
Functions
![MobileDukeCard JuanBermudez-25](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/MobileDukeCard_JuanBermudez-25.jpg)
The functions of the campus credential, in addition to data storage for the student's identification, vary by University. Some examples of campus credential functions are:
* Building access (Classroom, Residence Halls, Recreational Facilities, Libraries, Dining Facilities, Lockers, etc.)
* Equipment access (Computers, Copy machines, Printers, etc.)
* Transportation access (Campus and/or Public Transportation, Parking Permits, Ride Sharing, Bike Rentals, etc.)
* Cashless payment for Dining, Vending, Laundry, and at campus retail locations
* Mobile banking
*
Library card
A library card can refer to several cards traditionally used for the management of books and patrons in a library. In its most common use, a library card serves similar functions as a corporate membership card. A person who holds a library card ...
* Time and attendance control
* Exam registration
* Mobile phone and
NFC Services
Campus credentials with multiple functions can help simplify internal administrative processes.
Technology
Electronic card access has been available on campuses since as early as 1968. Early versions, such as the “VALI-DINE” system at
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is a private research university in the town of Henrietta in the Rochester, New York, metropolitan area. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional ...
, relied on cards with mechanically punched holes to allow access to their dining halls. In the years following, the use of campus credentials and technology has matured. In 1972,
California State Polytechnic University
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona, CPP, or Cal Poly"Cal Poly" may also refer to California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo. See the ''name'' section of this article for more infor ...
installed the first known card-based system utilizing
magnetic stripe
The term digital card can refer to a physical item, such as a memory card on a camera, or, increasingly since 2017, to the digital content hosted
as a virtual card or cloud card, as a digital virtual representation of a physical card. They share ...
technology. By 1985, the Harco multi-application, campus-wide system utilizing
bar code
A barcode or bar code is a method of representing data in a visual, machine-readable form. Initially, barcodes represented data by varying the widths, spacings and sizes of parallel lines. These barcodes, now commonly referred to as linear or o ...
, Prox contact-based chips and magnetic stripe technology was implemented by Duke University. Technological advances continued to pick up speed with both cashless payment systems introduced by Debitek Inc. and copy machine management introduced by DANYL Corporation in 1986. By the 1990s, universities began linking their campus cards to banks, with Florida State University being the first in 1990. DataCard introduced its first color digital imaging card production system in 1993. In 2001, contactless chip technology cards were introduced and CBORD released the first IP-addressable
card reader
A card reader is a data input device that reads data from a card-shaped storage medium. The first were punched card readers, which read the paper or cardboard punched cards that were used during the first several decades of the computer industry ...
for campus credential access systems. (Huber, 2007). Technology continued to ramp up, with cloud-based Campus Credential systems growing in popularity in 2005. By 2015, the use of
smart device
A smart device is an electronic device, generally connected to other devices or networks via different wireless protocols (such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, near-field communication, Wi-Fi, LiFi, or 5G) that can operate to some extent interactively a ...
s instead of physical cards soared. And by 2020, wearable credentials, such as wristbands and fobs, gained popularity, along with mobile apps and digital wallets to manage credential functionality (Huber, n.d.).
Today, mobile credential technology is transforming the ways in which students manage their campus experience. The introduction of the campus credential available via Apple and Android smart devices is changing the way students access buildings and pay for goods and services. Mobile credentials build upon generational shifts that impact how students experience their world, communicate, and interact socially (Jaworowski, 2020). By meeting students where they are in terms of technology, the campus credential program can improve student engagement.
Trends
Credential programs connect different parts of the campus community around the concept of access. They are increasingly in the forefront of major campus issues, such as the impact of a pandemic. Universities are able to leverage campus credentials to enforce access policies based on testing, symptom monitoring and vaccination status (Duke University, n.d.).
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickly ...
has driven the change to mobile credentials to more of a priority as institutions seek ways to provide a frictionless/touchless/self-service means of providing access and identifying people on our campuses.
Beyond the campus environment, campus credentials can be used as voter identification (Hudson, 2019). For example, the State of Alabama accepts the mobile credential as a valid ID for voting if issued by a State of Alabama college or university (Alabama Secretary of State, n.d.). Campus credentials are also accepted as secondary identification by the
US State Department
The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other nati ...
for passport application (Travel.state.gov, n.d.).
Campus credential programs have evolved to be essential enterprise systems for campus operations. The business model for campus credential programs is evolving from “plastic card factories” to virtual campus customer service centers offering 24/7 services to stay relevant with technology advances, remote
learning and
working, and dramatic shifts in generational expectations (Huber, 2017).
International perspective
As with US/Canadian institutions, the campus card remains the anchor method for student identification in European Higher Education Institutes (HEIs). There is a growing trend among campus administrators and students for the use of hybrid solutions that involve both the campus card and mobile devices to provide campus credentials. In the near future, it is anticipated that fully mobile credentials will be outpace demands for physical credentials, although various mobile devices vendors’ and manufacturers’ ecosystems are currently a barrier as they do not following standardized and homogenized solutions. Both Europe and US/Canada institutions are focused on identification and payments, either at canteens, transportation, discounts, etc. Off-campus, the primary focus is on transportation, student discounts and proof of student status.
Academic mobility
Academic mobility refers to students and teachers in higher education moving to another institution inside or outside of their own country to study or teach for a limited time.
The Bologna process regulates academic mobility within European hig ...
is the practice of students and teachers in higher education moving to another institution inside or outside of their own country to study or teach for a limited time. This concept is driving research into the development of a credential which can be used across Europe to provide identification and authentication of students across borders. The primary goal of the European Campus Card Association (ECCA) is to promote the concept of a European Student Card and support the work of the
European Commission
The European Commission (EC) is the executive of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with 27 members of the Commission (informally known as "Commissioners") headed by a President. It includes an administrative body ...
in this area. ECCA is actively engaged with the European Commission through various research projects to develop a common European Student Card that will support the
Erasmus programme. ECCA has recently published a research report on a European Student eID Framework Proposal (ECCA Student eID Framework, 2021). Other research projects ECCA is currently involved in includes ECX-tension (Nealon, 2022).
See also
*
Academic mobility network
*
Barcode
A barcode or bar code is a method of representing data in a visual, machine-readable form. Initially, barcodes represented data by varying the widths, spacings and sizes of parallel lines. These barcodes, now commonly referred to as linear or o ...
*
Card printer Card or The Card may refer to:
* Various types of plastic cards:
**By type
***Magnetic stripe card
*** Chip card
*** Digital card
**By function
***Payment card
****Credit card
**** Debit card
****EC-card
****Identity card
****European Health Insur ...
*
Erasmus Programme
*
Identification document
*
International Student Identity Card
The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is an internationally accepted proof of student status. This ID verifies students and grants them access to a diverse selection of benefits and discounts around the world. With the ISIC card a stud ...
(Complementary)
*
List of campus identifications in mobile wallets
Several universities throughout North America and Oceania use digital wallets such as Google Wallet & Samsung Wallet for Android, and Apple Wallet for iOS and watchOS to store mobile credentials. Some, such as the University of Alabama, have ...
*
Magnetic Stripe
The term digital card can refer to a physical item, such as a memory card on a camera, or, increasingly since 2017, to the digital content hosted
as a virtual card or cloud card, as a digital virtual representation of a physical card. They share ...
*
MIFARE
MIFARE is the NXP Semiconductors-owned trademark of a series of integrated circuit (IC) chips used in contactless smart cards and proximity cards.
The brand name covers proprietary solutions based upon various levels of the ISO/IEC 14443 Type ...
*
Multi-factor authentication
Multi-factor authentication (MFA; encompassing two-factor authentication, or 2FA, along with similar terms) is an electronic authentication method in which a user is granted access to a website or application only after successfully presenting ...
*
Near-field communication
Near-field communication (NFC) is a set of communication protocols that enables communication between two electronic devices over a distance of 4 cm (1 in) or less. NFC offers a low-speed connection through a simple setup that can be u ...
*
Personal identification number
*
Proximity card
A proximity card or prox card also known as a key card or keycard is a contactless smart card which can be read without inserting it into a reader device, as required by earlier magnetic stripe cards such as credit cards and contact type sma ...
*
RFID
*
Smartcard
A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuit card (ICC or IC card) is a physical electronic authentication device, used to control access to a resource. It is typically a plastic credit card-sized card with an embedded integrated circuit (IC) c ...
{{div col end
References
* National Association of Campus Card Users. (n.d.
"About NACCU"
* Lv, Weichun (2013). "Design of Campus Smart Card System". ''Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Computer, Communication, Control and Automation''. doi:10.2991/isccca.2013.120. ISBN 978-90-78677-63-5. S2CID 44239953.
* McKee, Mary K
"Policy-Based Access Controls" ''ID Pro Body of Knowledge'', Volume 1, Issue 4, 2021.
* Thomas, Dawn
The Evolution of the Campus ID Card" ''College Services Magazine'', Spring 2020.
* Kruger, Kevin
"Student Success: Mission-Critical" Rebecca Martin, George Mehaffy, John O'Brien. ''Educause Review''. May 8, 2017.
* Hudson, Andrew
"New Senate Bill Could Require ALL Campus Cards to Feature Mental Health Resources" CR80News. January 22, 2021.
* Huber, Robert C
"A Brief History of the Campus Card Industry" CR80News. March 28, 2007.
* Huber, Robert C. and Associates. (n.d.
"Campus Card Technology Evolution (1960-2020)"
* Jaworowski, Caitlin
"Embracing Z Generation" ''College Services Magazine'', Spring 2020.
* Duke University. (n.d.
"Symptom Monitoring – Duke United"
* Hudson, Andrew
"NC Colleges Weight Campus Cards for Voter ID" CR80News. March 1, 2019.
* Alabama Secretary of State. (n.d.
"Valid ID at the Polls"
* Travel.state.gov. (n.d.
* Huber, Robert C
"The Campus Card Factory: Time for a New Business Model" ''University Business''. April 13, 2017.
* Nealon, Sinead (Executive Director at European Campus Card Association) Email to Laurie Harris. August 23, 2022.
* ECCA Student eID Framework
November 2021.
External links
European Campus Card AssociationNational Association of Campus Card UsersESC-tension
Identity documents
Campuses