Have you noticed the U-PASS validation kiosks in the University Centre?
The kiosks, launched in January 2014 in the University Centre, and soon to be launched in the Student Union Building, will allow UVic students to have their student ID cards encoded with the U-PASS. Simply by inserting their card in to the kiosk and following the on-screen instructions, students will gain unlimited access to the Victoria regional transit system.
Existing students may already be familiar with the U-PASS, as the service has been available via their student ID cards since 2000. However, until now, students were required to visit the Photo ID centre, UVSS info booth, or GSS to have their cards re-validated each term — often waiting in long lines at the start of term! The new kiosks will allow for a quicker, stream-lined experience, as well as offer extended hours of access.
How do they work?
UVic is the first institution in North America to fully integrate the University ID card and local transit access onto a single card with unattended re-validation. The U-PASS validation kiosks were custom-built to integrate with the University’s new OneCard system. When a student card is inserted in to the reader, the identification number is read from the magnetic stripe of the ID card used to look up the student’s profile in the ID card database to determine the dates for which the U-PASS will be issued. This information is then encoded back onto the magnetic stripe of the ID card, which is then returned to the student.
Who is eligible for the U-PASS?
All students taking at least one (1-unit) on-campus course will be assessed the U-PASS fee via their student account, which will enable the kiosk to encode a card. The kiosks will only accept UVic student cards (don’t worry–they won’t overwrite your credit card if you insert it by mistake) and will be up-to-date for information on the student account as of one day prior (so if you’ve just registered for classes today, you will have to wait until tomorrow to have your card updated).
Opt-ins can be processed by the UVSS and GSS, and will be available to update on the kiosks within several minutes.
If you’ve just received a new student card, then it will already have the U-PASS information encoded on it.
What’s next?
The U-PASS validation kiosks are only the first phase of the new One Card program for the University. Over the next 6 months, a brand new card design will be unveiled, and all University community members will have the ability to obtain a new ID card which will integrate on-campus payment at University Food Services locations using contactless technology, online access to load funds, view account balances and eligibility, as well as continued use for access to U-PASS, library, and Athletics facilities and services.