Acquiring a U Card

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Full Policy Contents
Effective: December 1997
Last Updated: March 2007

Responsible University Officer:
  • Associate Vice President for Auxiliary Services

Policy Owner:
  • U Card Office Director

Policy Contact:

POLICY STATEMENT

The U Card is the key to the Twin Cities campus. Eligible University Community members can use their U Card to check out library materials; enter the Rec Center, St. Paul Gym, golf course, secured buildings and computer labs; qualify for art and athletic ticket discounts and cash checks on campus. The U Card's checking and calling card accounts allow the U Card to be used as a cash card and a calling card. Use of these accounts help keep the U Card operation financially self-sufficient.

To obtain a U Card, you must be a member or the University Community or sponsored by a University Department. When issued, the U Card electronically verifies a cardholder's eligibility to campus services. As an individual's role changes, eligibility for services may also change.

U Cards may be retained indefinitely, but cardholders must comply with all terms and conditions for the services they use.

Special Situations

Because some U Card services never expire, U Cards must not be collected upon termination of employment. Because of the vast number of services associated with the card, U Cards should never be retained and used as collateral for department services.

REASON FOR POLICY

The U card was developed to identify eligible members at the University and eliminate the need for multiple forms of identification. It contributes to a user-friendly environment for the University community by providing efficient access to card-related services. It also provides additional financial and communication services.

PROCEDURES

FORMS/INSTRUCTIONS

There are no forms for this policy.

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS

Subject Contact Phone Email
Subject Contact Phone Fax/Email
Primary Contact Shirley Everson 612-626-9909 severson@umn.edu
All U Card Inquiries U Card Office 612-626-9900 ucard@tc.umn.edu
http://www.umn.edu/ucard/

DEFINITIONS

Eligible Individuals
Students admitted to the University and all other students registered for day and/or extension credits. Regents, faculty, academic staff, staff and retirees. Visiting students, affiliated faculty, affiliated academic staff and affiliated staff if entered into the PeopleSoft system by their sponsoring department (for instructions on how to sponsor an individual visit http://www.umn.edu/dirtools/sponsor).

RESPONSIBILITIES

U Card Office
Issue U Cards. Determine eligibility requirements for providing U Cards only (not services). Determine replacement charge. Send list of visiting students and affiliated faculty, staff and academic staff to sponsoring departments annually.
Card Holder
Have your picture taken for card (in some circumstances a passport quality photo may be used). Proper card of the U Card. Report fraudulent use of a U Card. Keep your U Card in your possession; never lend or give your U Card to anyone for any purpose, never allow your U Card to be retained as collateral for department services, do not turn in your U Card at graduation or upon termination of employment.
Acceptable passport quality photos:
Must be in color, a clear, unobstructed, front view of the full face and head that is a representation of the true appearance of the individual. Must be recent (within the last year), taken with a plain neutral background, in normal street attire without a hat or dark glasses. No facial or hand gestures or foreign objects are to be included in photos.
For security purposes, a new photo will be taken each time an individual replaces their U Card.
Sponsoring Department
Enter information into PeopleSoft system for visiting students and affiliated faculty and staff (www.umn.edu/dirtools/sponsor).

APPENDICES

Use the U Card Web Site http://www.umn.edu/ucard/ for a description of all the U Card benefits, services, and other program features for all University of Minnesota Campuses:

  • Twin Cities Campuses
  • Duluth
  • Morris
  • Crookston
Rates:
  • Replacement of U Card (lost, stolen, or damaged) $15.00
  • Initial Card Fee (for affiliated members only) $10.00

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

There are no frequently asked questions for this policy.

RELATED INFORMATION

HISTORY

Amended:
March 2007 - Clarified U Card eligibility in Policy Statement; Updated Definitions and Responsibilities section.
Amended:
January 2004 - Updated U Card Photo Specifications under Cardholder in Responsibilities section.
Amended:
September 2000 - Policy completely written to reflect the business process change associated with Peoplesoft Implementation. Responsible University Officer has changed to Assoc. VP of Aux. Serv. Policy Statement has been changed to reflect the increased number of services associated with the U Card. Contacts have been reduced to only the U Card Office to correct out of date U Card contact info and eliminate HR contacts due to the PeopleSoft implementation. Special Situations has changed to reflect the number of services associated with the card, not just the financial component. Rates have changed for replacements and affiliate cards. Eligible Individuals have been updated to reflect the changes due to the PeopleSoft conversion. Responsibilities has been changed to delete Human Resources due to PeopleSoft. Procedure 3.12.3.1 was changed as follows: Students were changed to delete Visiting Students section. All Other Eligible Individuals was changed to reflect the changes due to the PeopleSoft conversion. University Designated Locations were updated to reflect Morris and Crookston's new addresses.
Amended:
February 1998 - Definitions section, hospital staff removed from definition of Eligible Individuals and Visiting Students definition removed, since visiting students do not need to be registered to qualify for a U Card, they only need to be departmentally sponsored.

Effective:
December 1997

To obtain a copy of a historical policy, e-mail the U Policy Librarian at policy@umn.edu or call 612-624-4372.

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