It’s a new semester, which means a new class schedule, new textbooks and for fall 2011, a new OneCard student ID.
The new OneCard has the same functionality as the old one. Students can still use Bruin Bucks at various campus retailers such as the bookstore, and they still get 50 free pages on SLCC computer lab printers per semester with Uniprint.
The new OneCard does have two important new functions.
“The new SLCC OneCard is your official student ID of Salt Lake Community College and your key to campus life. PLUS it gives you instant access to all your Financial Aid and or Campus Funds in one convenient card,” reads the updated SLCC OneCard website.
All new student IDs are enabled to serve as a Discover Money Network card. This optional service essentially turns the OneCard into a prepaid Discover debit card. Members can deposit and withdraw funds, draft checks and pay bills online.
Students have to wait 24 hours after their OneCard is created to sign up for the Money Network service. After that, they can call 1-800-822-4283 to activate the card. They’ll have to enter a few automated prompts and confirm a few details such as their current address with an operator.
The tie-in that this service has with SLCC is that it allows students to quickly receive refunds from the college such as from Financial Aid. SLCC can’t use this option unless a student provides consent.
Like any program involving finances, students are advised to review the terms and fees that come along with using the service. In this case, there aren’t any huge surprises, but there are a couple of conditions worth noting.
First, using an out-of-network ATM to withdraw funds incurs a $2.50 fee from Money Network along with another charge from the ATM owner. Second, students should be careful to not forget about any funds left on the card. After nine consecutive months of inactivity, the account will start to drain at a rate of $3.50 per month.
A Money Network stripe isn’t the only new addition to the OneCard. The new ID has a contactless chip inside which allows it to double as a UTA bus pass.
Once a student goes to the UTA website and purchases either a Semester Bus Pass (at $160.00) or a 30 Day Bus Pass (at $40.00), they can bring the receipt to any SLCC ID center. There, the OneCard can be activated to be used like any other UTA bus pass.
New students and returning students who were not registered for any fall classes before August 1 will have to stop in to any ID center (at Taylorsville Redwood, South City, Jordan, or Miller campuses) to have a new OneCard created.
Returning students who registered for classes between April 25 and Aug 1 will likely find that the ID center has already created a new OneCard for them using their old photo. In the week before fall classes started, these students could get their card from the Taylorsville Redwood Student Center cafeteria. Now that classes are in full swing returning students can either call or visit an ID center to find out what options they have to pick up their new card.
To provide consent for SLCC to put refunds on your OneCard visit slcc.edu/onecard/Refund.asp.
Students can use an ATM location finder at moneynetworkedu.com to find an in-network ATM. They seem to be rather common in the Salt Lake Valley.
To purchase a bus pass that doubles as your OneCard visit rideuta.com/studentpass
To find contact information for ID centers visit slcc.edu/onecard/contact.asp
