It’s no secret that a majority of colleges and universities still rely on magnetic stripe credentials as their primary card technology. Unfortunately, magnetic stripe technology typically employs little or no security protections and the creation of fake student IDs, among other vulnerabilities, remains a concern. In HID Glboal’s “Smarter Identity and Access Control Solutions” whitepaper, the access control specialist reveals that the best option for the modern college campus is to upgrade to the most current technological innovations in order to achieve the best return on investment over time.

Northwestern University has redesigned its Wildcard and will begin issuing the new credentials August 1. The updated smart card reflects Northwestern’s brand and visual identity, and delivers enhanced security features. The HID iCLASS cards will be used by students to enter dorms, check books out at the library, access parking lots and enter secure campus facilities.

The question facing many campuses when it comes to the campus card is what technology to deploy. Historically the card technology conversation wasn’t often a major sticking point, with a vast majority of campuses deploying mag stripe credentials. But the emergence of contactless smart card technology added a new facet to the conversation.

The Georgia Tech BuzzCard will don a new look beginning this summer, with all incoming freshmen students receiving the newly redesigned credential while at orientation. The redesign also coincides with the introduction of smart, contactless technology to be added to the credential’s existing proximity technology.

ScholarChip, provider of smart one-card systems for K-12 schools, has partnered with K-12 education technology company PowerSchool Group, through an independent software vendor partnership agreement to integrate ScholarChip applications with PowerSchool’s dashboard.

Biometric device manufacturer, Credence ID has partnered with West Africa-based integrator Vatebra to implement a biometric student ID project to assist in vetting student identity in Nigeria. The initiative will leverage Credence ID’s CredenceOne mobile fingerprint scanning devices to help mitigate instances of identity fraud in Nigeria’s statewide student testing programs.

Like many universities George Mason is rapidly expanding its campus, constructing new facilities and residential halls, and deploying new services on a virtually continuous basis. The latest renovation for the commonwealth of Virginia’s largest public university is an overhaul of the outdated Mason ID card system. The campus worked with HID Global and parent company ASSA ABLOY, to design a cost-effective, end-to-end ID solution that will leverage smart card technology and forge a new one card system.

Jakarta, the capital region of Indonesia, is set to expand the use smart cards to include the delivery and use of university scholarships. The project will leverage the smart card technology to link cardholders’ identities to the credential in an effort to ensure the scholarship money is used only for educational purposes.

ScholarChip, Zebra Technologies Corporation and ID solutions reseller, ARMET Group, have together created the Affordable Smart Card ID Initiative, a new subsidy program designed to enable qualifying school districts to implement highly secure smart ID card systems for students and staff.

Access control and adjacent applications on campus have been driving smart card adoption in the past, but Allegion’s Jeremy Earles says that now there are other motives, both technological and societal, that will inspire more smart card transitions on campuses nationwide in 2016.