Director of Auxiliary Services Manny Cunard described the new One Card program at the WSA’s Sunday meeting. If approved, the program will add several features to student IDs including points that would be redeemable at downtown vendors.
Dining meals and points, access to the dormitories and athletic facilities, money for laundry, photocopies, and vending machines may all work from one card by next semester said Cunard.
The most dramatic feature of the new card is the flex-points option. Students would be able to put money on an account separate from their meal plan to be spent at participating Middletown businesses. Cunard estimates that 20 to 25 businesses will join, and anticipates $150,000 to $200,000 in deposits. Every Middletown business will be invited to accept points, Cunard said. He cited Bob’s Store and Colormart as potential participants.
The one card would work like a debit card. Students could add money through their student account in any quantity, and spend it at any participating store. That money would rollover from one semester to the next and could be withdrawn from the account at any time.
Cunard said that a five percent incentive may be added to each account, so that 105 points would be available if $100 is put on a card.
Cunard said he is currently writing a plan to ensure that the program will be financially viable. He said that he will likely charge participating businesses a percentage commission on all sales, as well as requiring them to honor the five percent discount. He plans to break even the first few years, eventually make a profit and redirect that revenue stream to Student Services.
According to Cunard, such a program has been a “long standing request” of Downtown Middletown, an association of Middletown businesses. He said that potential vendors have been enthusiastic about the program.
“They’re very, very excited,” he said. “The ultimate objective is to enhance our relationship with the downtown vendors.”
Nathan Victoria ’05, who has been working with Cunard on this project, said that although businesses in direct competition with Weshop and the dining halls may participate, the program should not threaten or effect dining workers on campus.
Cunard said that the off campus points we currently have at Thai Gardens are only a “beta test.” Since the plan was first conceived more than a year ago, it was always intended to have points separate from the meal plan, called flex points.
At the meeting with the WSA, Cunard explained that he wanted to give students alternatives and create less rigid dining options. He implied that flex points might be a way to lessen the burden of the current meal plan.
“We’re looking to make the dining program less burdensome,” Cunard said.
“The students have been pushing for less of a senior year obligation, and we’re working towards that,” he said after the meeting.
However, Cunard noted that there are no concrete plans for next semester and that some complications still need to be resolved.
Several questions about the problem of dealing with card theft were asked. Cunard said an office equipped with a phone line capable of de-activating a person’s flex-points at any time would be set up. He also said that the possibility of requiring a pin or second photo ID may be implemented.
WSA members asked whether the program was unfair to students on financial aid, since students without the means to afford the extra points would not have the advantage or the incentive. Cunard said that this program would be strictly voluntary and separate from the meal plan, so students with less means would not be deprived.
Cunard was also asked if information would be collected on students’ spending habits. He said that that would not be allowed.
Noting that Cunard had said that all Middletown businesses would be invited to participate, one WSA member asked if the program would include liquor stores or alcoholic beverages at restaurants.
Cunard immediately said that liquor stores would be excluded, but hesitated to rule out alcohol at other establishments.
Most of the questions directed to Cunard were technical but not critical, and the assembly seemed approving of the plan overall.
“I think that it is good because it brings more flexibility,” said Georgi Radvi ’06 after the meeting.
Jesse Watson ’06 however, questioned the financial viability and the usefulness of the program. He wondered whether enough students would be attracted to make the plan financially beneficial.
“It seems that the five percent bonus for buying into the flex points program won’t compensate for the lost liquidity of your cash,” Watson said. “The only people who are going to use this program are parents who want to control their kid’s spending habits.”
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