Many U students use their UCard multiple times a day-whether it’s to get into a dorm, pay for a meal at Chartwells, check out a library book or get a discount on a new Ute sweatshirt. Now, however, with new businesses involved and a new online depositing system, the UCard is expanding its capabilities for students.
Acting as a debit card for discounts and purchases on and off campus, students are able to deposit money for the card in four ways: at the UCard office, in UCard machines across campus, over the phone (581-CARD) and online.
The online depositing system, which started during Spring Semester of 2006, is now becoming more familiar to students. To deposit money onto UCards online, students can create UCash accounts at ecommerce.ucard.utah.edu, and log in to put money on their card or perform a guest deposit.
Freshman finance major Drew Baker said, “I put money on my card on the Internet so I could have money to print things on campus-it was pretty convenient.”
Guest deposits allow people other than the cardholder to put money on UCards, too.
Dave Martini, student services director for the Associated Students of the University of Utah, said the guest deposits are “a great way for parents and friends to access your account and put money on the UCard.”
All deposits involve a direct transfer of funds from a credit or debit card onto the UCard.
Martini said the amount of money deposited onto UCards continues to grow and is increasing 20 percent this year.
UCard Director Lisa Arbon-Tagge said that, since Aug. 15, deposits from online transactions have totaled $61,600.
Currently, 14 local businesses offer discounts to U students with UCards, and three other contracts are waiting to be signed. This year, contracts were created with Costa Vida restaurants at the Gateway Mall and in the Foothill Village and also the Virgin Megastore at The Gateway Mall.
Businesses working with UCards have UCard machines for students to swipe their cards through, to comply with the university system.
While they are not paid to accept the UCard, these businesses are often given preference to cater campus events.
On campus, students can receive a 5 percent discount on all U Bookstore items. ASUU is currently working with the bookstore to give students the option of putting money from textbook buybacks directly onto their UCards.
Tyler Anderson, a freshman in philosophy and international studies, said, “Almost everyone in the bookstore uses the UCard as a debit card.”
Martini said, “We want to use it as a convenience-not just for fast-food restaurants-but for a variety of places students (where) can eat out and shop.”
