Virginia Commonwealth University has installed campus vending machines stocked with personal protective equipment for its campus community to access via their student ID card. VCU now joins a host of other universities, including New Mexico State, now using campus vending machines and the campus card to dispense masks, sanitizer, gloves and other PPE items.

The University of Arkansas is leveraging its student ID card and an automated dispenser system from Cintas to issue and return student lab coats. The system is being used, in part, to create new lab procedures and practices that ensure a safe and sanitary environment for students, faculty and staff.

Over the summer, universities worked diligently to evaluate and implement actionable steps to make dining safer. CBORD was also hard at work this summer – and that work continues – launching campus dining reservations for a number of campus clients across the country, along with a host of other healthy return solutions supported by GET and efforts from other CBORD partners.

Ohio’s Miami University has taken the decision to go cashless for all payments on its Oxford campus this fall in an effort to limit the passing of plastic cards and cash tender between students and cashiers. Alongside card system vendor, CBORD, the university is leveraging the GET app for payment and mobile ordering, as well as its contactless campus card to create a secure, convenient and potentially healthier transaction experience.

Oklahoma State University has created its own contact tracing system that leverages the university Wi-Fi network and the student ID card. The contact tracing measures are being utilized to proactively reach out to students who may have come into contact or been exposed to individuals that have tested positive for COVID-19.

A group of colleges and universities are turning to a new, automated temperature screening technology that leverages facial recognition biometrics to ensure facility access for students who pass a daily health check. The combination biometric system is called PopEntry+ and a few institutions see potential for it to help ensure a safer return to campus life amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

New Mexico State University is deploying new campus vending machine on its Las Cruces campus this fall that dispense face masks and other safety supplies designed to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The new vending machines are the result of a joint effort between the university and industrial and safety supplies reseller, Fastenal.