A new bill was unanimously passed in December by the United States Senate that, if signed into law, would affect campus card programs at all US colleges and universities. The bill calls for mental health resource information and hotlines to be printed on all student ID cards issued by US higher education institutions.

Mercyhurst University is the latest campus to join the student food insecurity non-profit, Swipe Out Hunger, enabling students to donate unused meal swipes. Spearheading the initiative at Mercyhurst, is a partnership between the university’s Community Engagement and OneCard offices alongside food-service provider Parkhurst Dining.

The University of Oregon is extending the use of the two-factor login platform, Duo, to secure their Duck ID student accounts. Duo has previously been required for all UO faculty, staff and graduate employees, but this latest expansion now requires all students to leverage the service as well.

With universities across the country seeking out more ways to prevent and reduce the transmission of COVID-19 on their campuses, some of the focus has been turned to finding solutions that reduce contact points during student payment and access transactions. Card transaction system provider, TouchNet, has outlined some measures that it believes universities can take to support more contactless services on campus.

Higher education and healthcare campus technology solutions provider, CBORD, has announced that Vanderbilt University is the first CBORD campus to launch mobile credentials on Android devices. Beginning this January, Vanderbilt students, faculty, and staff are now able to add a securely-issued Commodore Card to an Android smartphone to conveniently, safely, and securely access campus buildings, purchase meals, and more.

Transact, integrated campus payment, ID and commerce solutions provider, has extended a call for its Distinction Awards nominations, as well as presentation proposals for the Transact 360 Annual User Conference due to take place virtually March 15-17, 2021. New this year, accepted presenters may direct a $500 contribution from Transact to their university in support of either a scholarship or student food insecurity fund.

Students, campus visitors and other members of the Harris-Stowe State University community will have a contactless payment option for parking using their mobile device and the ParkMobile app. ParkMobile is one of the leading providers of smart parking solutions in the U.S., and has partnered with a number of universities to deliver the mobile payment option for campus parking.