Three Auburn University students aren’t thrilled with the school’s mandatory meal plan. They’re so “not thrilled” that they’ve filed suit against the university, claiming the plan violates restraint of trade and Alabama law.

The lawsuit claims that the University’s policy to charge a mandatory dining fee in addition to the cost of tuition is unfair. 

It’s more a students’ photo identification. It’s an all-in-one solution for campus access, services and events. The Mountaineer Card, the official campus card for West Virginia University, is an essential part of student life, according to The Daily Athenaeum, the university’s official student newspaper.

Students may use their Mountaineer Card in a variety of ways, including to access dining services, transits and buses, libraries, athletic events, student health services, select campus vending machines, campus laundry facilities, recreation center, and computer labs. 

More schools are now using online platforms to distribute and exchange information, such as course documents and online tests. These same online platforms also serve as an administrative tool, containing personal data on students and staff. To prevent identity and data theft, online applications used by schools and universities need to be protected.

VASCO Data Security Inc., a software security and authentication provider, released a statement advising educational institutions to be more careful and aware of security issues when using online platforms for educational purposes. 

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) is pushing for more student commuters to use its smart card system for paying fares on buses, according to the Jamaica Information Service.

The system enables parents to deposit an allowance on the card to cover bus fares, and reports back the child’s usage. An official from the JUTC notes, the card allows parents to better manage their children’s finances and monitor their location, as they are able to receive details from the JUTC. 

The New Canaan Public School District in Connecticut is in planning to participate in a “technology experiment,” which would utilize RFID technology to track students, staff and school property, according to local news report.

Pending approval by the National Science Foundation to conduct the research, a pilot program will be installed at the New Canaan High School, where the district would examine whether the technology is suitable for the campus environment. The plan would involve placing RFID strips on student and staff ID cards and also on school property items, such as laptops and computers, to better enhance school safety and increase efficiency. 

An UConn computer with the names and Social Security Numbers of more than 10,000 university applicants was stolen, according to a local news report.

The computer, stolen from an IT storage cabinet at university’s West Hartford campus, had applicant files ranging from 2004 through July 30. UConn officials are still investigating the theft, which was discovered on Aug. 3. 

Florida State College at Jacksonville has partnered with technology and payment services provider Higher One to help electronically distribute Financial Aid and other refund disbursements to students.

With the new system students will have multiple refund options, including direct deposit to a Higher One provided OneAccount, or an automated transfer to a bank account of their choosing. Students will be sent a card in the mail with instructions on how to log onto a secure website to select how they would like to receive their refunds.