MU updates student ID system

The switch to the new ID system will be funded by DoIT.

By Caroline Sykes

Published June 2, 2010

This summer, MU is making updates to the student ID system, along with a few other minor modifications.

Changes include a new host and network for the ID system, replacement of existing card readers and lower costs for ID card replacements. Additionally, Greek Life and the Missouri Students Association Department of Student Activities will be provided with card readers for events.

"The main reason it is being updated is the system is getting extremely old," MSA President Tim Noce said. "It was supposed to be updated a long time ago."

The server that manages the entire ID card system, the host, is being switched to a new operating system. This update is being done through the Division of Information Technology.

"The main computer that runs it is switching from Unix to Windows," DoIT Director Terry Robb said. "Secondly, we are changing the network. It's quite an upgrade."

The system to be upgraded is the one that processes student ID card transactions, not the system that makes the physical ID cards. Student fees will not go toward paying for the transaction system. Instead, DoIT will foot the bill.

"It costs us about $450,000 to upgrade it," Robb said.

Robb said the upgrade should be unnoticeable to students. An update students will notice is the lowering of replacement costs for ID cards. Student ID card replacement charges are being lowered from $20 to $15. DoIT is able to make these replacements cheaper, without losing money and without having to add charges or extra costs to student fees.

"We analyzed total ID card production costs and decided that we could still cover our costs at $15 versus $20 for each replacement," Robb said.

Noce said he is very happy with the lowering of costs, and said lowering the cost of ID replacements is an issue MSA has been pursuing for a while.

"High prices of ID replacements were originally told to be a deterrent, and nobody understood how that would prevent you from losing your ID," Noce said.

Sophomore Garrett Nissenbaum lost his student ID four times throughout his freshman year at MU, costing him $80.

"Students are always misplacing their IDs, so I think they'll be very happy with this change," Nissenbaum said.

Another update includes providing Greek Life and DSA with card readers for various events they host. Benefits from these card readers include the ability to monitor attendance of events and additional statistics from those in attendance, which helps with collecting information and to better future events.

"They will get demographic information, such as what year you are," Noce said. "The readers will make a guest list. For example, they can see what kind of people come to a DSA movie event, such as mostly freshman come. There are a lot of opportunities from a marketing standpoint that would be a good benefit."