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Volume 41, Issue 5
October 28, 2003
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October
28, 2003
Faculty gets ‘smart’ with new
ID cards
Stacey
Vincent
Mesa Legend
 Eventually,
all campus employees will be identified not only by name but also with
a barcode on the back of their identity cards.
The Smart Card team at MCC is working on catching up to the speed of technology
at many universities.
According to the dean of administration, Ron Etter, the identification
cards have proven to work well in universities.
The eight-member team was assembled with staff from various departments;
including technology, college safety, personnel, physical science and
philosophy.
“The Smart Card team examined the concept of the ID badges and put
down parameters; the administration is taking it from there,” explained
Etter.
The school will provide the cards for employees.
“These ID badges cost 43 cents apiece and function as a library
card identification to the card holder,” Etter said.
“If a card holder has misplaced their ID, it is their responsibility
to pay for a new one,” Etter declared. The cost of the card will
be between $5 and $7.
The card serves a multitude of purposes to employees.
Beyond merely identifying faculty and staff, the cards can allow access
to restricted buildings, serve as a library card, grant entrance to employee
parking lots and permit use of the copy machines.
Not only will employees be given ID badges, but students will also be
carrying them in the future.
“That will take a little bit more time,” Etter stated.
“Vendors will have to get automated enough to hold the purpose for
students’ badges,” he added.
Students will be able to use their cards as library cards, like employees,
but the cards will serve an entirely different function as well.
Students will be able to use their cards like debit cards.
Much like the “Sun Dollars” program offered to ASU students,
students will be able to put money on their cards and use them to purchase
food, beverages, books and supplies.
ASU student, Andy Snedeker, said his Sun Dollar card is “convenient
and a great idea.”
Along with many other reasons for the Smart Card, one of the most important
purposes is to “implement campus safety,” Etter said.
“Especially at night when employees may be a little bit harder to
recognize coming in and out of the buildings. A college safety representative
can simply look to see if the person has an ID badge around their neck,”
Etter confirmed.
Before the cards can be used for access to buildings and parking lots
and can serve as debit cards for students, changes and remodeling needs
to take place throughout the campus.
“These buildings are 30 years old and not capable of a quick fix
to allow such high measures,” said Etter.
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