Bearkats Get Feature-Packed 'One Card'
Sam Houston State University and Higher
One, a financial services company, are teaming up to provide SHSU students,
faculty
and staff what may be the best ID/debit card on a college campus today.
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The Bearkat OneCard, Coming Next Fall
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Beginning next fall, everyone at SHSU will be issued the Bearkat OneCard, the
official ID card, which will handle all existing ID card services and possibly
others such as building and parking access. Cardholders will have the option
of setting up an account which will also allow use of the card for traditional
debit purchasing and banking transactions.
The card will function as a "MasterCard Debit Card" and be accepted by
over 24 million merchants worldwide. Cardholders will be able to get cash
from ATMs, write checks, send and receive money electronically from their
accounts and monitor the details of their accounts online.
"The Bearkat OneCard is similar to but more functional than the cards in
use at many universities throughout the United States," said James F. Gaertner,
SHSU president. "Those on campus and in the Huntsville business community
who arrived at this concept, and Higher One, are to be commended."
Gaertner announced the establishment of a Bearkat Bucks Committee in January
2002, to study and recommend what services the university could and should
offer to remain competitive. As a result of that committee's recommendations,
a Bearkat Bucks Implementation Task Force was formed and recommended Higher
One and the Bearkat OneCard.
"We are delighted with Dr. Gaertner's vision and the OneCard solution," said
Thelma Douglass, vice president for student services. "The partnership with
Higher One is an innovative approach to serving our students, faculty, and
staff in many on and off campus needs."
Douglass thanked and complimented all involved in the program's inception.
Based on the experience of other universities with similar though less inclusive
cards, she looks forward to the Bearkat OneCard having a stimulating effect
on the Huntsville economy as businesses use it in advertising and promotion.
"I applaud the diligent and dedicated work of the Bearkat Bucks Task Force,
which consisted of faculty, staff, students, and community leaders," said
Douglass.
Walter Hinckfoot, national sales vice president for Higher One, said his
company is pleased with the package of options chosen for the Bearkat OneCard.
"We've very excited to have the opportunity to provide our innovative service
to Sam Houston State University," said Hinckfoot. "This is a good fit with
our commitment to making the higher education experience more pleasant and
efficient for students and institutions."
Higher One specializes in multi-purpose ID/banking "one cards" in higher
education. Their benefits also include reduction of administrative costs,
streamlining the business process, increasing revenue opportunities, and
strengthening campus and community ties.
The company is led by a team of executives with backgrounds in higher education,
finance, banking, and entrepreneurship.
Sam Houston State University has been into innovation since 1879, when
it was founded as the first teacher-training institution in the Southwest.
SHSU now enrolls more than 13,000 students, and offers 144 bachelor's, master's,
and doctoral degrees in four colleges.
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For Higher One, Inc. media inquiries, contact:
Mark Volchek, Founder and Chairman
mvolchek@higherone.com
203.776.7776
122 Court St.
New Haven, CT 06511
For SHSU OneCard media inquiries, contact:
Thelma Douglass, vice president
douglass@shsu.edu
936.294.1784
SHSU Box 2237
Huntsville, TX 77341
SHSU Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
April 10, 2003
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu
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