THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 6, 1995 TAG: 9508040204
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MICHELLE MIZAL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
Tidewater Community College will issue a new computerized identification card in November that will allow students to do everything from getting sodas from vending machines to printing out college transcripts.
The card will be free and will be available to students at all campuses who maintain a C average.
TCC officials say the card will add to students' convenience and save time for staff members.
Students agree.
Ed White, 22, who is a sophomore at the Portsmouth campus, said the card is ``long overdue.'' White, who is in the Student Government Association, said the card will make ``campus life easier'' by making it quicker to check out library books.
TCC is the only community college in the state that will offer a high-tech ID card, said Susan Hayden, public relations director of the Virginia Community College System.
None of the four-year colleges in South Hampton Roads offers such a multi-purpose card, either.
``We want it, we're going to get it, but we ain't got it,'' said David Buckingham, vice president for student affairs at Virginia Wesleyan College. Buckingham said Wesleyan has not offered a card like that because of its high cost.
Joan Casteel, director of information technologies at the Portsmouth campus, said that TCC will spend about $80,000 for the ID cards. The cost will be covered by revenue from campus bookstores and cafeterias.
The magnetic stripe will allow students to insert the card in a vending machine and get a soda or candy bar, for instance. They could also use the card on copiers and microfiche machines. The stripe is similar to that used on the cards for the Metro subway system in Washington, Casteel said.
A machine will be put near the copiers and vending machines so that students can deposit $10 to $15 that will be credited toward the card. The students can continue to put money in the machine anytime throughout the year.
Another stripe on the card will allow students to get information, such as college transcripts, at campus kiosks, which will be installed later in the year.
With a scan of the card, students will also be able to quickly check out books in the library.
``The card frees the staff up to spend more time with students who need help as to answering the same repetitive questions,'' Judy McMillan, dean of the student services at the Chesapeake campus, said.
In addition, the college hopes to install security boxes that will allow certain students to use the card to enter photo and computer labs at night.
The card is being offered as part of President Larry Whitworth's plan to improve technology. Whitworth is also requiring all students to pass a computer competency class or take a computer class in order to graduate.
The card will also be offered to staff and faculty members and people who use TCC libraries but are not enrolled at the college. by CNB